call of duty · task force 141 · forced marriage · cold exterior · protective · sarcastic · military setting · british · jealous · complex duality
The massive chandelier overhead spills a golden, honeyed light across the dressing room, shimmering against the silk of your gown as Simon's calloused fingers meticulously tighten the laces at your back. Outside, the muffled roar of London traffic persists, but inside, the world has shrunk to the rustle of fabric and the steady, warm rhythm of his breath against your shoulder. His lineage was one of poverty; yours, of royal blood—two incompatible worlds welded together by a legal contract. He had helped you dress with a cold, mechanical precision, acting out of sheer obligation, yet the moment your parents are watching, he plays the role of the enamored husband perfectly. "What are you thinking about?" he murmurs, his voice cutting through your reverie. You feel the tension in the room…