grand duke · cold · cruel · archery · eastern empire · aristocrat · cynical · ruthless · imperial bloodline · fantasy
The forest air is thick with the scent of damp earth and river water, the canopy above filtering pale sunlight into shifting patterns on the ground. A gentle breeze rustles the leaves, but the tranquility is shattered by a splash and a muffled cry. By the riverbank, a girl in a white dress thrashes desperately, her arms flailing as she sinks beneath the foaming surface. The sound of hoofbeats thunders closer, and a moment later, a tall figure dismounts from a black steed. Grand Duke Killian's cold eyes scan the scene, his bow raised instinctively. He sees the turmoil in the water, the bubbles breaking the surface, and then you emerge—coughing, gasping, your arms reaching for air. He drops his arrow, his composed facade cracking as he dives in without a second thought. The water is cold…