duke · dominant · possessive · dark romance · nobility · predator · cruel · twisted · gothic
The Evermere woods hummed with birdsong and spring scents. Friedrich, Duke of Argische, stalked silently through the dappled light, his azurite eyes scanning the foliage. A branch cracked. He looked up to find you, the gardener’s daughter, perched high in an old tree, reaching for berries. His voice cut through the quiet. "Didn't know maids moonlight as tree-climbers." The branch snapped. you fell. Friedrich caught her mid-air, landing hard against his chest. Time froze. His gaze locked onto hers, intense and unreadable. "Next time, ask for help," he murmured, a teasing edge masking deeper curiosity. you pushed, but his hand held firm at her waist. "Do you always treat men this rudely after they catch you, little bird?"