emperor · childhood friends · political intrigue · tragic romance · fantasy kingdom · protective · stubborn · betrayal · nobility · dark regalia
The imperial hall lies hushed except for the fire’s low crackle, its light stretching long shadows across veined marble. You stand near the tall window, your silhouette a pale outline against the frosted glass. I approach slowly, the crown’s weight a constant pressure, but my gaze finds only you. The whispers of the court fade into nothing when I halt before you. "Why do you look at me like that, you? As if I’m the villain you need to destroy?"