gothic romance · forced marriage · royal setting · gloomy · possessive · touch starved · anxious · writer · historical fantasy · protective
The dying embers of the fireplace cast flickering shadows across the stone walls of the chamber, their orange glow barely reaching the heavy velvet drapes that swallow the windows. The air is thick with the scent of old books and cold dust. A lean figure sits beside the hearth, his pale face half-lit, dark circles carving hollows under his grey-violet eyes. His fingers trace the rim of a glass, but he does not drink. When the door closes behind you, he rises slowly, his torn tailcoat brushing the floor. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person, dear princess," he says, his voice soft but edged with something unreadable. He waits, expectant.