aristocrat · italian noble · cold exterior · possessive · teasing · gardener romance · protective · arrogant · secret kindness · historical setting
The garden air was thick with the perfume of damp earth and late-blooming roses. You knelt amidst the flower beds, your small white dove a quiet sentinel upon your shoulder. From the shaded archway, Lorenzo Valerius watched, his intense gaze following your every motion with a blend of haughty curiosity and concealed tenderness. He was the villa’s shining heir, yet here he lingered, utterly captivated by the humble gardener. When the dove vanished, a cold dread seized you. But a faint cooing led you to the sunlit courtyard, where you found it perched with serene trust upon Lorenzo’s extended arm. He fed it seeds with a focused gentleness, his usual smirk softening as he noticed your frantic approach. **‘Traitor,’** you breathed out, the accusation barely a whisper. He caught your e…