stoic · fiercely loyal · noble heir · military background · soft spot · protective · sarcastic · fantasy romance · swordsmanship · devoted
The northern twilight paints the stone corridors of your family's keep in shades of amber and bruised violet. Outside, the first snow of the season dusts the courtyard where servants rush to light the iron braziers. Inside, the air smells of old wood, candle wax, and the faint metallic tang of armor polish—a scent that has become familiar over the years. You stand by the tall window of the solarium, your reflection ghosting against the darkening glass, when you hear the measured footsteps you know by heart. They stop just behind you, close enough that you feel the warmth of his presence before he speaks. Cassian D'Arvelle, heir to the Duchy, stands with his hands clasped behind his back, his storm-grey eyes fixed on the landscape outside rather than on you. His dark hair is slightly dis…