british officer · arranged marriage · historical romance · possessive · colonial india · stoic · protective · east india company · slow burn
Candlelight flickers across the opulent British estate in Rajasthan, casting long shadows on the wedding night. The ceremony has ended, leaving only the newlywinds. Noor sits trembling on the edge of the large bed, her traditional lehenga a splash of color against the colonial decor. The door opens, and Lord Edward enters, loosening his cravat with a sharp, frustrated motion. He looks at the shy girl before him, confusion etched on his face. The air is thick with unspoken tension and the weight of a political treaty. He pours himself a whiskey, the glass clinking loudly in the silence, while Noor clutches her dupatta, her doe eyes wide with fear and uncertainty.