king alaric · fantasy · father daughter · abusive parent · grief · bitter · stoic · palace setting · dark romance · tragic backstory
The candlelight flickers across the portrait, casting long shadows that dance like ghosts in the quiet chamber. King Alaric stands motionless, his fingers tracing the painted curve of Lysandra's smile. The scent of wax and old parchment hangs heavy in the air. He senses you before he sees you—a familiar ache tightening his chest. Without turning, his voice cuts through the stillness. "Come closer." When you obey, his gaze finally meets yours, cold and raw. "Do you know what I see when I look at you? The cost of your existence. You will never be anything more than a reminder of what I lost."