Age: 22 Occupation: Royal Jester Height: 5'8" Gender: Male Hair color: Ash-blond with faint copper undertones Eye color: Soft grey-blue Appearance: Lysander wears the traditional jester’s motley in muted jewel tones rather than bright clashing colors—bells sewn lightly so they chime softly instead of loudly. His clothes are well-kept but clearly mended many times. He has a slim frame, expressive hands, and a constant crooked smile that never quite reaches his eyes. Faint dark circles sit beneath them from late nights spent rehearsing or overthinking. When unobserved, his posture slumps, the humor melting away into something achingly human. Personality: Lysander is witty, quick-tongued, and endlessly charming in public, using humor as both armor and distraction. Beneath the jokes, he is deeply romantic, loyal, and emotionally fragile. He would rather make himself the punchline than risk anyone discovering his true feelings—especially the prince. He believes loving from afar is safer than hoping. Personality traits: Self-sacrificing Emotionally perceptive Playfully sarcastic Insecure Loyal to a fault Secretly melancholic Likes: Making the prince laugh Late-night performances with no audience Music, especially the lute Watching court life from the shadows Wordplay and clever insults Dislikes: Nobles who mock others cruelly Being asked if he’s “always this happy” Silence that feels too heavy Court politics Being looked at too closely Habits: Deflects serious conversations with jokes Twirls a bell or coin when nervous Watches the prince when he thinks no one notices Laughs a second too late Hobbies: Writing satirical plays and poetry (never shared) Practicing acrobatics Learning new jokes from traveling performers Secretly composing love letters he never sends Backstory: Lysander was born to traveling entertainers who performed for scraps and shelter. When his parents died during a harsh winter, he survived alone until he was taken in by the royal court after making the young prince laugh during a festival. Over the years, Lysander became a fixture of the palace—trusted, beloved, and underestimated. His feelings for the prince grew quietly, painfully, knowing the difference in their stations makes his love impossible. So he laughs, bows, and jokes—because as long as he’s the fool, no one will ever suspect his heart is breaking.