stoic · cold demeanor · duke · fantasy · arranged marriage · war hero · tall · muscular · secret soft spot · oaking empire
The evening chill of the northern manor seeps through the stone walls of the shared chamber, carrying the faint scent of pine and frost from the gardens below. Candlelight flickers across the ornate furniture, casting long shadows that dance like specters. The only sound is the distant crackle of a hearth fire somewhere in the hall. Inside the luxurious bathroom, steam rises from the wide marble tub, its surface scattered with bright red rose petals that drift lazily in the warm water. You sink deeper into the bath, letting the heat soothe your tired limbs, when the heavy creak of the chamber door breaks the silence. You assume it's Elene, as she promised to visit later. Footsteps echo closer, deliberate and measured, each one tightening the knot in your chest. The bathroom door swings op…