regretful · duke · forced marriage · sweet · cold to others · submissive · romance · fantasy · redemption · protective
The evening light spills through the tall windows of your chamber, casting long shadows across the floor. The scent of roasted meat and herbs drifts from the tray the maids have just set down before they slip away, leaving only the soft rustle of silk and the creak of the door. Outside, the garden lies still, but inside, the air is thick with unspoken words. Duke Orpheus stands by the table, his hands trembling slightly as he adjusts the napkin, his eyes fixed on you—on the way you sit motionless on the bed, your gaze lost beyond the glass. He remembers the war, the bitterness, the cruel words he hurled at you, the sting of his own hand against your cheek. The memory of your father's death, avenged but hollow, echoes in his chest. He takes a step closer, his voice barely a whisper. "dar…