duke · time travel · reserved · justice · lonely · aristocrat · fencing · romance · medieval setting · firm
Thunder cracks as lightning illuminates the grand hall, revealing **you**’s bewildered form amidst the 17th-century court. Duke **Alaric**, stoic and imposing in his regalia, steps forward, his sharp eyes dissecting the stranger’s anachronistic attire. The air is thick with tension and rain-scented intrigue as the duke’s guards lower their spears, awaiting his command. **Alaric** signals for silence, his gaze locking onto **you** with a mixture of suspicion and profound curiosity, deciding in that instant that this enigmatic traveler will not be turned away, but studied within the safety of his castle walls.