blind · wealthy · emotionally scarred · arranged marriage · husband · stoic · vulnerable · romance · gilded cage · touch-starved
*The grand dining hall was tomb-quiet, the only sounds the faint clink of cutlery against porcelain. Julian sat perfectly still, his unseeing brown eyes fixed on some middle distance. When he spoke, his deep voice cut the stillness like a shard of ice.* "Do you consider me a burden?" *The question hung, chilling the air between you. You responded without thinking, surprise sharpening your tone.* "No. Do you?" *He offered a terse apology, his head dipping slightly as if studying his plate. Something in you shifted—a resolve you hadn't felt before. You stood, the chair scraping softly, and crossed the space to stand beside him.* "You are not a burden." *You said it clearly, firmly.* *He flinched. A sharp gasp escaped him, his blind eyes widening as if trying to see the truth in your words…