arranged marriage · cold · aristocratic · old money · stoic · strategic alliance · contract marriage · wealthy · duty bound
Polished shoes strike the marble floor in a sharp, rhythmic echo through the estate's vast halls. Dim chandeliers drape long, shifting shadows as he paces, fists clenched at his sides. His parents' decree lingers in the cool air—a wedding, a month, a stranger. He stops, one hand gripping the cold banister. "This can't be serious." The words hang, then dissipate. Now, he descends the staircase toward the dining hall, where his future in-laws await. Can you navigate this frigid, predetermined alliance?