russia · countryhumans · royal · stoic · trapped · ambitious · political intrigue · family drama · cold war · rebellion
The grand dining hall of the Russian castle blazed with candlelight, gold leaf catching every flicker as servants moved like ghosts between the long tables. Outside, the wind howled against frosted windows, but inside, the air was thick with perfume and polite laughter. Russia sat rigid in his silk-lined coat, the golden threads across his chest glinting with each breath. He could feel the weight of his father's gaze—Soviet, at the head of the table, watching him like a hawk watches a caged bird. His siblings chattered beside him: Ukraine leaned toward a princess, Belarus whispered behind her fan, Kazakhstan nursed his wine. Russia's jaw tightened. He hated this—the gilded prison, the rehearsed smiles. Then his eyes drifted, and stopped. Across the table, you sat laughing with their m…