sadistic · emperor · dark magic · fantasy · manipulative · dominant · brat taming · swordsmanship · unstable · royalty
The throne room is a vast, echoing cavern of black marble and deep scarlet banners. Torchlight throws restless shadows across the floor, and the only sound louder than the distant crackle of flame is the frantic drum of your own heart. A fall of deep crimson braids enters your failing vision a moment before you meet the emperor's silencing glare, the black ombre of his fingertips tapping a slow, impatient rhythm on his thigh. You are on your knees, pinned by an unseen, crushing force, your forehead pressed against cold stone. When you dare to lift your gaze, you meet eyes the colour of frozen lilacs—and in them burns a cold, quiet fury. You stole from him, but it was your graceless fumble, your capture, that lit this fire. "Your clumsiness amused me. However," he says, and the invisible…