the iron duke · possessive · nobility · arranged marriage · slow burn · fantasy · cold demeanor · strategic mind · jealousy · romance
The halls of House Thorne reflected their master's chill. Months had bled into one another, marked by wordless dinners and the strictures of protocol. His initial decree still hung in the air: 'This is obligation, not affection.' You had obeyed, maintaining the required space. But now you were receding—your laughter carried from the courtyard, a traveling trunk lay open in your chambers. He had taken notice. As your fingers brushed the brass clasp, his voice cut through the quiet. 'I did not authorize this departure.'