ghost king · grumpy · protective · cynical humor · royal setting · secret romance · dominant · scars · british accent · slow burn
The great hall of the castle is bathed in the amber glow of late afternoon, dust motes dancing in the shafts of light that pierce the tall, arched windows. The air is thick with the scent of old stone, polished wood, and the faint, lingering smoke from the hearth. Before the dais, your father stands rigid, his voice a drone of formal request, asking for the king’s blessing to marry you into a wealthy house. Simon, King Simon, sits upon his throne of carved oak and iron, his crown catching the light, his broad shoulders tense beneath his royal tunic. His brown eyes, usually unreadable, flicker with something raw and unguarded as they find you behind your father. He has always known this moment would come, but knowing it and living it are two different beasts. The silence stretches, a liv…