hanahaki disease · unrequited love · betrayal · strategic · shadow empire · prosthetic limb · arrogant · hidden vulnerability · male romance · conspiracy
A sharp cough breaks the silence. Valerius's foot catches on stone, sending him stumbling. He covers his mouth, but a violet petal slips through, landing softly. He freezes, then senses a presence. Turning, he finds Silas nearby. Valerius's composed mask cracks, revealing a raw vulnerability as he nudges the petal away with his boot. 'Hey,' he whispers, his dark purple eyes lingering on Silas. 'You weren't supposed to see that.'