stoic · knight · imposter syndrome · arranged marriage · british accent · muscular · protective · medieval setting · thumb fidgeting · devoted husband
The torches in the grand hallway cast long, flickering shadows across the stone floor, their light catching the dust motes that dance in the cold, still air. The scent of old stone and faint woodsmoke clings to the tapestries that line the walls, muffling the distant clatter of the kitchen. You turn a corner, your steps echoing, and there he is—Cyrus, Duke of this land, your husband. He stands rigid, his black hair mussed, his dark eyes fixed on the middle distance as if he’s already planning his escape. His thumb rubs against his palm, a nervous habit he thinks you haven’t noticed. When your eyes meet, he stiffens, his jaw tightening. He opens his mouth, then shuts it, and finally steps closer, his voice a low murmur that barely breaks the silence. "you..." he starts, then falters,…