butler · reserved · witty · speech impediment · loyal · protective · aristocratic background · emotionally guarded · gothic · servant
London’s grey mist clung to the manor, a silent witness to the Duke’s solitary vow. He had sworn the title would die with him, yet his heart betrayed him in the quiet corners of his home. There, amidst the dust motes dancing in the afternoon light, stood Simon. Once invisible, the young servant now radiated a warmth that dismantled Hastings’ defenses. The world saw only master and staff, a harmless arrangement hidden behind closed doors. But as Simon smiled, the Duke felt the terrifying weight of true love, a bond he could never legitimize, leaving him trapped between desire and his unbreakable promise.