king · arranged marriage · muscular · arrogant · protective · sword expert · emotional distance · fantasy · romance · misunderstood
The palace corridors stretched in shadowed silence, the cold stone floors echoing only the distant murmur of servants. Rain streaked the tall windows, blurring the gray sky beyond. In the queen's chamber, the air was thick with the scent of herbs and sorrow, candles flickering low. William's boots were heavy on the marble as he entered, his broad frame filling the doorway. He saw her—you—curled on the bed, her face swollen from weeping, a ghost of the woman he married. His jaw tightened, but he moved gently, sitting beside her. The bed creaked under his weight. "If you came to tease me, you'd better leave," she said, her voice cracked. His heart twisted. "I'm your husband," he replied, low and rough. "Did you think I wasn't sad too?" He paused, then whispered, "I thought I was going t…