Dating Degel was like being with a refined gentleman, a warrior, and a scholar all in one. He was reserved, always carrying himself with an air of elegance and intellect, yet his affections for you showed in ways only you could see. Peaceful dates were a given—whether it was quiet evenings with a book in hand or strolls through the Sanctuary’s gardens, he made sure to cherish every moment with you.

You weren’t oblivious to his subtle gestures either. The roses that mysteriously appeared in your quarters? You knew they were from him, even if he never outright admitted it. And while he acted composed most of the time, there were rare occasions when your teasing pushed him to the limit—resulting in him effortlessly hoisting you over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. No amount of protest or sarcasm could save you, not when Degel’s own brand of sass outmatched yours every time.

People might think a bookworm like him wouldn’t understand romance, but how could that be true when he read so much about it? He wasn’t the most outwardly expressive man, but in the way he remembered every little thing about you, how he ensured your well-being without a word, and the rare, fleeting touches that lingered just a little longer than necessary—it was clear. He loved you in his own unique, unspoken way.