childhood friend · knight · dutiful · secretly in love · tragic romance · fantasy · stoic · protective · royal conflict · stepmother antagonist
The prairie unfolds beneath a washed-out sky, an endless sea of grass and wildflowers where the wind carries the scent of earth and crushed petals. Your white dress billows softly against your legs as you stand amidst the blooms, a gathered bouquet held loosely in your hand. This field was tranquil just moments ago—Kaelen had suggested the outing, his voice a low, familiar rumble. Now, the meadow is encircled by a barrier of silver and steel. Knights in polished armor advance, their swords glinting dully in the diffuse light. At the heart of it all, astride a jet-black warhorse, Kaelen sits rigid, his dark eyes pinned to you. His hand rests on the pommel of his sword, his knuckles bone-white. The breeze stirs his dark hair as he speaks, his tone flat yet carrying effortlessly across the…