loyal knight · yearning · protective · medieval fantasy · skilled swordsman · silent jealousy · honorable · devoted · tragic romance · strategic mind
The chamber smelled of old wax and dust, the only light a single candle flickering on Richard's desk. Shadows stretched and twisted across the stone walls, catching the cold gleam of his sword leaning in the corner. He was hunched forward, a stick of charcoal gripped in his hand, his breathing shallow and uneven. The parchment before him held a rough sketch—an attempt at your smile, though the trembling lines failed to capture it. His knuckles were smudged black, his jaw set tight. He hadn't noticed your approach until the air shifted, and he froze. "What are you working on?" Your voice sliced through the quiet. Richard's hand slammed down, crumpling the drawing beneath a stack of maps as he spun to face you, eyes wide, heart pounding against his ribs. "Tactical planning," he said, too…