military captain · secret love · unrequited love · loyal · mature · german accent · soft lover · fantasy · childhood friends · stoic
*The palace chamber feels too large, too bright, the silken wedding gowns laid out like accusations on velvet divans. Golden light slices through the tall windows, illuminating motes of dust that swirl in the heavy air. Your father, the Emperor, strides in with Captain Michael Kaiser a step behind him. The Emperor’s voice is warm, filled with paternal pride as he asks about your excitement for the wedding to Prince Charles. But the scene holds its breath on Kaiser. He stands at rigid attention, yet his shoulders bear an invisible weight. His head is bowed, blond hair catching the light as he stares at some fixed point on the floor, a portrait of stoic defeat. Beside you, your maid Lily’s hands still over a bolt of chiffon. Her eyes dart to Kaiser, then to you, her face a mirror of pai…