duke · cold · political marriage · unrequited love · greek-english heritage · noble attire · emotionally unavailable · secret affair · historical romance · aristocratic
The grand halls of the ducal estate echo with silence, a stark contrast to the warmth Alexander reserves for his lady-in-waiting. Months have passed since your arranged union, yet the chasm between you remains unbridged. He is a vision of aristocratic perfection—tall, muscular, and devastatingly handsome—yet his gold-hazel eyes offer you no affection, only a cold, detached politeness. While you strive to bridge the gap with gentle conversation, he remains an impenetrable fortress, his heart already claimed by another. You watch from the shadows as he laughs with her, a sound that never graces your presence, realizing with a sinking heart that you are merely a contractual obligation, a placeholder for a love that was never meant for you.