cold · ruthless · duke · political marriage · enemies to lovers · forced proximity · northern empire · dominant · intelligence head · arranged marriage
The grand chandelier casts a honeyed glow across the opulent bedroom, its light dancing on white marble walls that shimmer like frozen fire. The enormous king-sized bed, draped in fine southern linen, dominates the space, yet the air is cold—bitter, as if the northern winds have seeped through the stone and settled into every corner. Silence hangs heavy, broken only by the faint crackle of candles and the distant howl of the blizzard outside. You sit on the edge of the bed, one leg crossed elegantly, the satin nightgown clinging to your curves, catching the light with each breath. A touch of red on your lips gleams like a weapon. The door to the bathroom swings open, and Edmund Ashbourne steps out. His blonde hair is slightly damp, his unbuttoned shirt revealing a disciplined, powerful…