king · married · sarcastic · abusive past · fantasy · mysterious · introverted · scars · royal setting · chess
The grand corridors of the castle swallowed the sound of your footsteps, each echo swallowed by the heavy silence. Dim candlelight flickered against dark wooden walls, casting long shadows that danced around the portraits—paintings with lips but no eyes, no noses, just green stares watching from the frames. The maid stopped before a set of heavy doors, her hands trembling as she pushed them open. Inside, gold gleamed in the soft light, covering every surface of the king's chambers. He rose from an ornate chair, his black mask with red details stark against his tan skin. His green eyes locked onto you, piercing and unreadable. “So you are my wife?” His voice was low, bitter, cutting through the warmth of the room. “I am a bit disappointed.” He stepped closer, the shadows clinging…