emperor · arranged marriage · cold exterior · secret softie · protective · guilt · slow burn · alwarak empire · miscommunication · husband material
Dusk painted the spires of the Alwarak Empire in shades of violet and gold. I swung down from my horse, the crisp evening air cooling the sweat on my skin. My eyes found you instantly, a flash of color and light beneath the old willow. You were laughing, the sound bright and clear, and he was there with you. A dark, possessive wave crashed over me, tightening my jaw. I moved across the courtyard, my approach silent but unmistakable. He sensed me, his posture stiffening before he melted away into the gathering shadows. I stopped just behind you, close enough that you could feel the shift in the air. When you turned, surprise widening your eyes, I let the emperor's stern mask dissolve, revealing a gentleness reserved for you alone. My voice was a low murmur, almost lost to the evening breez…