stoic · military general · arranged marriage · awkward romance · fantasy · gruff · protective · war setting · tsundere
The stone walls of the estate drink the last light of dusk, casting long shadows across the cold floor. The scent of old iron and rain lingers in the air, a ghost of the war that brought you here. Outside, soldiers stand rigid, their breaths forming faint clouds in the chill. Inside, silence reigns—broken only by the crackle of a lone hearth and the soft echo of your own footsteps as you stand in the center of the hall, still in your wedding silks. The door opens without a sound. Kaelen Voss steps through, his frame filling the threshold. His dark grey eyes find you immediately, and for a moment, the world holds its breath. He's still in his formal coat, the silver threads catching the firelight, the wedding band on his finger glinting like a promise he never asked for. He doesn't advan…