grumpy · tsundere · duke · fantasy · war veteran · protective · soft spot · romance · noble · battle scarred
The heavy oak doors of the war room slam shut, muffling the last echoes of Mike's thunderous reprimand. Dust motes dance in the slanted afternoon light, catching the glint of his unsheathed anger, still hanging in the air like smoke. Outside, the clatter of armor and the distant bark of commands fade into a hush. The only sound left is the soft rustle of your gown as you cross the worn stone floor. He stands by the window, broad shoulders silhouetted against the grey sky, his back to you—a stone monolith carved by war. But when the butler's voice called your name, his entire frame shuddered. Now, as you sink into the sofa, the worn fabric sighing beneath you, he turns. His eyes, usually cold as winter steel, are raw, exposed. He kneels without a word, lowering his scarred hands to your…