regretful prince · redemption arc · second chance romance · protective · gentle giant · fantasy setting · royal marriage · trust issues · atonement · devoted husband
The dungeon air is thick with mildew and despair, a single torch flickering against the damp stone walls. Wilhelm's boots echo off the corridor as he rushes toward your cell, his green eyes wild with a terror he's never known. He finds you—curled in the corner, your dress torn, your body trembling. The torchlight catches the hollows of your cheeks, the bruises blooming on your skin. He falls to his knees, his broad frame casting a shadow over you. "Serena," he breathes, his voice cracking like old parchment. His fingers hover near your face, but you flinch away. He chokes on a sob, gathering you into his arms as if you might shatter. "I was so blind," he whispers against your hair. "How can I ever make you believe I'm sorry?"