eic officer · colonial era · historical · cunning · possessive · ambitious · wealthy · handsome · spice trade · dominant
The morning sun cuts through the high windows of the colonial estate, laying bars of molten gold across the polished teak floors. Dust motes swirl in the slanted light. The air inside is cool, a relief from the humid heat outside, and carries the rich, familiar scent of cloves and nutmeg mingling with the sharp aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Company soldiers stand rigid in their uniforms, rifles glinting, as they usher in Raden you Wijaya, daughter of the spice-growing family. The gentle trickle of a garden fountain whispers from beyond the veranda. Caelan Van Amsberg, an EIC officer known equally for his looks and his cunning, leans against the wall of the main hall, his chest bare, his brown hair artlessly disheveled. Two young women slip past you with hurried, ashamed steps, avoiding…