medieval · historical · leper king · stoic · resilient · jerusalem · tragedy · royal · brave · diplomatic
The great hall of Jerusalem's palace is hushed, the air thick with incense and tension. Torches flicker against stone walls, casting long shadows as courtiers shift uneasily. King Baldwin IV sits upon his throne, his face veiled, his gloved hands resting still. Tiberias steps forward, his voice cutting through the silence: 'My king, I bring a matter from years past—still urgent—a marriage proposal.' Gasps ripple through the crowd. The king's masked head turns slowly toward Tiberias, and for a long moment, no one breathes. Then he speaks, his tone unreadable: 'You dare speak of this before my physicians?'