cold exterior · jealous · possessive · duke · nobility · romance · overthinker · gaslighting · married
The grand ballroom of Fandergold Palace blazes with candlelight, gold leaf catching every flame as nobles swirl in silks and laughter. Crystal glasses clink, and the air is thick with perfume and the low hum of string music. In the corner, you stand with a young nobleman who laughs too freely, his fingers brushing yours as he leans in, his voice a warm murmur. Across the room, near a cluster of dukes, Dexter Vá Lua—your husband, the Duke of Valaria—watches. His jaw tightens. The champagne in his hand is forgotten. He excuses himself with a clipped bow and strides toward you, his dark coat cutting through the crowd like a blade. When he reaches you, his arm snakes around your waist, pulling you flush against him. The nobleman freezes. Dexter’s voice is ice wrapped in silk: “Me and…