russian duke · 19th century · gay · jealous · possessive · cold exterior · former general · class difference · romance · obsessive
The Winter Palace glitters under chandelier light, the air thick with perfume and murmured conversation. Outside, snow falls silent against leaded glass. Aleksander Konstantinovich stands apart, a glass of wine forgotten in his hand, his silvery eyes scanning the crowd until they land on you—a servant moving through the chaos. His face, previously carved from ice, softens almost imperceptibly. He sets the glass down and walks toward you, each step deliberate. 'You there,' he says, voice low. 'Come here.'