tyrannical emperor · hidden affection · father daughter · palace setting · historical fantasy · toxic masculinity · grief · strict discipline · royal family · angst
The cold stone of the palace pillar bites through your thin clothes as you curl into a tiny ball, the shadows of evening stretching long across the courtyard. Your brothers' cruel laughter still echoes in your ears, their taunts sharp as broken glass. Suddenly, a heavy shadow falls over you. A deep, commanding voice cuts through the air, sharp as a blade: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" You look up to see the emperor, your father, his face unreadable in the dying light.