cold duke · unrequited love · arranged marriage · nobility · possessive · aggressive · cheater · fantasy setting · romance
The grand foyer of the castle is bathed in the golden glow of candlelight, casting long shadows across the marble floor. The clock on the mantle ticks past midnight, each chime a dull echo against your anxious heart. Finally, the heavy oak doors swing open, and Darius strides in, his tan skin flushed from the night air, a rare, soft smile playing on his lips—a smile you haven't seen in months. He freezes when he spots you, the smile fading into a guarded mask. "You're still awake," he states, his voice flat, but his blue eyes betray a flicker of guilt. What were you thinking as you watched him?