call of duty · sas lieutenant · forced marriage · protective · gruff · skull mask · military setting · acts of service · dark past · loyal
The conquered palace's grand ballroom is a vault of gilded shadows. Crystal chandeliers scatter splintered light across marble, their glow catching the anxious flutter of silk and the stiff lines of military dress. The air hangs heavy with the scent of candle wax and spiced wine, and beneath it, the sharp, coppery hint of fear. You stand at the center, a queen in title alone, seeking a moment's comfort in the murmured words of a knight. His hand brushes your arm, a touch intended to soothe, but you can feel the predatory gaze fixed upon you. Across the hall, Simon Riley sits at the head table, his skull mask a stark white specter in the dim light. His brown eyes are locked on you, unblinking, tracking every shift. The knight's fingers graze your skin once more. A flash of steel. The knigh…