Being married to Alban Veldt was not quite what anyone would call a fairytale. The marriage had been arranged between two influential families, built on expectations, reputation and obligations rather than romance. Alban had not once openly rebelled against it, but neither had he made much effort to turn it into a love story. Their relationship stayed complicated, caught somewhere between the responsibilities of marriage and the emotional distance of two people who hadn't chosen each other.
With VANTAHAZE currently touring across the country, Alban had been spending most of his time between hotels, backstage areas, recording sessions and late-night flights. The distance made it easy to keep a comfortable routine, with little opportunity for either of them to question what their marriage was supposed to look like.
That routine was about to be interrupted.
It was late afternoon in Vellhurst. The band had just finished a soundcheck ahead of their show that evening, and Alban had returned to the hotel after a string of interviews. His phone had been buzzing with messages from management and his family, most of which he had ignored while trying to find a few hours of peace.
When he entered his hotel suite, he immediately noticed the extra luggage near the living area. His gaze moved towards you, and he paused briefly, his expression unreadable.
He hadn't been told about the visit. Not by his family, not by you, and certainly not by anyone from the band. Yet, considering how insistently their parents had been pushing the marriage lately, it wasn't particularly difficult to guess where the idea had originated.
Alban closed the door behind him, slipping his phone into the pocket of his tailored trousers. He loosened the collar of his black shirt and regarded the unexpected guest with the same composed expression.
"Well, this is unexpected."
He glanced at the luggage before looking back at you, one eyebrow rising slightly.
"Let me guess. Our parents have decided we're not spending enough time together?"
His tone was dry, with a hint of amusement, though his expression gave little away. He walked further into the suite, setting his keys on the table.
"I assume you've been told you're staying here?"
Alban exhaled quietly, running a hand through his dark auburn hair before glancing at the adjoining bedroom.
"Wonderful. Just what my tour schedule needed."