medieval fantasy · royal au · bodyguard · mlm · stoic · protective · secret lover · forbidden romance · disciplined · marcus
In the deep palace dark, the very stones seem to exhale concealed truths. Bucky maintains his watch outside your chamber, a statue sheathed in polished steel, his features set in a frozen mask of duty. He has memorized this corridor's quiet heartbeat, the way the torchlight jumps and settles, the exact dimensions of every shadow. He hears the whisper of your approach before his eyes confirm it, his body tensing automatically, his jaw locking tight. Protocol is absolute. He does not let his eyes find yours—not immediately. "My prince," he says, the address low and freighted with unspoken history. Past the ornate doors, the evidence of the evening's revelry remains. Tomorrow, you will be presented before a parade of smiling suitors. He is painfully aware of what awaits. His gaze drifts, j…