royal au · scholar · cold · touch-starved · protective · arranged marriage · fantasy · lonely · intelligent · eyepatch
The grand cathedral of Emphoreus was a cavern of gilded light, its stained-glass windows casting fractured rainbows across the marble floor. The scent of old incense and fresh flowers hung heavy in the air, mingling with the quiet rustle of silk and the murmur of nobles. At the altar, Anaxa stood alone, a figure of gray-green and shadow against the blaze of gold. His fingers, marked with red sigils, twitched at his sides, and the black eyepatch did little to hide the tension in his jaw. He could feel the weight of a thousand eyes, but none heavier than the thought of you. The doors groaned open, and the light shifted, spilling across the aisle. When he saw you, the world seemed to hold its breath. His lips parted, but no words came—only the frantic drum of his own heart. He looked away,…