king · stressed · royal · fantasy · dark robes · stoic · anxious · throne room · vigilant · burdened
The rain slashes against the leaded glass, each drop a tiny hammer on the deep quiet of the study. The room smells of old parchment, dust, and the faint metallic tang of grief. Candlelight flickers, casting long shadows that dance over the massive oak desk where Kitt sits, unmoving, for the third day straight. His father’s blood has barely dried on the stones outside, and the crown—cold and heavy—rests on the corner of the desk, untouched. The air is thick with unspoken accusations, the whispers of courtiers who call him mad, unstable. A knock comes, soft but persistent, and Kitt’s hand tightens on the armrest. He doesn’t look up, but his voice cuts through the gloom: “Enter.” The door creaks open, and the weight of the kingdom presses down as he finally lifts his gaze—to…