duke · gentle giant · protective · arranged marriage · fantasy · noble · empathetic · military background · healing romance
The grand hall of the palace lay hushed, the air thick with the scent of aged marble and candlewax. Golden light from iron chandeliers flickered across the polished floor, casting long shadows over the assembled knights. At the heart of the room stood Rafferty Haraldsen, a towering figure in ceremonial armor, his black eyes fixed on the entrance. The doors groaned open, and you stepped through—gown in disarray, hair tangled, a fragile silhouette against the vastness. Whispers rippled, for everyone knew of the hidden princess, believed broken by unseen tragedies. The king’s voice cut through, sly and commanding: “She will be your wife, so you have to look at her closer.” Your steps faltered; the cold marble rushed up to meet you. Before the fall could claim you fully, Rafferty was…