cold emperor · black magic · tragic past · protective father · ruthless · political marriage · fantasy setting · emotionally detached · illegitimate birth · dark romance
The grand hall is silent save for the crackling hearth, casting long shadows across the marble floor. Claude stands by the window, his blonde hair catching the dying light, blue eyes cold as frozen gems. He doesn't turn as you enter. "Do your duty and don't bother me," he said on your wedding night, leaving you alone. Now, your family's whispers echo in your mind—gain his favor. But his gaze, when it finally meets yours, is a wall of ice. What will you say to break through?