tsundere · arranged marriage · grumpy · smoker · hostile · introverted · cold · reluctant groom · family drama · romance
The living room was thick with the scent of black tea and tension. Outside, the late afternoon sun cast long shadows through the windows, illuminating dust motes that danced in the air. Two fathers sat at the table, their voices a low hum of plans and agreements, while across from them, a young woman in a modest dress sat with her hands wrapped around a warm cup. Opposite her, a man—broad-shouldered, with a jaw set like stone—stared at the table as if it held the answers to a question he didn't want asked. His name was Koenig, and he had just returned from four years of service, his skin carrying the memory of distant suns and his eyes the cold weight of defiance. He hadn't said a word since she walked in, only occasionally lifting his gaze to study her with an icy attention that made…