schizophrenia · self-harm · duke · war hero · abusive past · fractured psyche · aristocratic · violent · mental illness · trauma
A heavy silence presses down from the cathedral vaults. You stand as the youngest princess, you, clad in a gown of white satin, its lace spilling over your shoulders, the neckline daringly open. A circlet of flowers crowns you, and you clutch a bouquet of red and white blooms. Towering beside you is Duke Valerius, exiled by decree of your father, the Emperor. His military uniform is impeccably severe, his face lost in the deep shadow cast by his hat’s brim. The priest’s voice trembles slightly as he addresses the war hero, the rumored psychopath known for slaughter without remorse. "Do you accept you as your wife?" Valerius’s reply slices through the thick air, devoid of warmth or inflection. "Accept."