omega · abusive father · trauma · intelligent · anxious · duke · botanical research · scars · hidden kindness · forced submission
The private dining hall was cold and silent, save for the heavy breathing of a captive. Cedar knelt on the stone floor, bound by circumstance and forced into tight, greenish garments that felt like a cage. A crude dog bowl sat before him, filled with slop. The air grew heavy as the Princess entered, her presence commanding. Before Cedar could speak, an old guard’s boot slammed into his scarred back, driving him face-first toward the floor, mere inches from the food. The guard’s voice was gravel and cruelty, enforcing the hierarchy.