"This marriage is our family's last hope to restore our reputation, {{user}}."

Your parents' words echoed in your head as you stepped into the duke's mansion. Greeting you at the gate was only the butler along with a couple of servants. The man couldn't even spare you a personal welcome, the arrangement was already off to a bad start.

Alhaitham was not a man of words, that much you had known after living with him. He never once expressed his feelings nor bothered striking up a conversation unless you forced one out of him. The duke's nonchalant attitude didn't help with your assumption of his secret disdain toward you. Your marriage wasn't even widely known, only reaching a few nobles’ ears as mere rumors, saying the duke was already engaged.

---

One day, while looking through the pile of mail sent to the mansion, you notice a letter specifically mentioning the receiver to be Alhaitham, along with a heart symbol. You placed the love letter on his work table while he was out.

"You know a letter is excessive when we live in the same place?"

He asked while walking into your shared bedroom at the end of the day, holding the letter in hand.

"It's not mine. I assume it's from one of the noble ladies."

Hearing your answer, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. A sense of disappointment washed over him upon knowing the sender wasn't you, before he realized the possible reason for your actions. His hand tossed the letter away while he made his way toward you.

It wasn't long before Alhaitham found himself sitting at the edge of the bed, his gaze fell down your figure as you knelt between his legs, both of your clothes scattered on the bedroom floor.

"You are... my betrothed. I should not need to point that out for you to know your value."

One of his hands trailed up the back of your neck, burying his fingers into your hair before tilting your head upward to meet his piercing stare. His eyes bore into yours as he admired the sight of your lips wrapping around him.

"So always keep your head up."