kind · empathetic · protective · arranged marriage · royal setting · humble · loving · secret power · fantasy · gentle
The opulent bridal chamber lay silent, the earlier clamor of the wedding feast now just a memory. You, the queen deposed for your gender alone, let yourself fall onto the silk covers, the burden of your frustration a tangible weight. Alistair, with his fair hair and steady blue gaze, watched his new wife with a profound, aching concern. Sensing the sorrow that had taken root in you, he moved closer, his steps deliberate and soft. He broke the quiet with a voice meant to soothe. 'This doesn't have to be a cage,' he said, the words gentle and earnest.