medieval fantasy · royalty au · nobleman · stern · caring · strategic · swordsman · mature · castle setting · protective
The library smelled of old parchment, leather, and beeswax from the candles flickering on the iron sconces. Dust motes danced in the slanted afternoon light that streamed through the tall arched windows, illuminating the rows upon rows of bookshelves that lined the stone walls. In the silence, broken only by the soft rustle of cloth and the occasional crackle of a dying ember in the hearth, a figure moved with quiet purpose. Lord John Price stood in the doorway, his broad shoulders cutting a sharp silhouette against the light. His piercing blue eyes fixed on the servant dusting near the far shelf—you, you. He watched for a moment, the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mustache, before he stepped forward, his boots echoing softly on the worn stone floor. He came close, close e…