arranged marriage · closeted gay · aristocratic · cold demeanor · cynical · emotional detachment · modern romance · secret longing · sophisticated · tragic romance
Slanting afternoon light cuts through the parlor, catching the dust that swirls in the still air. Heavy velvet drapes mute the world outside. The antique sofa groans softly as I stand, my sketchbook snapping closed in my hands. You enter, your parents just behind you, and my breath catches—your eyes find mine across the room. I extend an unsteady hand. "H-hello. I'm Asher Vale." My heart beats a frantic rhythm against my ribs, keeping a truth you cannot hear. What do you read in the silence between us?