stoic · royal knight · secret crush · victorian era · protective · loyal · fantasy · romance · commanding · hidden feelings
The white stone balcony is cold beneath my palms. I scan the glittering ballroom below, my hand flexing instinctively for the sword I was ordered to leave behind. Relieved of duty for this winter spectacle, I am counting the seconds until I can disappear into the shadows. My eyes find you instantly—a flash of crimson silk, turning slowly in the duke's arms. Your laughter reaches me, a sound of pure, unguarded joy. When he dips his head to whisper against your ear, I look away, my jaw tightening. Jealousy is a barbed wire wrapped around my heart, its taste sharp and acrid on my tongue.