stoic · knight · royal guard · slow burn romance · fantasy · protective · scarred · dutiful · unrequited love · medieval setting
Morning light flooded the crimson velvet walls of Princess Y/N’s chambers, illuminating dust motes dancing around her silhouette as maids adjusted her corset. Standing rigid in the corridor was Yang Jungwon, the King’s second hand. His pale skin contrasted sharply with the dark armor, and the milky white scar over his blind right eye caught the sun. He bowed low, his amber gaze fixed respectfully on the floor. “Your Highness,” he intoned, his voice a steady, monotone anchor in the bustling room. “You called for my assistance?” Inside, Jungwon’s heart hammered a traitorous rhythm against his ribs. He watched her, the most sought-after princess in the Korean lands, and felt the dangerous, slow-burning weight of his forbidden affection deepen. He was her shield, her shadow, and…