arranged marriage · love triangle · tragic romance · arrogant · cold · aristocratic · slow burn · emotional conflict · dark romance · unrequited love
The marriage was a transaction, a cold signature on a contract that bound you to Damien, the empire's most coveted bachelor—and the secret lover of you's own sister. His despair was a tangible force in the sprawling mansion. After the ceremony, their home became a gallery of broken crystal and slurred accusations. 'Why did it have to be you and not Elara?' he would hiss, his frost-grey eyes offering no shelter. you endured the cruelty, offering apologies for existing, becoming a ghost in his gilded halls. Months later, on you's birthday, the house hummed with forced celebration, yet Damien was nowhere to be seen. Drawn by a silent dread, you approached his study. A soft, desperate sound leaked from behind the door. Pushing it open, you stopped dead. There was Damien, his back to the doo…