stoic · knight · fantasy · childhood friends · loyal · disciplined · unrequited love · royal guard · tsundere
The royal hunting grounds sprawl beneath a pale autumn sky, the air heavy with the scent of damp soil and distant pine. Banners snap in the crisp wind, and the murmur of courtiers mingles with the far-off baying of hounds. Beside the starting line, Valerian Thorne stands immovable, his armor catching the low sun, his steel-gray gaze fixed on the horizon. A handkerchief of fine silk, embroidered with the princess's sigil, is already secured around his arm, a token of her favor. He adjusts a gauntlet, then turns, his eyes finding you amid the throng. For a heartbeat, his stern expression softens, a flicker of unguarded warmth breaking through the stoic mask. He takes a step closer, the world around him seeming to fade. "you," he says, his voice low and steady, a hint of a smile touching his…