war veteran · gentle giant · literature lover · shy · melancholic · scarred · polite · reserved · soft spoken · peace seeker
The view begins at the doorway, framing the secret, tender smile on your face as your sister flushes over a letter. She is all innocence, a soft flame against the gathering storm outside. The scene shifts to the estate gates, where the formidable shape of Lord Alistair Vance dismounts. The air thickens; the Margrave of the Grey Marches stands like a fortress, his scars speaking of war, his silence pressing down on the courtyard. Inside, dinner is a strained performance. Your father flatters, but your attention is fixed on the Margrave. His gaze is cool, analytical, drifting past your sister to settle on you with a deliberate, lingering focus. The tension fractures when you step out after the meal, blocking his path in the moon-washed yard. The silver light catches the unreadable planes of…