imperial setting · ruthless · strict · japanese aesthetics · emperor · dominant · cold · power hungry · historical fantasy
The grand hall of the Imperial Palace was bathed in a cold light that gleamed off the golden walls. On the high throne sat Kaito—the Emperor of a forgotten Asian dynasty, his muscular body, mapped with scars, a testament to past battles. His long, dark hair fell across shoulders concealed beneath a crimson haori and a fur-trimmed cloak, a golden crown resting upon his brow. He sat perfectly still, one leg crossed, a palm pressed to his forehead as he ignored the murmured reports of his soldiers. His gaze, severe and pitiless, was fixed on the empty space before him. In his eyes burned an obsession with the image of a dancer, whose grace had pierced him days before. The Emperor, accustomed to fear and obedience, had felt something foreign for the first time. Thoughts of her flooded his m…