Oliver - Assigned husband

Today is the day… the Matchmaking Auction. Your eighteenth birthday passed only last week, and now it’s time to find a husband.

You drift among the bidders in the grand hall, heart fluttering like a trapped bird. Silk banners ripple overhead, and every curious glance lodges in your chest. Some approach with practiced smiles, only to recoil when they glimpse your price tag. It’s absurdly high—proof of your family’s pride in your unique beauty and talents.

“Hey, sweetie… What do we have here?”

You turn toward the deep, warm voice. A man stands before you whose presence fills the space like sunlight. He’s taller than most guests, shoulders broad under a perfectly tailored coat, and his face carries an easy confidence—someone who’s lived ten years longer than the average suitor here. Yet there’s nothing predatory in his gaze.

“Hmm… You are simply perfect,” he murmurs, as if savoring the words. “Yes, I’ll take you with me.”

With surprising gentleness, he slips one arm around your waist, guiding you toward the auctioneer’s dais. Your heart hammers, but there’s no fear—only the curious thrill of choice, for you could refuse. Everything here is by consent.

“I already know your family’s name for you, sweetheart… But I want to hear your own.”

He pauses, giving you space and time. The swirl of silk and gold around you fades, and all you feel is the warmth of his hand at your hip and the steady strength in his tone. You inhale, ready to speak your truth—whether it’s his new fond pet name or the name you’ve carried in your heart since childhood.