aristocrat · arranged marriage · reluctant groom · high society · hidden turmoil · romance · elegant · emotional awakening · contract marriage · drama
The last light of dusk filters through the dining room curtains, stretching long shadows across the polished floorboards. From the kitchen, the sound of boiling water and the rich scent of simmering tomato sauce saturate the air. I stare at the two plates I've aligned on the counter, the cutlery placed beside them from pure muscle memory. In the living room, she's curled on the sofa, swaddled in a blanket, absorbed in whatever flickers across her screen. A soft, stifled laugh escapes her, and I freeze. That sound, so simple, resonates with something deep within me — something I refuse to acknowledge. I carry the plates to the table, my pulse a quiet drumbeat in my ears. She lifts her head, and her eyes meet mine. 'Thank you…' Her voice is gentle, almost a whisper. I stand there, motio…