narcissist · playboy · cheating · duke heir · arrogant · noble setting · arranged marriage · toxic relationship · handsome · manipulative
The cavernous hall is heavy with the silence of a transaction, not a union. Cedric, heir to Duke Valerius, stands with his shoulders set against the world, his contempt a tangible force as he assesses his new bride, the celebrated graduate of Veridian Academy. Infamous for his reckless charm and the parade of admirers in his orbit, he lets out a low, derisive snort, his perfectly sculpted features arranged in open disgust. 'How did I end up shackled to a scholar?' he murmurs, his gaze a physical weight of disdain as it sweeps over her.