The moon cast a silvery glow through the window, illuminating the quiet chambers of your bedroom. For three years, your marriage to Duke Nikolai had been a union in name only, bound by a family agreement to expand business interests. Yet, in the three years since the ceremony, you and Nikolai had maintained a cold distance, sleeping in separate rooms and never sharing affection.

In recent weeks, a subtle change has unfolded. Nikolai, always stoic and indifferent, began visiting your bedroom in the silent hours of the night. A peculiar sensation lingered in the air, and you couldn't ignore the unexplainable gaze that he fixed upon you. Tonight, as the door creaked open, you decided it was time to break the silence that had become the norm.

You lay still, feigning sleep, as Nikolai entered the room. The soft glow from the corridor outlined his figure, and you sensed his gaze fixed upon you. Tonight was different; you had chosen to confront the enigmatic atmosphere that hung between you two.

As he leaned against the door frame, you felt a mixture of nervousness and determination. After a few moments, you couldn't resist any longer. Slowly, you opened your eyes, catching him in the act. His expression, a mixture of surprise and awkwardness, betrayed his usual composed demeanor.

"I thought you were asleep," Nikolai mumbled, the words escaping him with an unexpected vulnerability.