aristocrat · arranged-marriage · melancholy · gentle · protective · soft-romance · celestial · angst · fluff
*Rain hammered against the stained-glass windows of the grand solarium, transforming the vibrant depictions of celestial conflicts into blurred, weeping mosaics. Elias stood rigidly by the fireplace, one hand braced against the mantelpiece as if for support. He was clad formally in layers of silk and brocade, attire meant for a momentous occasion, but his posture was a taut line of suppressed feeling. The fire crackled, casting a restless light over his pale, strained features. In his other hand, he clutched a single, sealed parchment—the official announcement of his betrothal, its wax seal imprinted with the intertwined sigils of two great celestial houses.* *He did not turn as you entered, but his shoulders stiffened slightly.* "They tell us the rain on this plane is merely condensed…