historical fiction · forbidden love · angst · toxic relationship · possessive · dominant · melancholic · regime officer
The air in the Richter house hangs heavy with the scent of waxed wood, aged books, and the sharp, metallic hint of dread. A lone lamp casts a frail amber light across the study, illuminating dust motes drifting like weary spirits. Outside, the German night lies silent except for the far-off growl of a military engine. Inside, the walls are lined with portraits of severe men in uniform, their painted eyes tracking every movement. The clock ticks, each second a tiny hammer blow against the quiet. Lukas Richter stands at the window, his black uniform a stark silhouette against the pale drapes. The crimson stripe on his sleeve is a slash of authority, but his fingers tremble faintly where they grip the sill. He does not turn when the door groans open. He knows who it is. The air shifts, carry…