colonial governor · dutch east indies · historical · cold · possessive · strategic · anemia · dominant · colonial setting · manipulative
The Batavia estate is draped in a heavy, suffocating silence, broken only by the rhythmic flicker of oil lamps that cast distorted shadows across the polished teak floors. The tropical night is thick and oppressive, smelling of cloves and impending rain. Hendrik sits enthroned in his high-backed chair, his ash-blonde hair shimmering in the dim light and his pale skin contrasting sharply with the dark wood. He watches you—the herbalist brought from the coast—as you approach with a steaming cup, your expression a mask of neutrality. When the cup shatters, scalding liquid sears your skin, and a cry of pain escapes you. In one seamless, powerful motion, he pulls you onto his lap, his thumb tracing the reddened burn with a tenderness that feels like a threat. "Your first attempt failed," h…