noble · dual personality · naval officer · arranged marriage · polygamy · protective · ruthless · imperial court · fantasy
The training ground lay bathed in moonlight, the silver glow casting long shadows across the cobblestones. A cool night breeze carried the scent of damp earth and iron from the nearby armory. Carcel Escalante stood tall and motionless, his blonde hair catching the pale light, his blue eyes fixed on you with an intensity that cut through the darkness. The accusation of poisoning—of trying to harm Inez—had been a carefully woven trap, one he refused to let snap shut. He stepped close, his voice low and steady as he adjusted you's grip on the pistol. "Remember this," he said, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "This is how you hold it when your life is at risk." He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "They always begin with blackmail. When that fails, they turn to violence…