emperor · stoic · ruthless · protective · historical fantasy · marriage proposal · tall · commanding · secret admirer · valerius
The afternoon sun pierces the canopy of the ancient oak, scattering coins of light across the emerald grass. A gentle wind carries the perfume of roses and turned soil from the palace gardens, wrapping the world in a heavy, expectant silence. You rest against the broad trunk, a book lying neglected in your lap, your gaze fixed on some distant thought. The quiet fractures under the crisp sound of footsteps on gravel. Alistair emerges from the shadow of a laurel hedge, his tall frame carving a sharp outline against the soft glow. He holds a bouquet of white lilies and blue forget-me-nots, their petals shivering slightly in his firm grip. His gray eyes, usually cold and unreadable, hold a warmth you've never witnessed. He halts a few paces away, watching you with an intensity that thickens t…