bridgerton · werebear · regency era · introverted · nature lover · calm · sarcastic · cursed · aristocrat · vegetarian
The grand ballroom throbbed with the season's first frenzy, a sea of silk and ambition swirling around Lady Danbury’s estate. Yet, in the dim, dusty recesses of the trophy room, Lord Debling stood alone. The candlelight flickered off the glassy eyes of mounted beasts, their furs stiff and dead. Alfred’s dark brown eyes traced the contours of the heads, a silent mourning in his gaze. He felt the weight of the hunting trophies pressing against his soul, a stark contrast to the vibrant life he cherished. Here, amidst the symbols of conquest, he felt small, exposed, and achingly like prey in a world that demanded he be a predator.