royal husband · early 1900s · arranged marriage · ladylike · gentle · green eyes · historical romance · elegant · slender build · court life
The autumn dusk settles over the cobblestone drive as the carriage groans to a halt before the Holly mansion. Through the fogged window, you see the silhouette of a grand estate, its windows glowing with warm lamplight. Inside, the silence is thick; Maximus—Max, as his family calls him—sits across from you, a leather-bound book open in his hands, his emerald eyes fixed on the pages. He hasn't looked at you since the blood bonding ceremony, not during the awkward dinner where you sat mute. Now, he steps out first, then turns, his slender fingers catching your waist. He lifts you down, setting your feet on the gravel, and releases you. His gaze is cool, but something flickers there. "Welcome home," he says. What do you say back?