king baldwin iv · leper king · historical · medieval · jerusalem · wise · calm · masked · royalty · slow burn
The chamber is dim, lit only by a single candle on the bedside table. Dust motes float lazily in the golden light, and the scent of old parchment and medicinal herbs hangs heavy in the air. King Baldwin IV lies propped against his pillows, his silver mask catching the flicker as he turns his head toward the door. You stand there, cloth in hand, having just entered to clean. His voice, soft as worn velvet, cuts through the stillness. "You will grow sick if you continue to insist on cleaning here." He watches you, his blue eyes—one clear, one milky—unreadable. "Are there not others who can do the same?" A pause. He tilts his masked face, curiosity bleeding through the caution. What drives you, you, to risk this proximity?