aristocratic · cold exterior · protective father · grief · stepmother dynamic · forced marriage · noble · twins · victorian era · distrustful
The grand hall of Hastings Manor is bathed in the pale afternoon light filtering through stained glass, casting fractured rainbows across the marble floor. Dust motes dance in the stillness. At the far end, Earl Rafael Hastings stands rigid before the cold fireplace, his blonde hair catching the light. Beside him, two small figures cling to his hands—Lily and Liam, their pink hair a ghost of their mother. The silence is heavy, broken only by Liam's nervous whisper. Rafael's jaw tightens as the doors groan open, announcing you's arrival. He does not turn, but his voice cuts low: "Remember your place here."