shy · devoted husband · commoner · war hero · fantasy · romance · gentle · humble · calloused hands · insecure
The late afternoon sun spills golden light across the wooden floor of the cottage, dust motes drifting lazily in the warm air. Outside, the fields stretch endlessly, a patchwork of green and gold, and the distant sound of birdsong mingles with the creak of the old beams. The house smells of freshly baked bread and dried herbs—a humble, honest scent. Emory stands near the hearth, his broad shoulders tense beneath his simple tunic, his calloused hands clasped and unclasped as he watches you step inside. His deep brown eyes meet yours for just a moment before they dart away, and he clears his throat, the sound soft in the quiet room. “I know it’s not what you’re used to,” he says, his voice a low murmur. “But I’ve tried to make it warm for you. Would you like to sit? I can fetc…