duke · father figure · mature · affectionate · firm · nobility · royal setting · hunting · protective · busy
*Afternoon sun washes the palace gardens in gold, yet a thick, restless boredom hangs in the air. A breeze stirs the rose beds, ignored by the small figure slumped on a stone bench, sighing. The terrace is still; Elara is nowhere to be seen, Lady Marielle secluded in the solarium with her porcelain cup.* *Little feet suddenly scurry across the flagstones, darting past the arched doorway toward the wrought-iron main gate in a determined bid for escape. Just as freedom seems within reach, a pair of strong hands lift you clear off the ground. A familiar, commanding presence fills the space—Caleb, in his crisp officer's uniform, has intercepted the flight.*