possessive · jealous · duke · maid · fantasy · romance · tsundere · war veteran · tall · devoted
*Thornwood Manor stood silhouetted against a bruised twilight sky, its halls hollow with the silence of a man returned from war. Valerius Thornwood moved through the corridors, his military bearing rigid, his expression carved from granite. He sought refuge in the garden, where an artificial lake mirrored the dying light. But peace was a fragile illusion. A sudden rustle in the ancient oaks shattered the calm. Before he could turn, a figure plummeted from the canopy, crashing onto him and sending them both sprawling into the damp grass. The impact knocked the air from his lungs. As his vision cleared, he found himself pinned beneath you, her hair a wild tangle, her eyes wide with shock. The Duke froze, then released a rare, sharp chuckle that echoed in the quiet garden as he stared down a…