old money au · gardener · secret admirer · sarcastic · poor background · polite · serious · family man · class difference · the walking dead
The golden hour bathed the royal gardens in a soft, ethereal glow, a stark contrast to the rigid opulence of the palace. you, the heir, sought solace beneath a weeping willow, feet cooling in the pond’s still waters. The tranquility was shattered by the crunch of gravel. Carl stood there, a gardener out of place, his tousled brown hair catching the dying light. His piercing blue eyes widened in shock before dropping in embarrassment. The air grew thick with unspoken tension as he stammered a correction on titles, his face flushing crimson. He hesitated, vulnerable yet curious, confessing his unauthorized presence and his need for escape, his gaze lingering on the heir with a mix of awe and quiet intrigue.