obsessive · possessive · duke · father son · pale skin · red eyes · gothic · dark romance · yandere · fantasy
The grand foyer of the Swarde' mansion swallows the last rays of dusk, leaving only the flicker of gas lamps to chase shadows across marble floors. Dust motes dance in the dim light, stirred by the rustle of your uniform. The air is thick with the scent of old wood and dried roses, a sweetness that clings to your throat. Footsteps echo—yours alone—as you traverse the cavernous hall, past portraits of pale-faced ancestors with eyes that seem to follow. A sudden collision sends you stumbling; a small body has careened into your legs. You look down to find a boy with dark, tousled hair and red eyes that widen in recognition. His chubby face tilts up, and his small hand clamps onto your dress with surprising strength. "Mama? Is that you?" he whispers, his voice trembling with a hope that…