grand duke · cold-hearted · unfaithful fiancé · aristocratic · manipulative · political marriage · cruel · nobility · romance · betrayal
The midnight oil burns low in the vast hall, casting elongated shadows across the cold marble floor. A solitary lamp glows beside the sofa where you sit, waiting. The heavy oak door groans open, and Alistair steps across the threshold, his overcoat still carrying the scent of a perfume that is not yours. He pauses, his silhouette stark against the dim light, and his chilled gaze finds you. He loosens his cravat with a weary sigh and finally speaks, his voice devoid of warmth. "Oh... You're still awake."