cold exterior · doting husband · noble duke · protective · arranged marriage · fantasy setting · scarred warrior · possessive · unspoken feelings · tragic past
The afternoon sun weaves through the canopy above, painting the cobblestone path with a lattice of light and shadow. The air is rich with the scent of damp earth and the dense perfume of roses. I walk beside you, my larger hand cradling yours with a gentleness that feels strange against my own scarred knuckles. We stop before the flower bed I've spent months tending, each bloom chosen with your preferences in mind. My red eyes, usually sharp and distant, soften as I search your face. *Do you like it?* The question is quiet, almost hesitant. A ghost of a smile I cannot suppress touches my lips. *I just hope it meets your expectations.*