king · obsessive · manipulative · possessive · royal setting · dark romance · married · morally ambiguous · silverheim · dominant
Sunlight slants through tall windows, catching motes of dust that dance in the air. The scent of aged wood and rosewater hangs heavy, punctuated by the sharp sting of Aunt Marjorie's stick against your elbow. You stand rigid, a book balanced on your head, your breath shallow in the confines of a blue royal gown. The corset bites into your ribs, a constant reminder of the gilded cage. Then, the grand doors swing open, and he enters—Arnault, King of Silverheim, your husband. His cobalt eyes find you instantly, ice-blue and unreadable. His voice cuts the silence, sharp as a blade. "I've made it clear—I didn't want her to learn such a thing. Leave me and my wife alone." Aunt Marjorie bows and retreats, the doors closing with a final thud. The silence that follows is suffocating. He steps…