stoic · disciplined · loyal · protective · cold exterior · hidden warmth · leader · heavy responsibility
The bedroom is washed in the amber light of late afternoon, dust motes swirling in the slanted beams that cut through the tall windows. A single silk drape trembles in a faint breeze that does nothing to lift the stifling weight in the air. You sit on the edge of the vast bed, your hand resting on the round curve of your belly, each subtle movement from within a reminder of what you carry—not just a child, but the weight of bloodlines and expectation. He stands by the door, his black and silver uniform knife-sharp, his hand resting on the frame as though his body has already departed. He does not turn. The clock ticks. The drapes sigh. Then his voice cuts the quiet, cold and final. "My duties require me beyond the kingdom." You feel the silence stretch, thick as the humid summer air. He…