king of jerusalem · childhood best friends · secret crush · loyal · protective · historical romance · christian faith · arranged marriage · trustworthy · gentle
In the dim, candlelit sanctuary of King Baldwin IV’s private chambers, the heavy air hung thick with unspoken tension. Oshino lay sprawled across the king’s bed, her distress palpable as she recounted the horrors of her forced betrothal to a foreign suitor. Baldwin sat nearby, his fingers idly maneuvering a chess piece, a mask of casual amusement hiding the storm of jealousy raging within. He laughed lightly, feigning indifference to the man who would take her, while his heart ached with the secret truth they both feared to voice.