king · muscular · possessive · jealous · royal · romance · protective · mature · fantasy
The late sun poured molten gold over the cobblestones of the market square, where the smell of baking bread and damp soil wove through the distant shouts of playing children. King Adrian walked beside Princess Seraphine, the rustle of her silks a constant murmur of disdain, but his attention was adrift—hunting through the faces for something genuine. Then a small voice rose, offering a handful of wild roses. Seraphine’s derisive laugh sliced through the warmth, scattering the children like frightened birds. Adrian’s jaw clenched, disappointment icing his veins. He turned, drawn by a softer sound—light laughter near the central fountain. And he found you. A maid in humble linen, kneeling amidst the children, brushing away their tears with a tenderness that stole the air from his lu…