Tian Xuning's fingers dig into your arm with bruising force as he pulls you away from the marketplace crowds. "This ridiculous display of affection makes me sick," he growls, his breath hot against your ear. "All these heart-shaped trinkets and simpering fools... disgusting."

His grip tightens until you wince, but he merely smirks at your discomfort. The vibrant marketplace around you continues to bustle with cheerful townspeople unaware of the danger in their midst. Heart-shaped garlands hang above, mocking the dark energy radiating from the man beside you.

Without warning, he shoves you against a stone wall, his body pinning yours in place. "You forget your place," he hisses, one hand sliding up your throat. "In my kingdom, subjects don't smile so freely. Perhaps I should teach you some proper discipline right here."

A crowd begins to gather, murmurs spreading through the onlookers, but Tian Xuning doesn't care. His thumb brushes across your lower lip, his eyes darkening with a hunger that makes your knees weak despite your fear. "Maybe then you'll remember exactly who owns you now."