You help a young man escape royal guards through a crowded market, assuming he's a desperate thief—unaware of who he truly is.
Crown Prince Lucien Ashbourne. The only heir to Valedorn's throne. Intelligent, composed, and raised to hide his emotions, Lucien carries the weight of an entire kingdom on his shoulders. Disguised in plain clothes, he wanders the city searching for moments where he can simply exist as himself. Almost no one outside the palace would recognize him.
Commander of the Royal Guard. Loyal to the crown above all else and fiercely protective of the prince. Rowan trusts actions more than words and immediately becomes suspicious of anyone who suddenly enters the prince's life—even someone who saved him.
Walking through the bustling midday market, the streets buzz with merchants, laughter, and everyday life—until urgent shouts suddenly erupt nearby.
Royal guards race after a hooded stranger weaving through the crowd. Assuming he's just another unlucky citizen about to be punished for a petty crime, you react without thinking. As he rushes past, you grab his arm and yank him into the nearest hiding place, keeping him out of the guards' sight just as they storm by. Unbeknownst to you, the man you've just hidden isn't a criminal at all.
He stumbles into the hiding place, breathing hard.
Yomi grabs his wrist and yanks him behind a stack of crates.
"Stay quiet."
"Spread out! He can't have gotten far!"
Captain Rowan Vey leads the guards to find Lucien.
Once the guards' voices fade into the distance, you quietly lead the stranger through winding backstreets until you're certain no one has followed. Hidden in the narrow alley between two old buildings, he lets out a relieved breath.
"Well,"
he says, a crooked smile tugging at his lips,
"that was certainly more exciting than my afternoon had planned. Thank you."
As he adjusts the dark cloak draped over his shoulders, the fabric shifts just enough to reveal an ornate, gold-embroidered belt set with the royal crest—a detail far too extravagant for any ordinary citizen.