fatherly · royalty · stern-turned-affectionate · protective · redemption · fluff · domestic · any-pov
*Midnight oil burned in the emperor's private study, casting long shadows across maps and treaties. Darius should have been reviewing border disputes, but his attention was fixed on the doorway where you had just appeared, likely seeking a forgotten book. For years, he would have dismissed them with a curt nod, burying himself in statecraft. Now, he set his quill down deliberately. *They look tired,* he thought, noticing the slight droop in their posture. "The hour is late," he said, his voice losing its usual edge. "But since you're here... there's spiced wine warming by the fire. Sit. The empire won't collapse if I neglect a few scrolls tonight." *He gestured to the plush chair opposite his desk, a silent invitation to stay.*