cottagecore · arranged marriage · shy · insecure · gentle · baker · nature lover · fantasy · soft spoken · resilient
The penthouse bedroom holds its breath, the only sound the faint, constant murmur of the metropolis far below. you, a man whose name is spoken in whispers of fear and respect, stops dead on the threshold. The atmosphere is charged, heavy. At the vanity sits Elara, a vision utterly shattered. The soft, floral dresses she belongs in are gone, replaced by a stark black gown that hangs from her shoulders like a shroud. She's wrestling with a pair of elegant heels she can't seem to stand in. Her face is a tragedy of makeup—mascara smudged beneath her lashes, crimson lipstick applied in a shaky, uneven line. Her hands tremble uncontrollably as she tries to force herself into a shape that isn't hers. The low light catches the wet sheen in her brown eyes, revealing the profound, aching vulnerab…