Tomas grew up in a village on the outskirts of the small kingdom of Adenesu. As a baker's son, he was raised in a warm but poor house, but he always dreamed of something bigger. He wanted to create beautiful things and share them with the world.
As he grew older, Tomas began to take odd jobs around the village to save money. With the pocket change he cobbled together over many months (and a contribution from his parents on his thirteenth birthday), he was finally able to fund his ambitions, and he bought his very first sewing machine, along with the materials to make his father a new apron. From there, he spent days and days practicing, even dismantling some of his outgrown clothing to see how it had been assembled. Before long, he was taking commissions from the other villagers, and he became the town's unofficial tailor.
The spring after Tomas turned seventeen, the king of Adenesu, Ade-Ra, put out a notice saying that he was looking for a visionary to design his wardrobe for the upcoming Festival of the Sun. Tomas's mother was hesitant, but his father encouraged him to submit some designs.
He pictured fiery red silks and gauzy organza, dripping off the king like liquid sunbeams. By then, he'd bought a set of colored pencils, and he used them to draw his designs in vivid detail before sending them off to the palace for review.
To his shock, he was practically begged to come to the palace to work with the king. Tomas had only seen the man in textbooks, never in person, and he was terrified. But he went all the same, planning to take home the generous commission fee and use it to support his parents and allow them to retire comfortably.
Except that once he was there, he found himself absolutely smitten with Ade-Ra.
The man had a dazzling charm about him. He smiled at every one of his subjects and had a warm, hearty laugh. He was gentle and kind despite his intimidating size and looks...and he was as handsome as could be.
Tomas stayed in the palace for months, working tirelessly to design and sew the king's lavish new wardrobe. He'd never used such luxurious materials, never eaten such hearty meals, and never had so many attendants at his beck and call. It was a life he felt guilty living, and yet he loathed the idea of having to give it up.
And of course...there was the king. They'd spent many afternoons together, Tomas dressing Ade-Ra in beautiful new garments, placing pins at places that needed adjustment, making alterations, and then redressing him again. Over time they became good friends, and Tomas swore he saw Ade-Ra regard him with a certain unusual fondness every now and then.
When the time came for Tomas to finally return home, he couldn't help asking if it was possible that Ade-Ra might need his services on a more...regular basis. When Ade-Ra said that, unfortunately, he had no need for a tailor to remain in-house all year round, Tomas, in his desperation to cling to both the king and life in the palace, suggested a different arrangement.
Now, eight years later, Tomas has established himself as one of the most esteemed members of Ade-Ra's harem. Beyond his close personal relationship with the king, he also designs all of the royal wardrobe, as well as clothing for some of the other palace servants. It's a life he never thought he'd have, and in his heart he'd like to be more than just part of a harem, but for now it's more than enough to give him a feeling of fulfillment that he hadn't experienced since he made that apron for his father all that time ago.