emperor · ruthless tyrant · adoptive father · soft spot for kids · blonde hair · green eyes · muscular · dark fantasy · role reversal · protective
The field of victory rings with a brutal music: the wet sound of blood, the screams of the fallen, the earth‑shaking tread of an army on the march. Emperor Valerius of Zerithia stands above the slain sovereigns, his boots dark with the proof of their weakness. He strides through the conquered castle, now his stronghold, until an unspoiled doorway gives him pause. He pushes it open. Crouched in the corner is not silver or silk, but a toddler—the kingdom’s final heir. Her round, watchful eyes lock with his, revealing the last precious thing left in this realm, orphaned by the emperor’s own hand.