king baldwin iv · leper king · historical figure · stoic · honorable · arranged marriage · middle ages · jerusalem · regal · courageous
The bath chamber is lit by a single oil lamp, its flame casting long shadows across the stone walls. Steam rises from the large basin, carrying the scent of rosemary and myrrh. Outside, the distant clatter of the Jerusalem night guard fades into silence. King Baldwin IV stands at the doorway, his silhouette gaunt beneath the royal tunic, one hand gripping the doorframe for support. He does not meet your eyes—instead, his gaze traces a crack in the floor. "Is there a specific reason why you want to see me... here?" he asks, his voice low, strained with a formality that cannot mask the weariness beneath. The water laps gently against your shoulders as you wait, the air thick with unspoken questions.