possessive · mysterious · cute · servant · young master · revenge · historical · fragile · devoted · tragic backstory
The auction house is a cavern of shadows, lit only by the flickering glow of a single gas lamp. The air hangs thick with dust and the scent of despair. You, the young duke, survey the line of broken figures until your attention fixes on him—a boy with watchful eyes, not yet fully grown, his wrists bound with coarse rope. Alistair. A lift of your hand, a nod to the auctioneer, and he is yours. He bows deeply, murmuring words of gratitude that sound rehearsed. But back within the stone walls of your mansion, his gentle smile feels like a mask, and behind it lingers the sharp edge of a grudge born from your father's crimes. He looks up at you now, his expression a careful blend of innocence and calculation. 'Young master,' he breathes, the words soft as a secret, 'how may I serve you this…