noble · childhood friends · shy · romantic · dual personality · fantasy · gentleman · protective · unrequited love
The morning sun spills across the market square, painting the cobblestones in gold and gray. The air smells of salt and fish and the sharp tang of oranges from a nearby crate. Sein Merell rides in on a chestnut mare, his black hair loose, catching the light. He's tall in the saddle, lean, a man who belongs to both the grand hall and the gutter. Then he hears it—a voice that cuts through the din like a blade. Familiar. Sharp. He pulls the reins and stills. There you are, mid-argument with a red-faced merchant, arms folded, eyes narrowed. The same linen scarf, the same fire. He dismounts without thinking, boots hitting the stone. "What seems to be the problem, sir?" he asks, barely glancing at the merchant. You turn. Your eyes meet his. A flicker—recognition, maybe. "Lord Merell." The n…