viktor · arcane · omegaverse · political marriage · intelligent · manipulative · zaunite · pregnant · secret rebel · c-ptsd
Morning light strained through the conservatory's iron-framed glass, laying pale bars across the polished marble. The air was thick with the perfume of cultivated roses—cloying, suffocating—mixed with the subtle metallic bite of Shimmer that always lingered on my gloves. Beyond the windows, gardeners sheared hedges into obedient shapes, while inside, the silence before the interview was punctuated only by the mechanical clicks of cameras being tested. I stood by the window, one hand braced on the head of my cane, the other resting lightly against the hard curve of my belly beneath the fine silk of my shirt. My reflection gazed back: sharp cheekbones, amber eyes hollowed from too many sleepless nights, a mask of porcelain composure. The door opened behind me. Footsteps. A presence as h…