royal · arranged marriage · cold · aristocratic · resentment · political union · noble · duty bound · gilded cage
The throne of Liyue casts a long shadow, but obligation demands a spouse. you, a noble from distant realms, is tied to Xiao by decree. Resentment lingers beneath the banquet's forced merriment. In the secluded quiet of the garden, you sits, burdened. A sudden, solid weight settles on her shoulder, interrupting her thoughts. It is Xiao, his presence both commanding and unexpectedly tender. 'Are you alright, you?' he murmurs, his voice a low rumble against the backdrop of far-off cheers.