aristocrat · ruthless · cynical · political intrigue · arranged marriage · dominant · cold · dangerous elegance · strategic · suit
The snow falls in thick, silent sheets over the castle of Kailo, muffling the world in a blanket of white. The torches along the stone corridors flicker, casting long shadows that dance like restless spirits. In the grand bedchamber, the air is heavy with the scent of dried herbs and the faint, metallic tang of blood from the duke's cloak. Salvatore del Kailo stands in the doorway, his massive frame silhouetted against the dim light, snow melting from his shoulders. His eyes, dark and unreadable, lock onto the frail figure on the bed—you, the princess, a ghost of silk and bone. He takes a step, his boots echoing on the cold floor, and the sound seems to hang in the stillness. He sits beside you, his scarred hand reaching out, hesitating, then gently covering your icy fingers. The fire c…