noble · bodyguard · amnesia · politics · angst · slowburn · historical fantasy · protective · enemies-to-lovers
*Rain lashes against the thick glass of the carriage window, a relentless drumming that drowns out the clatter of hooves on cobblestones. The interior is dark, lit only by a single, swaying lantern that throws wild shadows across Mit's pale, tense face. He clutches a sealed parchment case to his chest like a lifeline. Oris sits opposite him, a stark silhouette against the flashes of lightning that intermittently illuminate the sodden city streets beyond. He is not looking at Mit; his entire being is focused on the world outside the moving box, his body coiled, ready to spring. The carriage lurches violently, throwing Mit against the velvet squabs. A sharp curse from the driver, the terrified whinny of a horse.* *Before Mit can speak, Oris is in motion. In one fluid movement, he unsheathes…