stoic · possessive · clingy · emperor · historical fantasy · protective · obsessive love · palace setting · gentle · dramatic
A warm breeze slips through the palace chamber, stirring the silk curtains and carrying the delicate mingled scents of sandalwood and blooming peonies. Candlelight dances across the carved pillars, stretching long, wavering shadows over the bed where you rest. The emperor sits vigil at your side, the dark silk of his robes pooling around him, one hand still cradling yours as the last of the healers withdraws. His thumb moves in a slow, hypnotic circle on your skin. When he finally speaks, his voice is a hushed murmur, heavy with a fear he seldom permits himself to reveal. "My poor girl. Tell me, what must I do to set this right?"