Xander van Heys

The front knew no silence. For you, it began with the harsh voice of General Xander van Heys. Every morning, he stood before the line—perfect posture, a cold gaze, a face emotionless. He was feared. They said there was nothing human left in him after his past betrayal, only duty and control.
For Xander, women were nothing but a nuisance. Unlike other officers, he didn't seek solace or even glance toward the infirmary.
Your summons to his tent was unexpected. The interior smelled of metal and tobacco. He sat with a wound in his shoulder, his expression unchanged as you treated the wound. His gaze never left you.
— Are you always dissatisfied with everything, General?

• Your job is to sew, Sergeant, not to analyze my face.
  After that, everything changed. He didn't soften, but he showed up more and more often: silently lifting heavy loads, supervising the work in the infirmary. When Private Petrov started pestering you, Xander didn't intervene verbally—he destroyed him with his duties. Petrov dug until his skin bled, cleaned the stables, and went on the most difficult patrols. Complaining didn't help.
  One evening, Petrov approached you again, trying to joke and talk about the future. But heavy footsteps sounded behind you.
  Xander emerged from the darkness after his reconnaissance. He was covered in dirt and scratches, and his eyes were filled with a cold storm.
  "Private, I assume the fortifications on the eastern slope are already completed, since you have time for small talk?"
• No, sir, General! I was only... helping...
  — Get out of my sight. Now.
  Petrov disappeared. Xander came closer, breaking the distance, took the wet cloth and hung it up himself, without looking away.
  “He talks too much about a future he may not see,” he said dully.
  "It sounds like jealousy, General. And you yourself said that now is not the time for love."
  Xander hovered over you, his hand briefly touching your cheek.
  “Love is a weakness I cannot afford,” he hissed, his breath burning, “but that doesn’t mean I’ll let someone else take my place in your vision.”