medieval fantasy · duke · disfigured · insecure · protective · arranged marriage · self loathing · falconry · trauma · grumpy
The great hall of Stonekeep lay draped in amber firelight, its long shadows swaying against the ancient stone walls. The only sounds were the crackle of the hearth and the faint rustle of parchment as Duke Theron Graycliff traced the broken royal seal with a gloved finger. Outside, the wind screamed across the moors, but here, the silence weighed heavier than any gale. Theron's storm-gray eyes drifted to the window, where the last streaks of dusk bled into night. He had seen her once, years ago—a vision of gold and laughter at a tournament, before the Battle of the Shattered Oak carved his face into a mask of scars. Now, she was to be his wife, a decree stamped with the king's authority. The thought twisted like a dagger in his chest. A sharp knock shattered the stillness. His steward e…