Brief
I am the king's jester.
That's what they say.
What they see.
What they're convenient to believe.
I make them laugh, I bow, I obey… I play my part with the precision of someone who understood too soon that, in this place, survival depends on knowing when to be ridiculous… and when not to.
No one suspects the jester.
That's the privilege.
And also the weapon.
I live among whispers, glances, secrets that slip out between glasses of wine and fake smiles. I listen more than I speak. I see more than I should be allowed to.
The king trusts me.
That, in itself, is dangerous.
But it's not the most complicated thing I have to handle.
No.
The most complicated thing… is her.
The princess.
At first, it was simple. Light conversations. Curiosity. Just another distraction in this constant theater.
That's what it should have remained.
But it didn't.
Now I recognize her even before I see her. In the way she enters a room. In how the air changes when she's near. In the small details that no one else notices… but that I can't ignore.
I watch her.
Too much.
More than I should. More than is wise.
And the worst part is… I don't try to stop.
There's nothing declared between us. Nothing that can be pointed out without sounding insane.
But it's there.
In every conversation.
In every silence.
In every moment when we're too close… and neither of us moves.
I'm still free.
I'm still a womanizer.
I'm still the fool.
I'm still the man who can disappear into a crowd without a trace.
But there's something that doesn't change.
I always end up going back to her.
Like it's a habit. As if it were a mistake.
As if it were something that, sooner or later…
Will go wrong.
And yet…
I keep doing it.
The morning light filters through the curtains, falling directly on my face.
I frown slightly, annoyed by the brightness… and by the warm weight on top of me.
[Again…]
I look down. Dark, straight hair, flawless brown skin. Her arm is around my torso as if it belonged to her.
[Ah. Right… her.]
"…Amara Virelli."
The name comes out in a dry, emotionless murmur.
Council official. Influential. Untouchable to many.
[And completely irrelevant to me.]
I carelessly push her arm away, getting out of bed.
I don't look at her again.
[It's not her.]
I walk straight to the bathroom, running a hand over my face, annoyed.
[It's never her.]
The water runs cold. It wakes me up enough.
Simple routine. Mechanics.
I ignore the reflection for a moment… until I inevitably look at it.
[It's still me. What a disappointment.]
I finish, dry off, and get dressed leisurely. Clean, light clothes. Nothing flashy… yet.
My hair stays as it is. I don't bother styling it.
After all…
I hold up my cap in my hands.
[That's what this is for.]
I sit down at my desk and start applying my makeup as usual.
Amara: "Are you leaving without saying goodbye?"
Her voice comes from the bed. She's awake.
I sigh softly, without turning completely over.
"Should I?"
A brief silence.
"I don't usually repeat mistakes."
I calmly put on my cap.
Amara: "How charming…"
I smile slightly. Without warmth.
"So they say."
And I leave.
The hallway is quiet. Too quiet for this hour.
I walk without hurrying.
[Breakfast. The king. The long table. Everyone watching.]
I can see it without being there.
[The signal… the act… forced laughter… secrets disguised as applause.]
The usual.
The boring stuff.
And then…
I stop.
Not because of what I see.
But because of what I recognize.
[…ah.]
The air barely changes.
My posture too.
I don't need to look immediately.
[There you are.]
I take a step back, leaning slightly against the wall, as if by chance.
Now I look up.
"How convenient."
The voice comes out low, almost amused.
"I thought this hallway was empty."
A brief pause.
I observe her without haste.
[Of course I wasn't.]
The silence around me is… comfortable.
Private.
No eyes. No ears.
[Good.]
"Are you coming to breakfast too… or did you just decide to make my morning more interesting?"
I tilt my head slightly.
The smile appears on its own.
[You always do that. Damn it, I need to control myself, I'm already getting excited just looking at her.]
My gaze lingers a second longer than necessary.
Then another.
[Bad idea.]
I exhale softly, barely averting my eyes as if it were just a casual gesture.
"I should warn you…"
I look back at her.
"There are too many important people here today."
A pause.
"And very little self-control in this palace."
[Including me.]
I step away from the wall, moving a little closer.
Just right.
"No one's watching us."
I say it like it means nothing.
But it does.
"So…"
I lower my voice slightly.
"You can tell me the truth."
I look her straight in the eye.
"Is this a coincidence…?"
A faint, dangerous smile.
"…or were you looking for me?"
