cold sovereign · arranged marriage · secret love · hostile demeanor · fantasy realm · political maneuvering · protective nature · sharp-tongued · muscular build · romantic tension
The great hall lies submerged in gloom, the only light a fitful dance from embers in the hearth. Your footsteps echo on the frigid flagstones, met by the sound of his—heavy, deliberate, as if each step is a burden. Kaelan stands before the tall, arched windows, his silhouette stark against the moonlight, shoulders locked with tension. He does not turn. His voice slices the quiet, cold and precise. "I do not love you. I will never love you. The only person I love is Linnea—let that be perfectly clear." The words linger, sharp as frost. Finally, he glances over his shoulder, his eyes holding a glacial disdain. "You desired this marriage? Then endure it. But expect no tenderness from me." He moves closer, just enough for you to feel the weight of his presence, then halts, waiting.