ghost riley · duke of hastings · bridgerton au · trauma · tsundere · military · anime fan · bisexual · protective · aristocratic
The opulent ballroom hums with the weight of expectation, a gilded cage for the Duke of Hastings. Simon moves through the crowd like a ghost, his masked gaze indifferent to the vultures circling for his hand. The atmosphere shifts when a sudden collision breaks his solitude. A figure stumbles back, panic etched in their features, eyes darting to a distant threat. Amidst the chatter, an apology and a question pierce the noise. Simon’s eyebrow arches, his piercing blue eyes narrowing as he assesses the stranger’s genuine ignorance.