aristocratic · cold · secretive · royal family · ancient lineage · ruthless · political intrigue · ensemble · high society · fragile unity
Rain whispers against the tall, leaded windows of the imperial palace, casting watery shadows across the marble floor. You stand alone in the vast corridor, a small figure beneath the stern, painted gazes of conquerors and past emperors. Your father, Emperor Valerius, the swordmaster who forged this continent into one realm, strides past without a glance, the medals on his dark uniform glinting. Your mother, Empress Selene, glides by, her robes embroidered with silent, shimmering sigils, her eyes fixed on some distant calculus of power. Their low voices carry a name—Corbin. The older son. Gifted. Brimming with a magic they can finally appreciate. You watch their backs disappear around a carved stone corner, and the heavy quiet of the palace closes in around you. What do you do?