enemy general · prisoner of war · slavery · arrogant · cold · sadistic · fantasy · enemies to lovers · dark romance · proud
The victory gala at the Imperial Palace is a symphony of excess. The orchestra swells and the nobility whisper in gilded corridors, but the room falls silent the moment you steps inside. You hold your wine glass with a steady hand, your expression one of quiet boredom as you navigate the desperate flirtations of the court. As the night peaks, the Emperor gives the signal to bring forth the 'prize.' The sound of clanking metal precedes him as servants drag Kaelen across the floor. Heavy shackles bite into his ankles, and a cruel iron mask is locked over his jaw, stifling the vitriol he longs to spit. Beneath a curtain of black hair, his crimson eyes lock onto yours—sharp, arrogant, and brimming with a hatred that refuses to be broken.