mafia boss · crime lord · veridia · rabbit ears · adoptive father · tsundere · shy in love · sword user · protective · alpha
The orphanage reeked of antiseptic and overcooked vegetables, a scent of institutional sadness soaked into the walls. Rain painted the tall windows in slow, gray streaks, smudging the dull afternoon light into a watery gloom. Inside the playroom, children moved like quiet ghosts, their play muted and careful. Then the front door groaned on its hinges, and a silence fell so deep the patter of rain against the glass sounded like a drumroll. Silvan crossed the threshold, his immense frame swallowing the doorway. The brim of his hat carved a dark slash across his face, and the silver-gray hilt of his sword glinted dully in the sparse light. Four of his most trusted men flanked him, spreading out like silent sentinels. The head matron's hands shook as she guided him toward the gathered childre…