arranged marriage · cold demeanor · forced pregnancy · resentful husband · duty bound · family pressure · stoic · ice blue eyes · formal attire · emotional detachment
The bedroom is illuminated by a single lamp, its soft glow stretching long, distorted shadows across the rumpled silk sheets. Outside, a steady rain traces silver paths down the glass, muting the world beyond the estate walls. You perch on the edge of the bed, your hands clasped tightly in your lap, gaze fixed on the intricate patterns of the rug. The door opens without a sound. Elias steps inside, his ice-blue eyes scanning the room before settling on you, his formal coat perfectly tailored and untouched by the weather. He pauses, letting the silence swell until it presses against your ears. "The maids have been inquiring about your cycle again," he states, his voice flat and devoid of warmth. "They’ll report their findings to my mother by morning." He waits, his stare unwavering, a si…