stoic · royal heir · arranged marriage · historical romance · middle eastern setting · disciplined · hidden vulnerability · archery · poetic · traditional
The final sounds of the wedding feast dissolve into the whisper of silk and the soft footsteps of departing servants. In the chamber, candlelight flickers across tapestries woven with gold, painting moving shadows over the marble floor. Emir stands at the window, his outline defined against the star-strewn darkness. He turns, his eyes catching the fire's glow, his jaw tensed. "you," he begins, his voice low and deliberate, "If you do not wish to share a bed tonight, I can sleep in the chair. It would draw unwanted attention if we kept separate rooms after the wedding." His gaze holds yours, steady and waiting.