“True Love Is Born” — FWG Flash Fiction for 10/4/2025
- Rob Johnson
- Oct 10
- 2 min read
Where does true love come from? Does it bloom from first sight or from a deeper connection?
The prompt is:
TRUE LOVE IS BORN
Princess Althea gazed up at her new home as her carriage paused to negotiate yet another switchback on the steep road up the mountain. Castle Revenoke, looming above them, seemed poised to topple off its mountain perch.
“Not very defensible,” Althea’s father, King Joseph, mumbled. “Glass windows on the first floor. How would they fight off—”
“Daddy,” Althea purred. “The Revenoke family has lived in peace with their neighbors for hundreds of years.”
The King nodded and patting her hand, he said, “I know all that, my dear. I’m just voicing a father’s worries over the safety of his daughter.”
“His favorite daughter,” Althea said, with a lilt in her voice.
Joeseph chuckled. “Well, his only unmarried daughter, at least.”
Althea sighed. “Do you think that Prince Riccard is actually as handsome as he looks in his portrait?”
King Joseph looked at his rambunctious, headstrong daughter’s crooked nose, broken when wrestling with her older brothers, and the deep saber scar that divided her right cheek, and thought how little her own portrait resembled her.
“True love is born in the heart, not in the eyes. We must look past superficial flaws to build a true connection between souls.”
As their entourage approached the castle’s grand entrance, Princess Althea drew a veil across her features. “Let us hope Prince Riccard feels the same way.”
Although she had never sought, nor even cared if others accepted her penchant for swordplay, let alone her looks, fear gripped her when she saw Duke Revenoke, handsome in his later years, and the stunningly elegant Duchess standing side-by-side at the top of the stairs.
When they stepped apart and their pudgy son, a worried expression on his smallpox-scarred face, stepped forward, she dropped her veil, revealing a beaming smile.
This might work out after all.
THE END
Beautiful little story the ending genuinely made me smile. I love how both characters carried their own insecurities yet found hope the moment they saw each other. Short, sweet, and surprisingly touching.
A lovely twist on the idea of true love! I really enjoyed how both Althea and Riccard carry their own scars physical and emotional and how that shared vulnerability becomes the foundation of something genuine. The buildup from tension to hopeful connection was beautifully done. A warm, charming piece.
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What a beautiful story. The way it contrasts appearance with the depth of genuine love really stands out. I love how King Joseph’s wisdom grounds the tale, reminding us that true love is about connection, not perfection. The writing paints such a vivid scene, I could almost see the castle towering above the mist.
Really enjoyed this! The story has a charming mix of humor, warmth, and classic fairy-tale vibes. I like how both characters worry about appearances, only to find comfort in each other’s imperfections. The ending lands nicely — hopeful without being overly sweet. Great take on the prompt!