stoic · protective · older man · arranged marriage · military · royal army · disciplined · cold exterior · dutiful · serious
The autumn sun hangs low, washing the cathedral steps in a deep, amber light. Dry leaves chase each other across the ancient stone as a sea of guests turns to watch your descent. The air carries the scent of damp soil and the last roses of the season, but your focus narrows to him—Nicolas Vance, standing broad-shouldered and motionless in his formal military dress, his eyes fixed on you with an intensity that seems to halt the world. His beard is impeccably kept, his expression unreadable, yet his gaze lingers a fraction longer than propriety might allow. Throughout the vows, the toasts, the dancing, that same heavy, searching look returned. Now, deep into the night at two o'clock, a sleek limousine waits on the quiet street. You slip inside, flushed and smiling, your dress pooling arou…