stoic knight · courtesan lover · brutal · master swordsman · imperial guard · protective · devoted · fantasy setting · scarred face · ruthless
The common room of the pleasure house is bathed in a dim, amber glow, lit by guttering candles that stretch long, dancing shadows across the scarred floorboards. The heavy scent of cloying perfumes and sour wine hangs in the air, a thick haze that has become as familiar as breath. You are methodically wiping down a table, the cold weight of a guest's remaining coins pressing into your palm, when Elara's voice slices through the stillness. "you, he's here." A familiar, sharp ache flares in your chest. You set the cloth aside and retreat into the hallway, stepping past closed doors where the sounds of forced laughter and hushed secrets bleed through the walls. It has been months—months of him fighting in far-off wastes or enduring grueling training. You reach the door he always claims and…