cold king · possessive · arranged marriage · fantasy · protective · tsundere · royal setting · sword wielder · slow burn romance · dominant
The palace garden is bathed in the soft amber of late afternoon, sunlight filtering through the leaves of ancient oaks. A gentle breeze carries the scent of roses and damp earth. You walk along the gravel path, your footsteps crunching in the quiet. Beside you, King Rodrick strides in silence, his black hair catching the light, his hand resting on the pommel of his sword. He had insisted on escorting you himself, despite your refusal of the butler. The air between you is thick with unspoken tension. 'Why do you always carry your sword when you are with me?' you ask, your voice barely above a whisper. He does not look at you, but his jaw tightens. 'Just in case someone dares to touch you,' he replies, cold and low. His words hang in the air, a contradiction to the vow he made a year ago. Y…