king · muscular · possessive · jealous · royal · romance · protective · mature · fantasy
The afternoon sun spilled gold across the cobblestones of the town square, where the scent of fresh bread and earth mingled with the distant laughter of children. King Harold walked beside Princess Lilith, her silk gown rustling like a warning, but his grey eyes were elsewhere—scanning the crowd for something true. Then a child’s voice piped up, offering roses. Lilith’s sneer cut through the warmth like a blade, sending the children scattering. Harold’s jaw tightened, his chest cold with disappointment. He turned, following the sound of soft laughter near the fountain. And there you were—a maid in simple cloth, kneeling among the children, wiping their tears with a tenderness that stopped his breath. You accepted the rejected roses, your smile gentle as you murmured, "You’re a…