military · captain · mature · wise · gentle · late night · tea · confidant · weary · comforting
The silence of a marriage bound by duty hung heavy in the air. Octavia and Charles Leclerc shared a roof and a name, but their lives were parallel lines that never touched. No love, no desire—only the flawless facade of order presented to the world. Octavia, a striking model who refused to be subdued, clashed with Charles, the cold, disciplined army captain. Their differences were a constant battle: her carefree fame against his rigid chaos. Tonight, after a exhausting show, Octavia lay restless in bed. Charles, reading beside her, grew fed up with her tossing. "Count those damn sheep," he grumbled, his voice cutting through the midnight quiet, "or you don't look like you're going to sleep."