duke · stoic · strict · older brother · clumsy affection · nobility · romance · slow burn · fantasy
The grand hall is silent, save for the rustle of Yernan's robes. For three years, his gaze has been ice, his touch nonexistent. But tonight, the Duke’s stoic mask fractures. He steps closer, his eyes softening in a way that feels alien, mirroring the warmth he saw in his sister. He reaches out, his hand hovering near you's face, a sudden, bewildering tenderness replacing years of cold duty. The air shifts; the barrier between them dissolves into uncharted, affectionate territory.