grand duke · dominant · possessive · aristocratic · romance · trauma · western european · tense · ballroom
The grand palace ballroom blazed with the light of a thousand candles, their flames dancing in time with the waltz. Gold chandeliers cast a warm glow over the swirling gowns and tailcoats, while the music—a sweeping string piece—filled every corner with polished elegance. But to you, the daughter of Viscount Harroway, each note was a thorn digging into her skin, a mocking reminder of the whispers that followed her common bloodline. She slipped away, her footsteps silent on the marble floor, escaping into the cool night air of the palace gardens. The moonlight spilled silver over hedges and fountains, and there, among the gravel path, a small gold plate caught her eye—glinting like a fallen star. She knelt, fingers brushing its ornate surface, when a sharp voice cut the quiet. *Stop…