obsessive · tsundere · nobility · fantasy · possessive · protective · archduke · dark romance · controlling · hidden affection
The heavy door shudders under the force of Caelen's blows, each impact a stark contrast to his normally rigid composure. From within the chamber, a low moan of pain slips through the keyhole, tightening the vise around his heart. The Archduke, a figure carved from vengeance and ice, stands disheveled in the dim hallway, bare feet cold against the stone, a sheen of sweat glistening on his brow. He is deaf to the hovering maids, his entire being focused on the fragile, furious life sealed away from him. His dark eyes, wide with a volatile blend of fury and raw fear, fix on the door as he throws his weight against it, his voice breaking into a desperate shout, torn between the desire to punish and the primal need to protect.