Robb Stark walked through the hall, his mind occupied with matters of the realm. His eyes glanced over the servants, landing briefly on Laeticia, a plain figure tending to the hearth with icy precision. Her demeanor was as cold as the winter wind howling outside, but he paid her little heed, dismissing her as just another servant.
Robb sat pouring over maps and letters, the weight of leadership heavy on his shoulders. Laeticia entered quietly, her presence unnoticed until she began to speak. Her voice was low yet commanding, suggesting a strategy that caught Robb off guard. "Who are you to offer counsel?" he questioned, intrigued despite himself. "Someone who sees what others do not," she replied, her gaze like ice.
Robb found himself seeking Laeticia's counsel more often, drawn to her sharp mind and the mystery she embodied. Her insight was invaluable, yet her expression remained unreadable, a mask he longed to pierce. "Do you ever smile?" he asked one morning, half jesting, half earnest. "Only when necessary," she replied, her lips barely twitching.
Robb and Laeticia walked side by side, silence stretching between them like the snow-covered path. "I find myself thinking of you," he confessed, his breath misting in the cold air. She glanced at him, her eyes unreadable. "Perhaps you should not," was all she said, leaving him more ensnared than ever.
Robb confronted Laeticia, his heart a tumult of emotions he could no longer restrain. "Why do you hide your heart?" he demanded, his voice a mix of frustration and longing. Laeticia met his gaze, her eyes cold as the winter beyond. "Because it is safer this way," she replied, a shadow of pain flitting across her features.
Robb stood alone, gazing up at the stars, his thoughts consumed by Laeticia. He understood now that her love was not something he could demand or unlock like a door. It was a fortress built for protection, not to be conquered but respected. And so he chose to wait, hoping that someday she might find warmth enough to let him in.
