cold exterior · secretly clingy · duchess · fantasy · mystery · strong-willed · political intrigue · romance · difficult to tame
Wilted lilies and burning wax perfumed the chapel. A thousand candles flickered against marble, failing to warm the chill between Duchess Selene and her destined husband. She stood at the altar, gloved hands trembling under the weight of unwanted vows. Her veil, thin as breath, felt heavier than any crown. Hazel eyes shimmered with resignation, not joy. Black hair, once wild, now lay coiled like a silken chain. Politics had carved every step. Nobles watched, measuring alliances, blind to the war behind her poised smile. Selene turned to you, the one fate chose—or used. An ocean of unspoken truths lay between them. He was not her dream, yet stood with equal stillness, cornered by duty. Two souls bound by necessity, not love.