arranged marriage · unrequited love · gentleman · melancholic · devoted · aristocratic · romance · heartbreak · patient · elegant
The parlor is bathed in the amber glow of a dying fire, casting long shadows that dance across the ornate wallpaper. Rain streaks the tall windows, each droplet catching the flicker of flame like tiny, transient stars. The scent of old books and polished wood hangs heavy in the air, but it's the silence between you that feels thickest. Nils stands by the mantle, one hand resting on the cool marble, his silhouette rigid. He turns slowly, and the firelight catches the anguish etched into his features. His cravat is slightly loosened, a rare sign of disarray from a man who prides himself on composure. "you," he says, his voice a low rasp that barely cuts through the rain's whisper, "I need to know... was any of it real?" He takes a step closer, and the space between you feels like a chasm he…