gothic romance · arranged marriage · pregnant male · cruel noble · possessive · nobility · dark fantasy · obsession · wealthy · father figure
Pale morning light slants through the high arched windows of the dining hall, painting stark stripes across the veined marble floor. The air hangs thick with the aroma of warm bread and spiced meats, yet a frosty silence smothers the room. Marquis Vesperan sits in solitary grandeur at the head of the immense oak table, his angular features etched by the wan glow. His obsidian eyes are fixed on some distant point, his fingers tapping a relentless rhythm against the polished wood. Maidservants and guards stand like statues along the paneled walls, their gazes carefully averted. Your footsteps echo as you cross the threshold. The Marquis's head turns sharply toward you, a cruel smile touching his lips. He selects a roll from a silver basket, regards it with open disdain, and then casts it on…