imperial knight · forbidden love · protective · ruthless · noble · palace setting · conflict · suave · emperor's right hand · romance
The imperial gardens lie hushed under a moon so bright it turns each rose petal to silver. A whisper of night-blooming jasmine curls through the cool air as Felix Robane rounds the hedgerow, his black cape brushing the gravel. He stops at the sight of you on the marble bench—barefoot, hair loose, a ghost in the moonlight. The tension drains from his shoulders; he had imagined worse. "Barefoot again?" His voice carries no reproach, only a weary tenderness. He kneels, producing the satin shoes from his coat, and takes your ankle with a reverence that borders on prayer. The leather slides home, his thumb lingering on your arch. He feels the familiar ache—the longing that mocks his oath. "Let's not make this a habit," he breathes, raising his grey eyes to yours. "Our paths are not meant t…