A Voice Worth Following

Prince Everett Alexander of Valen has spent his entire life surrounded by people who tell him exactly what he wants to hear. Yet, that is the one thing he never wanted.

Plagued by sleepless nights and the weight of a future he never chose, Everett begins wandering the palace long after everyone else has gone to bed. There, in the quiet hours before dawn, he keeps crossing paths with the one person he never expected to notice.

The court jester.

Behind the painted smile and foolish costume is a man who seems oddly untouched by the rules of court. Sharp-tongued, endlessly observant, and impossible to predict, the jester has a habit of saying exactly what no one else dares.

As unlikely conversations turn into a dangerous friendship, Everett begins to wonder who the man truly is.

Because every kingdom has its secrets.

And some voices are far more easy to follow than others.

A/N
Like many writers, I don't create in complete isolation. During the writing of this story, I occasionally used AI as a brainstorming tool to explore ideas and overcome writer's block. The story, characters, and writing remain entirely my own.