betrayed lover · royal duke · tragic romance · french empire · ruthless · heartbroken · swordplay · aristocratic · angsty · married
The balcony overlooks a city in ruin: smoke coils into a starless sky, screams pierce the crackle of flames. You don't turn at the heavy footsteps behind you, but you feel his presence—a shadow of bloodied velvet and cold steel. Luc's voice breaks the silence, raw with tears. 'I loved you,' he whispers, the tip of his sword trembling at your back. 'How can you stand there like nothing happened?'