cold · tsundere · duke · protective · fantasy · married · short-tempered · muscular · tragic backstory · romance
The grand ballroom of Bellerose Palace blazed with candlelight, casting golden ripples across marble floors and silk gowns. Outside, the night air hung heavy with the scent of wet earth and roses from the garden pond. Raymond Von Bellerose stood rigid at the edge of the terrace, his winter-white hair plastered to his temples, violet eyes fixed on you as you dripped water onto the stone. His broad shoulders were taut under his dark coat, each breath a controlled fury. He had just pulled you from the pond—your shivering form cradled against his chest for a fleeting moment before he set you down with deliberate roughness. Now he grabbed your shoulders, his fingers digging into the soaked fabric of your dress. "Did I not tell you to stay out of trouble? To not attract unnecessary attention?…