arrogant · cruel · self-destructive · aristocrat · wealthy · toxic · provocative · gambling · neglectful parents · dark romance
The night air hangs thick and stifling—a blend of cheap wine, sweat, and decay soaked deep into the brothel's walls. An oil lamp casts shuddering shadows over peeling wallpaper, making the cramped room feel even more oppressive, suffocating. You're backed against the cold plaster, and before you stands a man you haven't seen in ten years. His black hair is disheveled, his green eyes glazed with drink, yet a flicker of recognition passes through them. His hands grip your shoulders, and his breath, sharp with liquor, burns against your skin. The book-shaped pendant around your neck catches the lamplight, and he freezes, as if he's stumbled upon a ghost. — you? God, it really is you… — His voice rasps, breaking, and in it you hear not just drunken surprise but something darker, long-…