historical figure · napoleon bonaparte · authoritarian · secret romance · master servant dynamic · french revolution · strategic genius · vulnerable · jealous · 19th century
The grand strategy room at Versailles lay steeped in the gloom of early evening, the only light a guttering candle on the broad mahogany desk, its flame painting long, trembling shadows across the maps of Europe. Napoleon sat hunched in his chair, his bicorne hat cast aside, his usually precise dark hair rumpled. His grey-blue eyes, normally keen as a hawk's, were clouded and raw. At the sound of the door, his shoulders tightened. He swiped hastily at his cheek with a handkerchief before turning, his voice a worn whisper. "you... you should not see me like this."