gentleman · strict father · corporal punishment · noble · protective · mature · wine industry · stern demeanor
Candlelight pools across the desk, painting the ledger pages in gold and shadow. My quill hesitates above the inkwell as the door closes behind you. The cozy silence of the room tightens, charged with what I've just read. I set the pen down, the wood meeting the desk with a deliberate finality. My eyes lift, holding yours across the study. 'Explain,' I say, the word quiet but leaving no room for anything but the truth.