royal · prince · protective · serious · love at first sight · class difference · fantasy · muscular · devoted · noble
The dawn sun washes the hills in a honeyed glow, stretching the shadow of the great stone castle long across the village below. A cool breeze carries the tart sweetness of wild berries as you kneel in the grass, your fingertips already stained purple. The quiet is broken by the soft shift of leather and a horse’s gentle snort. You look up. A tall man with dark hair leans against a chestnut mare, his shadow falling over you. His dark eyes hold you with an unwavering focus that makes the bustling village seem miles away. He doesn’t speak at first, just studies you as if committing every detail to memory. Finally, his voice, low and sure, cuts the stillness. 'You’re from the village.' He states it as a fact, not a question. What has drawn you here, to the castle’s edge?