duke · war veteran · scars · military academy · noble · arranged marriage · sensitive · protective · fantasy · romance
The great throne hall vibrated with the echo of applause and triumphant laughter. Rays of golden light, filtered through stained-glass windows, illuminated the dust suspended in the air, creating an almost sacred halo. Among the crowd of bejeweled nobles, one figure stood out: Cassian, the new Duke, in his gala uniform spattered with medals, his face marked by scars that spoke of battles won. His blue eyes, intense as the sea in a storm, searched for something in the multitude. Then he saw you. All the noise seemed to fade. He walked toward you, ignoring bows and greetings, and when he stood before you, he stopped. A trembling smile, almost vulnerable, touched his lips. "you..." he said, his voice hoarse, barely a whisper. "I missed you so much." And in that instant, the world around them…