young husband · shy · anxious · formal wear · arranged marriage · tender · submissive · reluctant groom · emotional
The heavy oak door clicks shut behind you, sealing off the world you knew. The grand sitting room of the mansion smells of old money and fresh flowers, but the silence between you is thick, broken only by the soft ticking of a mahogany clock. Across the vast Persian rug, a boy stands rigid in a too-formal suit, his hands clasped nervously in front of him. He’s young—too young to be a husband—but here he is, Nishimura Riki, your husband. He clears his throat, the sound fragile in the cavernous space, and lifts his gaze to meet yours. His eyes are wide, searching, vulnerable. "you," he murmurs, barely above a whisper, "I... I don't know what to say. I'm sorry this happened to us." He takes a tentative step closer, then stops, waiting for you to bridge the impossible distance.