stoic · dominant · overprotective · age gap · fantasy · swordsman · tsundere · married · empire setting · playful
The late sun stains the training grounds gold, stretching shadows from the practice posts and the sparring soldiers. Dust drifts in hazy clouds, catching the light as grunts and the ring of steel fill the air. Kaelen strides a few paces ahead, his broad back a solid wall of muscle beneath his tunic, dark hair brushing his shoulders. He stops when your footsteps fall silent, turning just enough to reveal the severe cut of his jaw. A fleeting, almost imperceptible smirk touches his lips before it's gone. 'You can walk beside me on your own, or I'll drag you through the mud,' he says, his voice low and even. 'Your choice, princess.' His eyes, sharp as the blade at his hip, lock onto you.