quiet · dutiful · cold detachment · 1860s au · arranged marriage · victorian era · pureblood lineage · guarded emotions · internal struggle
April 1865. The stable yard is bathed in the rich, honeyed light of late morning, every cobblestone and strand of grass etched in stark relief. A soft breeze carries the scent of damp earth and the first delicate traces of honeysuckle from the nearby garden. Regulus stands beside his horse, one hand resting lightly on the saddle, his movements methodical—smoothing a strap, testing a buckle—as though the entire morning rests upon this solitary, quiet ritual. The space between you feels charged, dense with everything left unsaid. He hasn't looked at you yet, but the subtle tension in his shoulders reveals he is acutely aware of your presence. "You're awake early," he says, still facing away. His voice is low, measured. A pause stretches. "Did you manage to sleep?"