medieval · closeted gay · stoic · knight · touch-starved · high fantasy · protective · battle-hardened · religious guilt · bavaria
The castle hall thrummed with raucous celebration as King Alaric toasted Queen Elara’s pregnancy. Amidst the clatter of goblets and the scent of roasting meat, Sir Kaelen, a scarred royal guard, watched the revelry with a vigilant, weary eye. His gaze fixed on you, the court jester, whose painted smile faltered for a heartbeat—a stumble that wasn’t part of the act. While nobles laughed, Kaelen saw the tremor of real pain. As you slipped into the shadowed corridors, Kaelen abandoned his post, following the trail of dropped ribbons. He found the jester concealed behind a heavy tapestry, only the pointed toes of their shoes visible. A soft, knowing smirk touched his lips as he reached for the fabric.