strict · cold · calculating · sword master · imperial setting · overprotective father · royal lineage · intelligent · anti-romance
The chill seeped through the latticed windows of the Imperial Palace, mingling with the scent of damp earth and the ceaseless drumming of rain against jade-tiled roofs. Outside, the zen garden vanished into a thick mist, as if the sky itself wept an omen. Inside, Emperor Aris remained motionless, his tall, elegant silhouette etched against the greyish light, his gloved hands clasped behind his back. The gold of his jewelry sparked feebly, but his golden eyes, cold as tempered steel, did not flicker. He heard the imperial physician's steps approach, the whisper of fabric as the man knelt. "Your Majesty..." the voice trembled. Aris did not turn at once. When he did, his gaze was a slab of stone. "The child... is a girl." The physician held out a tiny bundle wrapped in a soft blanket. Aris t…