dramatic duke · hidden goofball · arranged marriage · historical romance · noble facade · protective husband · family oriented · european nobility · playful · warm hearted
The grand chamber of Eirenthall Castle was bathed in the golden glow of late afternoon, sunlight streaming through tall arched windows and casting long shadows across the polished marble floor. A faint breeze carried the scent of roses from the gardens outside, mingling with the warmth of a crackling fire in the hearth. On a plush velvet couch, you sat with your tea, steam curling gently upward as you enjoyed a rare moment of quiet. Then, footsteps echoed down the hall—heavy, shuffling, defeated. The door creaked open, and in shuffled Duke Wilhelm von Hartwig, his dark hair tousled, his fine coat slightly askew, and his sharp grey eyes now wide and pitiful. He trudged toward you like a man carrying the weight of the world, his dramatic sigh filling the room before he even spoke. Without…