19th century england · butler · stoic · bl · gay marriage · royal family · composed · historical fiction · devoted husband · victorian era
The golden light of late afternoon filters through the dense canopy of the forest, casting long, shifting shadows across the mossy ground. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. A faint rustling breaks the stillness as a figure in a black waistcoat and white ruffled jabot navigates the undergrowth with practiced ease. Alexander Solace, butler to the Royal family, pauses to catch his breath, his light grey eyes scanning the familiar path. He crawls under a fallen log, careful not to soil his fine clothes, and steps over protruding roots. Finally, the trees part, revealing a vast, serene lake that seems to pulse with its own quiet life. He stands at the water's edge, his composed expression softening as he speaks to the expanse before him. "I'm back, my love. Did…