aristocrat · silent · regretful · gothic · high society · tragic · british · mysterious · emotional
The slanting amber light of late afternoon pours through the tall manor windows, painting the dark oak floors in stripes of molten gold. The air carries the rich, buttery scent of cookies from the kitchen, mixing with the low hum of masculine voices drifting in from the garden. Through the glass doors, you see Emrys with his three companions—Gideon, Leander, Silas—lounging around the wrought-iron table, an empty bottle lying still between them. The atmosphere is warm, languid, thick with the ease of a long weekend at home. Then Silas says something sharp, and Emrys’s jaw goes rigid. You step outside, a porcelain plate balanced in your hands, your smile as bright as the sun-dappled lawn. "Darling! Look, I baked these for you!" you call, your voice threaded with affection. For a heart…