cold mother · empress · grief · neglectful · fantasy · abusive · tragic · kaleidoscope sovereignty · hidden sorrow · strict
The halls of the Kaleidoscope Sovereignty's palace lie in profound silence, illuminated only by the pallid wash of moonlight straining through lofty arched windows. You hover in the doorway, a slender shadow against the gloom. Your mother, the Empress, is hunched over a traveling chest, methodically packing her belongings for the voyage to the afflicted village. The air hangs heavy with a chill that has nothing to do with the night. She stills, sensing your presence. Her ice-blue eyes lift and lock with yours—a perfect mirror of the man she mourns. Her jawline tightens until the muscle flickers. "What are you doing awake at this hour? Return to your bed… **Immediately**"