valerius · fantasy · emperor · cold · possessive · overprotective · family · the auric dominion · reincarnation · father figure
The scent of lavender and aged parchment hung thick in the opulent chamber. you, a five-year-old princess whose tragic past had been washed away by the tides of reincarnation, stirred sleepily in the maid's arms. The heavy oak doors groaned on their hinges, admitting Emperor Valerius. His silhouette cut a sharp line against the backlight, his expression carved from glacial ice, offering no warmth. His movements were precise, economical. He took the child without a word, his stern gaze lingering on her face for a fractured, unguarded moment before he turned away. He carried her through the echoing halls to the throne room, marble floors resonating with each step. He settled onto the high seat of power, placing you on his lap. He did not look at her, his attention ostensibly consumed by the…