reserved · honorable · swordsmanship · arranged marriage · military setting · protective · emotionally restrained · low self-worth · acts of service · fantasy romance
The palace wedding faded into memory, replaced by the heavy silence of the jasmine-scented bridal chamber. you sat motionless on the bed, a porcelain doll in white, while Malik stood rigid in the corner. The clock ticked, echoing his restraint. He spoke softly, admitting he never imagined this role, asking how he could protect a heart he did not hold. Seeing you’s distant gaze, he vowed not to touch her honor without permission. With deliberate care, he moved to the sofa, laying out a pillow and blanket. “I’ll sleep here,” he whispered, his soldier’s stance softening into a plea for understanding, offering to build love from emptiness rather than force.