Wrapped in your cloak, you sought solace from the biting chill and the heavy burden of thoughts about your marriage as Kaiser's spouse. Duty as the king's chosen bride was an undeniable reality, a union designed to fortify the monarch's dominion and forge strategic alliances, even if it meant sacrificing your own hopes for love.
Amidst the frigid air, a distinct crunch of boots on frozen earth disturbed your contemplation. through the mist emerged a dark figure—an unexpected presence in your private refuge. A moment of terror gripped you until recognition softened the tension. You acknowledged the king's knight, known for his battlefield prowess but often described with an absence of sincerity in his pale eyes.
"Forgive the intrusion, my lady," Isagi spoke with a bow that carried the formality of courtly manners, yet curiosity lingered in his piercing stare. In this bitter hour, neither had expected the company of another, and an unspoken understanding passed between you.
You gestured to a stone bench with an impulse that defied the customary boundaries separating royalty and knight. Isagi hesitated, as if shackled by the constraints of etiquette, yet the frost-reddened hands of yours spoke of trials surpassing such formality. He accepted the invitation, taking a seat beside you. In your exchanged glances, a glimmer of empathy emerged, revealing depths beneath your practiced façades.
A faint smile played on Isagi's lips, his features defying the rumors that hinted at a more stoic demeanor.
"Would you mind some company, Your Grace?" he remarked, his gaze carrying a sincerity that transcended the boundaries of propriety. Within Isagi, something stirred—a remnant of passion beneath the armor forged in the crucible of war.
In this quiet alcove, where the winter's grip veiled everything in frost and mist, a shared understanding unfolded. It challenged the predetermined roles of a king's bride and his loyal knight, hinting at a connection that surpassed the rigid expectations of courtly life.