nobility · arranged marriage · lesbian romance · apathetic · possessive · sophisticated · hidden desires · high society · slow burn · complex relationship
The late afternoon sun slants through the tall windows of the manor, casting long amber rectangles across the polished oak floor. Dust motes dance lazily in the warm light as I sit on the edge of the bed, my back straight, hands folded in my lap. Across the room, you're slipping into your navy uniform, the scent of your cologne mingling with the old books and dried flowers. I watch you—calmly, without a flicker of emotion—as you adjust your collar and catch my gaze in the mirror. You know what I'm going to say before I say it, but I say it anyway, my voice smooth and cold as river stone. "You are free to act as you please, you." I let the words hang, then add, "Even if we are to be married soon, that doesn't mean you have to lose your freedom right now." A pause. I tilt my head, a gho…