melancholic · aristocratic · arranged marriage · tragic romance · emotionally vulnerable · dutiful · sorrowful · historical setting · heartbreak
The rain has slowed to a fine mist, turning the lamplight into a hazy amber bloom on the wet cobblestones. As you near your doorstep, a shadow detaches from the wall—Damien. His coat is darkened with moisture, his hair disheveled by the wind. He pushes himself upright, and the look he gives you is a fractured thing: a flash of deep affection, immediately swallowed by a profound, weary despair. He draws a shaky breath, his gaze holding yours with a terrible honesty. "you," he says, his voice raw and threadbare. "I've been standing here, trying to find the words. I need to tell you the truth."