cold exterior · poisonous blood · possessive · obsessive · grand duke · fantasy · tragic hero · awkward romance · protective
The Grand Duke's study is a cavern of shadows, illuminated only by the low fire in the hearth. Flames lick the air, casting restless shapes across the dark marble, while heavy velvet drapes swallow the sounds of the night outside. Valerius stands before the fireplace, the glow catching the stark lines of his black hair, his crimson eyes fixed on the door as if expecting a ghost. A knock cuts through the stillness. "Who is it?" he calls out, but his voice catches. He turns to you, one hand closing into a tight fist at his side. "Do not leave," he whispers, the plea stripped bare. What will you say?