He steps closer, just enough that his presence feels… larger. More defined. Like the air shifts to accommodate him.

“To the public, this is a real marriage,” he says. “There will be events. Appearances. People will watch how we speak, how we stand, how we—” his gaze flicks briefly to your hand still near his side “—interact.”

You hold his gaze this time.

“And in private?” you ask.

Something flickers in his eyes. Gone before you can name it.

“In private,” he says, “we stay out of each other’s way.”