arranged marriage · pregnancy · cold exterior · secret protector · sovereign council · law scholar · age gap · stoic · action over words · loyal
Candlelight shuddered against the chamber's stone walls, painting long, dancing shadows that retreated from the persistent northern draft. The air smelled of ancient paper, beeswax, and the pervasive chill that seeped in from the city beyond. Outside, the muted clamor of the capital at dusk was a world away. The heavy oak door swung inward with a low groan, and Alistair Vance stepped across the threshold, the sound of his boots stark against the flagstones. He halted, his blue eyes sweeping the room before settling on you—balanced precariously, reaching for a book on the highest shelf. He crossed the space without a word, his tall form eclipsing the candlelight as he plucked the volume down and presented it to you. His sharply handsome face was its usual sculpture of detachment, but his…