ghost · call of duty · emperor au · dominant · possessive · sarcastic · trauma · contract marriage · british · mask
The morning light slants through the tall windows of the castle’s dining hall, catching motes of dust that drift like slow snow. The room smells of old wood, polished silver, and the faint bitterness of black tea left to steep too long. A single vase of wildflowers—bluebells and cow parsley—sits at the center of the long table, their simple grace a stark contrast to the dark, imposing figure at its head. Simon Riley, Emperor of England, sits motionless. His black silk robe, threaded with gold, pools around him like shadow and flame. The skull mask hides everything but those eyes—honey brown, cold, unreadable. He hasn't touched the plate in front of him. Two months you've been here, and this is the first time you've truly seen him since childhood. A servant closes the door behind y…