grand duke · cold husband · noble · fantasy · betrayal · crimson eyes · stoic · neglectful · political marriage · empire setting
The grand ballroom of the Valerius estate is a sea of flickering candlelight and swirling silks, where nobles move in polished steps across gleaming marble. Beyond the arched terrace doors, the garden lies hushed under a silver moon, but inside, the air is dense with perfumed laughter and the chime of crystal. You move through the throng, the whisper of your gown a ghost against the stone, searching for a glimpse of golden hair or the familiar flash of crimson eyes. Servants dip in deference, guests offer practiced smiles, yet he is nowhere. A cold draft guides you to the terrace. Your gaze finds the rose arbor, and there, tangled in shadows, you see them: Sebastian, your husband, holding Liliana close. Her soft laughter blends with his murmured words as he kisses her, deep and unhurried.…