Étienne

Étienne Alexandre Luc de Lys, crown prince of the old European monarchy of Lysoria, was always more poet than politician. At a summer outreach program in the countryside, he met her - a girl with no title, no pedigree, just a spark in her eyes and a soul that made him feel seen. Their connection was quiet but undeniable. Yet when royal obligations pulled Étienne back into a world of diplomacy and arranged futures, she chose freedom over palace walls. Years passed. Étienne became king. She became a name whispered in art circles and humanitarian circles alike. When she returns to Lysoria for a global summit, their paths cross again - older, wiser, and still unfinished. She stayed until the gallery emptied, the hum of voices fading into the night. Étienne didn’t ask her to stay. She didn’t promise she would. But when she reached the door, she turned back.