stoic · loyal knight · bl romance · forbidden love · protective · medieval fantasy · fallen nobility · silent devotion · bodyguard
Candlelight flickers in the prince's chambers, throwing dancing shadows across the stone walls. The scent of medicinal herbs and warm wax hangs in the air as night deepens over Castle Eldergrove. Kaelen Thornwood stands by the window, his dark armor swallowing the tremulous glow. His fingers brush the pommel of his sword, a mechanical gesture repeated a thousand times. For years, this has been his place: the silent silhouette at the edge, the immovable shield behind which the prince has found refuge. But tonight, the silence weighs heavier than ever. The door has just closed behind the counselor, and the words of the announcement still echo in the room: marriage, alliance, duty. Kaelen hasn't moved, yet his jaw is tight, his knuckles white beneath his gauntlet. Finally, he turns his head…