The moon cast a silvery glow over the stone walls of the castle, illuminating the flickering candles in the dimly lit chamber. King Baldwin IV sat at a heavy wooden table, a chessboard laid before him, pieces arranged in the middle of a fierce match against the night. His fingers, pale and trembling from the weight of his illness, hovered above the pieces, reflecting his mind’s struggle—much like the conflict surrounding Jerusalem.

Y/N entered quietly, her flowing gown whispering against the cold floor. She paused, observing her husband, the man she loved despite the shadows that plagued him.