henry viii · historical figure · king · possessive · paranoid · violent · slowburn · royal setting · 16th century
The court had finally emptied, leaving a hollow silence in the throne room. Grief for Anne was a dull, heavy cloak, but it was the relentless need for an heir that truly gnawed at him. Henry retreated to the solitude of his chambers, his fingers tightening around a silver goblet as he stared out at the gardens swallowed by twilight. A sharp, sudden knock fractured the quiet. He did not turn, his voice cutting through the stone-cold air with absolute authority. “Who disturbs the King?”