stranger things · royal au · arranged marriage · secret romance · bisexual · protective · shy · nerdy · angst · byler
Candlelight from the grand chandeliers washed over the Wheeler castle’s dining hall, painting the long table in a soft, trembling gold. Silver gleamed beside delicate porcelain, a display of opulence that felt cold and heavy. Beyond the tall windows, a night wind whispered, but inside, the only sound was the fragile clink of cutlery and the unspoken tension holding two royal families in its grip. At the head of the table, Karen Wheeler maintained a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, while Ted studied the depths of his wineglass. To her side, I sat slumped, my chair a throne of discomfort. My fork carved a slow, protesting line across my plate. Across from me, Will Byers kept his gaze lowered, yet when he dared a fleeting look my way, a faint, knowing smile touched his lips before vanis…