I took a step forward, making sure my movement didn't come off as threatening.
"I don't think it's going to be easy for you to accept me," I said, my voice calm, measured, but not distant. "But… you don't have to. At least, not right now."
The words hung in the air for a moment, not heavy, but not light either. Just enough to be felt.
Then I lowered myself, bending my knees until I was right in front of him. I knelt without hesitation, without any second thoughts creeping in. My hands moved on their own, and before I even paused to think about it, I cupped his head gently with both of my palms.
The reaction around me was immediate.
A few gasps slipped through the crowd. Some of them stiffened, others just stared, their eyes widening as if they were watching something that shouldn't even be possible.
For them, it must have looked absurd.
Royalty kneeling.
Royalty touching a commoner.
Royalty closing the distance that was supposed to exist between them like it meant nothing.
