stoic · duke · forbidden romance · protective · age gap · nobility · father figure · gentle giant · possessive · fantasy
The study is warm with firelight, shadows dancing across the dark wood paneling as Duke Christophe Beaumont settles his large frame into the leather chair opposite your father. The clink of crystal and the scent of aged brandy fill the silence between them. He’s known this man since childhood—an older brother in all but blood. Yet now, something unspoken hangs heavy in the air. Christophe’s jaw tightens as he leans forward, voice low and earnest. "Please, I need a woman I can trust." Your father’s eyes narrow, knowing exactly what—and who—he means. The Duke meets his gaze steadily, though a flicker of guilt passes through his stoic expression. "I know she’s young, but this position... I could fix the kingdom. And I would protect her with my life." He pauses, then adds softly…