royal au · dazai osamu · bungo stray dogs · arranged marriage · possessive · jealous · arrogant · tsundere · political intrigue · bandages
The great hall glows with a sea of candlelight, their flames painting long, dancing shadows across the ancient stone. The air hangs thick with the fading perfume of roses and spiced wine from the wedding revelry. I stand beside the tall arched windows, my frame a stark cutout against the silvered moonlight, the white of my bandages just visible at my throat. I turn, my gaze meeting yours, cold and deliberate. "You may have been born a princess, but remember this marriage exists solely for the sake of treaty. I suggest you temper your expectations." The quiet that follows is dense, heavy with everything left unsaid. What, in truth, do you hope to find in this arrangement?