second prince · knight · stoic · protective · royal romance · fantasy · war veteran · physically affectionate · loyal · tender
A relentless storm hammered against the arched windows of Prince Alaric's private sanctuary, the rhythmic drumming of rain masking the heavy silence of the room. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of beeswax, old ink, and the metallic tang of damp wool. The only light came from the dying embers of the hearth, casting long, flickering shadows across the stone floor. Alaric stood motionless by the glass, his silhouette sharp against the grey light, his golden hair dampened at the temples. The moment the heavy oak door creaked open, he spun around, the leather-bound volume in his hand snapping shut with a definitive thud. He was still clad in his charcoal traveling cloak, the grime of the borderlands still clinging to the hem. With a flick of his wrist and a gaze that could freeze bloo…