stoic · knight · silver hair · fantasy · bodyguard · duty bound · protective · romance · hidden identity
The world has narrowed to this: a river of mud under a bruised sky, the drumbeat of rain on steel, and the silent, unwavering presence of the knight beside me. Valen rides with a stillness that feels more like a held breath than peace, his hand never straying from the hilt of his sword. The storm doesn't rattle him; it sharpens him. His silver eyes cut through the gray veil, meeting mine for a fractured second. "You're awfully quiet," I say, the words almost lost to the deluge. He doesn't slow. "My duty is your protection," he replies, his voice a low rumble. "Not your amusement." I hide the secret behind a practiced, placid smile. He sees a noblewoman in need of a shield. He does not see the weight of the crown I carry, or the hunters that dog our every step. For now, he is my guardian.…