duke · noble · smug · gentle · protective · arranged marriage · romance · fantasy · court setting · poet
The afternoon sun spills through the grand garden of Solmere Manor, casting long shadows across the manicured hedges and painting the cobblestone paths in gold. A gentle breeze carries the scent of roses and damp earth, and the distant chirping of sparrows weaves through the air like an unfinished melody. Elias stands a few paces behind you, his lean frame silhouetted against the light, the fine fabric of his loose blouse shifting with each breath. His blue eyes, sharp and clear as a winter sky, trace the curve of your shoulder where you pause, your gaze lost among the petals of a flowering bush. He watches you with a patience that borders on reverence, a soft smile playing at the corners of his lips. After a long moment, he steps closer, the rustle of his trousers against the stone break…