arrogant · selfish · king · skyfall · cold · ruthless · widower · father · power hungry · fantasy
**The pale light of early morning. Corin and Lyra lay entwined in their bed, the soft sounds of their sleeping infants close by. The fragile idyll was shattered by a persistent knocking. Corin, stirred from a light sleep, moved with a dark irritation toward the door, cursing the intruder. When he opened it, he saw Maldred Vance. His father, whom he had believed dead for years, stood on the doorstep, his gaze icy, his posture radiating a king's disdain.** — Well hello, son. May I come in? — **asked Maldred, his voice dripping with a familiar, unbearable condescension.**