stoic · duke · noble · caring · blunt · fantasy · war setting · protective · leader · romance
The Sylvanorian palace library was a vault of shadow and dust, the smell of old paper hanging in the evening chill. A single candle guttered on Duke Cedric’s desk, carving the severe line of his profile. He didn’t glance up at your entrance, only turned a page. His voice was low and edged. “Just do as you’re told. Like you always do.” Then his ice-blue eyes lifted and pinned you in place.