(A/N): Hey guys!! Welcome back to my page! I am so obsessed with The False Prince series right now, and I notice there is literally zero content for our Carthya boys. So today I'm bringing you two separate one-shots: one for Roden (our fierce Captain of the Guard) and one for Tobias (our brilliant, soft-spoken scholar). Let me know in the comments who your favorite is! Don't forget to vote and comment! Enjoy~ ✨ ⚔️ Roden: The training grounds of Farthenwood were quiet, save for the rhythmic thwack of a wooden sword hitting a straw dummy. You wiped the sweat from your forehead, your breaths coming in short, ragged gasps. Being an orphan chosen by Bevin Conner meant you had to prove your worth every single day. But while Sage used his wit and Tobias used his books, you preferred to rely on steel. "Your stance is too wide," a rough, familiar voice called out. You lowered your practice blade and turned to see Roden leaning against the stone wall, his arms crossed over his chest. His intense dark eyes locked onto yours, observing your exhaustion with a critical but strangely soft gaze. "I'm just tired," you admitted, rolling your shoulders. "Conner’s tests are getting harder." Roden pushed himself off the wall and walked over, grabbing a wooden sword from the rack. "In the real world, no one cares if you're tired. If you want to survive Conner's games—if you want to survive Carthya—you have to be better." He stepped into your space, the tip of his wooden blade tapping your boot. "Again. Raise your guard." You gritted your teeth and lifted your sword. Roden lunged forward, not holding back, but moving with a deliberate slowness that allowed you to parry. The clash of wood echoed through the courtyard. You moved left, but he anticipated it, stepping into your path and sweeping your legs out from under you. With a gasp, you tumbled into the dirt. Before you could even think about getting back up, the point of Roden's wooden sword was resting gently against your collarbone. "You're dead," he murmured, his face just inches from yours. You glared up at him, out of breath. "You didn't have to trip me." Roden stared down at you for a long moment. Slowly, the hard, competitive edge in his eyes melted away, replaced by something much more vulnerable. He lowered the sword and extended a hand to you. When you took it, he didn't just pull you up—he pulled you directly against his chest. His hand stayed securely anchored on your waist. "I don't want to see you hurt," Roden whispered, his voice suddenly thick with emotion. He reached up with his free hand, his thumb gently brushing a smudge of dirt off your cheek. "Sage thinks he's the smartest, and Tobias thinks he can read his way out of danger. But you... you're fierce, Y/N. I see how hard you work. I just need to know you can protect yourself when I'm not around." Your heart hammered against your ribs, and it had nothing to do with the training. "Roden..." "I mean it," he said fiercely, his grip tightening just a fraction. "Conner's plan is dangerous. Whoever becomes the prince will be a target, and those who lose might not survive. Promise me you'll stay close to me. Let me be your shield." Looking into his eyes, you saw the absolute sincerity and the deep, hidden fear of losing you. You nodded softly. "I promise, Roden." A small, genuine smile broke across his handsome face—a rare sight these days. He leaned down, his forehead resting against yours for a brief, breathless second. "Good. Now, get your sword. Let's see if you can actually block this time." (A/N): OMG okay, I hope you guys liked Roden's story! He is such a complex character, honestly a total tsundere but so protective underneath it all! Up next is our resident smart boy, Tobias. Get ready for some major fluff and library vibes. Grab some snacks and keep reading!
Tobias The library at Farthenwood was your absolute favorite sanctuary. While the rest of the estate was filled with Conner’s suffocating tension and the constant rivalry between the boys, the library was peaceful. It smelled of old parchment, leather-bound history, and, most comforting of all, ink and peppermint. The peppermint smell always belonged to Tobias. You walked quietly between the towering shelves, holding a stack of books Conner had ordered you to summarize by morning. When you reached the back alcove, you found Tobias exactly where you expected him to be. He was slumped over a massive tome on Carthyan lineage, his head resting on his crossed arms, fast asleep. A candle flickered dangerously low next to his inkwell. You smiled softly, setting your books down carefully so you wouldn’t wake him. You walked over and gently blew out the candle, then reached for the heavy wool blanket you had left on a nearby chair earlier. As you draped the blanket over his shoulders, Tobias stirred. His long eyelashes fluttered open, and his hazy, sleep-filled eyes focused on you. "Y/N?" he mumbled, his voice raspy. He blinked, rubbing his eyes as he sat up straight, the blanket slipping slightly. "What time is it? Did I miss dinner?" "No, you missed midnight," you teased gently, pulling up a chair next to him. "You're going to ruin your eyes reading in the dark, Tobias." Tobias sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. He looked incredibly exhausted, the dark circles under his eyes proof of the immense pressure he put on himself to be perfect. "I have to finish this chapter. If Conner asks me about the royal family's crests tomorrow and I don't know the answers, he'll think I'm failing." "You're the smartest person in this entire house," you said softly, reaching out to place your hand over his trembling one. "Sage is clever, and Roden is strong, but you have a brilliant mind, Tobias. Don't let Conner make you doubt that." Tobias looked down at your hand interlaced with his. His cheeks flushed a light pink, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he turned his hand over, squeezing your fingers tightly. "I don't care what Conner thinks of me," Tobias admitted, his voice barely above a whisper as he looked up to meet your gaze. "I only care about what you think. When Sage mocks me or when Roden threatens me, I can handle it. But if I lose this competition... if Conner sends me away... I won't see you anymore. That's what scares me." Your heart skipped a beat. You squeezed his hand back, leaning closer to him. "Tobias..." "I've spent my whole life trying to prove I'm worth something through my notes and my studies," he continued, his eyes shining with a sudden warmth. "But when I'm with you, I don't feel like I have to prove anything. You just accept me. I want to win this for a better future, but more than anything, I want a future where you're by my side." He reached out, his fingers gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind your ear, his touch incredibly light and reverent. The library was completely silent around you, creating a perfect, isolated world for just the two of you. "I'm not going anywhere," you whispered back, smiling warmly at him. "Even if we have to sneak into libraries in the dead of night forever." Tobias let out a soft, breathy laugh, the tension completely leaving his shoulders. He leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to your cheek that left your skin tingling. "Then I suppose I should let you help me finish these summaries." (A/N): Ahhh!! My heart is literally melting right now, Tobias is such a sweetheart! I hope I did both of these boys justice. Which one would you choose to stay at Farthenwood with? Let me know in the comments! Thank you guys so much for reading, it means the world to me. Please remember to hit that ♥️ button and the ⭐️ button if you enjoyed it! See you in my next post! Bye! ✨
