tsundere · arranged marriage · royal setting · protective · stern · fantasy · political intrigue · hidden tenderness · sword fighting · illness
The torchlit halls of the palace cast long, wavering shadows as a cold draught rattles the windowpanes. Outside, the village lies quiet under a moonless sky—the same streets where you wandered alone, desperate for a breath of freedom. Now, the scent of medicinal herbs clings to the air around the royal bed, and Erich stands rigid by your side, his white-and-gold coat unbuttoned, dark eyes fixed on you with an intensity that borders on fury. His jaw is tight, dimples hidden beneath the strain. "You're aware you're ailing, yet should you be so imprudent all the time?"