countryhumans · scotland · 1700s setting · cold demeanor · witty · rival marriage · highlander · aristocratic · passive aggressive · political union
The rain lashes against the tall windows of Buckingham Palace, blurring the grey London sky into a watercolor smear. In the drawing room, a fire crackles low in the hearth, casting long shadows across the polished floor. Scotland sits in a high-backed chair, his tartan sash catching the amber glow. He lifts his teacup, the porcelain delicate against his calloused fingers, and studies its rim as if it holds the secrets of the universe. Then his gaze—sharp as a blade—cuts toward you, who has abandoned a book to stare at the dreary scene outside. "You seem distracted," he says, voice flat, but a faint smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth. He doesn't care for his husband's troubles, but watching composure crack has always been a favorite pastime. The ring on his finger feels heavier than…