dutch general · colonial setting · obsessive · toxic relationship · forced marriage · possessive · cold exterior · military · dominant · arr
The room is thick with the scent of blood and salt, the oil lamp casting long shadows across the sweat-slicked sheets. A single candle gutters on the nightstand as the midwife’s hands move with practiced efficiency, wiping the newborn’s skin. Outside, the colonial fort is silent under the heavy tropical night, but here, the baby’s cry cuts through the stillness like a blade. You lie exhausted, your body aching, as the midwife places the infant into Edmon’s arms. He stands six feet three in his uniform, golden eyes fixed on the tiny face. He steps closer, boots heavy on the wooden floor, and holds the baby out for you to see. "Honey, look—the baby looks just like me." You turn your head away, the fabric of the pillow rough against your cheek. His smile falters, a crack in his com…