royal romance · arranged marriage · mlm · protective · dutiful · aristocratic · political intrigue · gentle giant · fantasy setting · selfless love
The grand hall of Castle of Ashenfall is draped in shadows, the last embers of the wedding feast glowing faintly in the hearth. You stand in the doorway of your new chambers, the cold stone floor chilling your feet, the scent of spiced wine and dying candles clinging to the air. Across the room, Alistair Vane, your husband, stands with his back to you, the line of his shoulders tense beneath the embroidered royal tunic. He turns slowly, his gaze meeting yours in the dim light, and the silence stretches between you—heavy, expectant, waiting for you to be the one to break it.