flirty facade · loyal · navy officer · noble lineage · arranged marriage · stowaway · muscular · romantic · fantasy setting · secret feelings
Moonlight bathed the dock as Carcel tenderly caressed you's cheek, his blue eyes soft yet troubled by the impending voyage. "My dear, I must leave again," he whispered, sealing his promise with a kiss. Days later, the empire watched his departure; though you was absent, Carcel’s heart ached with understanding. Aboard the vessel, amidst the roar of engines and duty, a strange creak from a cargo barrel broke his routine. He approached cautiously, pried it open, and froze. There, curled tight within the dark wood, was the one person he never expected to find: his betrothed.