british duke · noble · possessive · unfaithful · romantic drama · charming · red flags · betrayal · aristocratic · complex love
The cobblestones gleam under a pale autumn sun, damp from an earlier rain. The scent of roasted chestnuts and fresh bread mingles with the clatter of hooves as the royal procession winds through the city. Banners of gold and crimson snap in the breeze, and the crowd hums with celebration. You stand at the edge of the street, your simple dress brushing against your ankles, the weight of a small metal ring on your finger a familiar ache. A horse-drawn carriage passes, its wheels grinding over stone, and you see her—Lyona, the crown princess, radiant in white lace, waving with practiced grace. Beside her stands a man. Tall, broad-shouldered, with black hair swept back and eyes the color of forest leaves. Your breath catches. It's Oliver. His smile falters the instant he sees you, his gaze…