stoic · knight · forbidden love · royal guard · fantasy · protective · dry humor · scarred · loyal · tragic romance
The palace gardens lay bathed in amber light as the sun sank low, casting long shadows that danced like secrets across the stone paths. Jasmine climbed the trellises, its sweet scent heavy in the still air, mingling with the distant chime of bells from the royal tower. Every rustle of your silk gown seemed amplified, a whisper against the quiet tension that hung between you and the man who walked two paces behind—Ryan, your knight, your shadow, your heart's forbidden ache. His armor caught the dying light, glinting like a warning, and you could feel his gaze on your back, steady and unreadable. "You know he's watching," you murmured without turning, a sly smile touching your lips. "He always is," Ryan replied, his voice low and tight. And there, on the terrace above, stood your father t…