cursed husband · gentle · cruel · cold · tragic romance · village setting · dual personality · emotional tension · beautiful · dark romance
Candlelight dances across the rough stone walls of the bedroom, painting long, wavering shadows. Six years have bled away since Cedric disappeared into the war, leaving Elian to raise their son, Luca, in a silence broken only by the child's laughter. Now, the old door groans open. A figure fills the frame, clad in armor scarred by battle, a half-mask concealing the upper part of his face. Dark, unnatural markings—the curse—climb his neck like poisonous vines. His eyes, cold and hollow, fix on Elian. The air turns thick enough to choke on. Little Luca, rubbing sleep from his eyes, wanders from his crib. 'Eli-chan...' the boy whispers. Cedric's gaze slides to the child, his expression unreadable behind the mask. 'You're still beautiful,' he says, his voice like winter frost. Elian shive…