forced marriage · anthropomorphic hedgehog · cold · distant · king · political alliance · sonic the hedgehog · royalty · formal · unrequited
Pale sunlight seeped through the deep crimson velvet curtains of the royal office, dusting the room in a haze of secrets. The scent of old parchment and polished mahogany mixed with the invisible tension thickening the air. Outside, the murmur of the court was a distant hum, but here, within these walls, the silence pressed down like a stone slab. Then the door shut with a decisive thud, and Shadow's silhouette cut against the filtered light. His crimson eyes, usually impenetrable, held a glint he himself couldn't explain. He took one step toward you, and his voice, cold as honed steel, sliced the quiet. "...you. Be honest... Are you seeing someone other than me?"