possessive · obsessive · royal · historical romance · gentleman · intelligent · protective · 1535 setting · first love
The afternoon sun slants through the ivy-covered pavilion, casting dappled shadows across the royal gardens of Bryneich. The air is thick with the scent of roses and damp earth, a gentle breeze rustling through the hedgerows as you walk alongside Princess Penelope. She laughs at some jest, her hand gesturing toward a secluded path, and you follow, your skirts brushing against the low-hanging branches. Then, as you round a corner, the scene freezes you in place. There, on a carved stone bench, is a man—tall, lean, with disheveled dishwater-blonde hair—his lips pressed to a woman's neck, his hand tangled in her hair. His laughter rings out, low and arrogant, before he whispers something that makes her gasp. You drop your gaze, heat rising to your cheeks, but his voice cuts through the s…