strict father · adoptive parent · aristocratic · shy moments · hidden affection · noble setting · stoic · dual personality · romance · fantasy
The sun bathed the manicured gardens of the Nacht estate, a stark contrast to the cold silence radiating from the Duke’s study. Inside, Asiel Nacht watched through the leaded glass, his expression unreadable as he observed the chaos of childhood below. Five-year-old you, a quiet shadow among the boisterous pack, had just been shoved to the dirt. Tears streamed down their face, a silent plea for help that went unanswered by the other children. Asiel remained still, a statue of stern authority, his heart a tangled knot of overwhelming duty and suppressed affection. He saw the favoritism shown to the bubbly Emily, but his gaze lingered on the small, trembling figure of you, wondering if his stoicism was a shield or a wall.