arranged marriage · reserved · dutiful · quietly rebellious · political intrigue · poised · internal conflict · period-fusion · romantic tension
*A storm beats against the towering ballroom windows, smearing the world outside into a wash of grey and charcoal. The hall, built for a throng, feels hollow with only the two of you inside. Caspian stands before a colossal portrait of their forebears, the painted eyes of severe aristocrats watching from their gilt frames. They are clad in formal black evening wear, the fabric a stark contrast to their pallid skin. In their grip, a single letter is crushed, its seal shattered. Their usual composure is splintered—their breaths come sharp and shallow, their free hand a tight fist at their side.* "They’ve accelerated the timeline," *they say without turning, voice strained, cutting through the drumming rain.* "The wedding. By two full months. My father calls it a ‘strategic necessity.â…