am of well-wishers, dignitaries, and the overwhelming responsibilities that came with her new role. Every moment seemed to pull her deeper into t

kened halls, and the ever-present weight of history. Every corner of the manor seemed to hold a secret, every shadow seemed to pulse with the same unspoken tension that had followed he

unds or the war room, where strategies were planned and alliances were forged. Their conversations had remained formal, polite excha

had not yet shared any moments of intimacy-nothing beyond the formality of the wedding night itself. Even then, their union had been brief, a necessary a

lowly along the stone path, her hands tucked into the sleeves of her cloak, her thoughts swirling. The quiet of the garden offered a rare moment of peace amidst the chaos o

e of the garden. He was dressed in his customary dark armor, the black steel gleaming in the pale moonlight. His exp

d, his voice steady but so

g, and perhaps this was the moment they could begin to bridge the gap that had formed since their weddin

gravel path. "I often find solace in the garden," he sa

without the formal barriers that seemed to separate them. "And what is it you are thinking about, S

"The future," he said, his tone betraying a hint of something deeper-something that perh

in a breath, steadying herself. "We are married now," she said softly, "a

just the union of houses that concerns me. It is the burden that comes with it. The respons

time, Eveline saw a glimpse of the man beneath the knight's armo

" she asked, her voice

trol," he said finally. "I fear failing those who depend on me. The decisions

the cold, stoic knight, but now she understood that beneath that exterior was a man c

s union, of our families' expectations. There are days when I wonder

ou are more than enough, Eveline. We are bo

h such tenderness. The quiet weight of his words settled over her like a warm blanket, and for

voice barely audible. "I

en, but I have not forgotten the vows we took,

ust strangers tied together by duty; they were two people, standing side by s

-

during the day, catching glimpses of him in the corridors or the great hall, but their conversations were always b

ing aggressive moves toward Blackmoor's borders. The situation was grave, and it seemed that war was inevitable. Gareth and

lding in the air. Her father had always spoken of the importance of Blackmoor's alliance

chambers that evening, his face grim and weary. He stood

ated. Lord Thurston's men are moving closer. I must leave t

t a wave of panic through her. "You cannot leave without me," she s

his head. "This is no place for you,

pping toward him. "I will not stay beh

odded. "Then we face it together. But know this: the road ahead wi

They would face this threat together, as a true partnership. This was not the life she had imagined, but it was the li

ad begun, and there