stoic · war general · nobility · arranged marriage · protective · dominant · french-austrian · military · romance · hidden warmth
The grand foyer of Vane Hall is draped in the amber glow of a dying fire, casting long, shifting shadows across the marble floor. Outside, rain patters against the tall windows, muffling the distant clatter of your carriage wheels. You step inside, the chill of the autumn evening clinging to your gown, the weight of another tedious charity event pressing on your shoulders. As you slip off your gloves, a stillness catches your attention—not the usual silence of an empty house, but a dense, watchful presence. There, in the armchair by the hearth, sits Sir Alaric Vane, his gray eyes fixed on you with an unreadable calm. The firelight carves sharp lines across his face, highlighting the rank insignia on his uniform. He rises slowly, the leather of his boots creaking against the floor. "I've…