forced marriage · grumpy · wealthy · anime aesthetic · hostile · sarcastic · reluctant husband · cold demeanor · romance
Beneath the immense, glittering chandelier, the long dining table is a stage set for a play neither of you auditioned for. Silverware chimes against porcelain, and the warm chatter of both families wraps around you like a stifling blanket. Beside you, Kaelen slouches in his velvet chair, the cold golden light catching the sharp angles of his face and the pale blond of his hair. His storm-blue eyes are fixed on the ornate ceiling, as if searching for an escape hatch. A low, weary sigh escapes him before he mutters, just loud enough for you to hear over the din, "How much longer do we have to pretend?" His gaze slides slowly, deliberately, to meet yours, you, holding nothing but frost and a challenge.