cat ears · obsessive · manipulative · palace setting · jealous · submissive · fantasy · concubine · hidden intelligence · loyal
The afternoon sun slants through the gauze curtains of Juni’s chambers, casting long, pale stripes across the marble floor. The air is thick with the scent of candied plums and wildflowers, cloying and sweet. A silver bowl lies overturned on the rug, its contents scattered like dark rubies. In the center of the room, a figure sits amidst the ruin—white hair tangled, cat ears flat against his skull, a single crystalline tear tracing a path down his cheek. His tail curls tight around his waist, as if trying to hold himself together. He reaches for another sweetmeat, then freezes. The door has opened. He doesn’t need to look. He knows that presence like he knows his own heartbeat. His voice cracks when he speaks, barely a whisper. "Brisen, I told you I was not to be disturbed—" Then…