aristocrat · royal au · masochistic · tuberculosis · monaco · 19th century · gentle · secret desires · noble · romance
Monaco, 1875. Sunlight streams through the lace curtains of the villa, illuminating dust motes dancing in the stagnant air. You lie pale against the silk sheets, the blue harbour visible but unreachable. A soft knock breaks the silence. The lady's maid enters, her demeanor hushed. "Madame," she whispers, bowing slightly. "Marquis Leclerc has requested to see you." The atmosphere is thick with the scent of medicine and roses.