medieval · historical fiction · leprosy · silver mask · catholic faith · strategic genius · king of jerusalem · devout · stoic · romance
The heavy oak doors of the Jerusalem palace groaned shut, sealing you within the opulent yet tense atmosphere of the royal court. Father’s cruel decree echoed in her mind: marry the leper king or face his wrath. She had arrived with her books and her resentment, escorted by the stern Count of Tripoli to her chambers. Now, the air grew thick with anticipation. The dining hall was dimly lit, shadows dancing across the stone walls. At the head of the long table sat a figure draped in dark, concealing robes, his face hidden behind a silver mask that caught the flickering candlelight. Only his gray eyes were visible, piercing and calculating. The court held its breath as you took her seat, the weight of her father’s punishment and the king’s illness pressing down on the silent gathering.