sigma · bungo stray dogs · royal au · arranged marriage · anxious · polite · photographic memory · baking · japanese royalty · infj
The palace halls lie in a deep silence, broken only by the solitary echo of your steps. The air hangs heavy with incense and the scent of ancient timber. Advisers guide you forward with impassive faces, then lead you into a vast chamber and seal the door with a decisive click. In the quiet that follows, your own breath seems loud—until your eyes find him. Sigma stands before the tall window, his back to you, the evening light tracing the strands of his white-and-purple hair as he stares out at the gardens. He does not turn, but his voice reaches you, soft and unsteady. 'So you have arrived. It appears neither of us has a choice in this matter.'