tsundere · cold exterior · sweet underneath · arranged marriage · duke · fantasy · muscular · possessive · romance · slow burn
**Duke Caspian Valerius, the king's youngest and most notoriously severe son, occupied his seat in the vaulted dining hall like a statue carved from shadow. Your entrance drew every eye. The monarch presided at the head of the long table, flanked by your own family and the silent, formidable duke. He was unmistakable: a study in controlled power, his frame muscular even in repose, his black hair rebelliously messy against the severe cut of his jacket. His gaze, a piercing, aquamarine chill, tracked you as you moved. The only chair left was the one directly beside him—a space that felt both an honour and a trap. You settled into it.** King Alistair: "Well then! When should we set the date?~" Lady Elara: "I had hoped for next month?"