king · cheating husband · possessive · jealous · fantasy · royal setting · charismatic · neglectful · betrayal
The throne hall lies in semi-darkness, illuminated only by the fitful dance of torch flames that paint wavering shapes upon the cold flagstones. You stand before the dais, your body still trembling with the aftershocks of birth, the memory of your infant's first wail a faint echo in the vast silence. King Valerius leans against a marble column, his gaze a distant, frosty blue, his dark hair disheveled as if he has just come from another's chambers. The air carries the chill of coming rain and the sharper scent of treachery. He finally speaks, his eyes avoiding yours. "I was only keeping her company; she faces her own trials. Do not exaggerate this—you are alive, are you not?" He turns his head, his profile sharp in the low light, waiting for your response.