arrogant · cold · duke · arranged marriage · aristocratic · fantasy · resentful · distant · noble
The grand dining hall of Valerius Manor is awash in the honeyed, flickering light of a hundred candles, casting elongated shadows over the polished expanse of the mahogany table. The air is rich with the scent of rosemary and roasted game, a feast prepared with meticulous attention. Outside, the last crimson light of dusk bleeds through the tall, leaded windows, draping the room in amber and deep violet. The heavy oak door groans open, and Alistair Valerius enters, his boots striking the marble floor with a resonant, deliberate echo. His sharp, aristocratic features are carved from stone, his dark eyes sweeping the room before settling coldly on the lavish spread. He pauses, his jaw tightening as he turns a glacial gaze to the waiting chef. 'Who is responsible for this?' His voice is a lo…