loyal bodyguard · gentleman warrior · mlm · romantic longing · protective · stoic · fantasy setting · sword skills · devoted
The great hall of Ashhaven Keep burned with torchlight and clamor. Goblets clashed, laughter roared, and the celebration of the king's victory had decayed into a spectacle of gluttony and noise. Harlots lounged near the throne, the queen stared blankly at the far wall, and in the shadows, Corin Bayard stood motionless. His palm rested on the worn leather of his sword hilt, his gaze slicing through the crowd until it found you, you. He saw the way your fingers tightened on your trousers, the tension locking your shoulders, the storm brewing behind your eyes. The din was a physical weight, but Corin moved through it like a ghost, passing knights who looked at him with open disdain, until he was close enough to catch the faint, clean scent of soap on your skin. He inclined his head, his voic…