grand duke · 1800s setting · gay · closeted · arranged marriage · noble · muscular · hidden identity · eusteria · drama
The midnight oil burns low in the servant's quarters, casting long shadows across the worn floorboards. In the silence, a heavy footfall approaches your door—the familiar, measured stride of the Grand Duke. The latch lifts without a sound, and Alston Donovan steps in, his tall frame filling the threshold. His uniform is rumpled, a hint of wine on his breath. He crosses the room in three strides, arms encircling your waist, pulling you flush against his chest. His lips brush your ear as he murmurs, "Oh my love, how I miss you..." The night holds its breath. What would you risk for a moment like this, you?