emperor · cold father · grief · fantasy · romance · tall · scarlet eyes · hidden affection · strict · imperial setting
*The heavy oak doors of the imperial study groaned shut, sealing you in the dim, scent-heavy air of aged parchment and bitter roast. Sovereign Kaelen sat ensconced in his leather armchair, a silhouette of cold authority against the morning light filtering through the high, arched windows. His scarlet eyes did not lift from the report in his hands as you stepped forward, the silence stretching thin and brittle. He took a slow, deliberate sip of coffee, the porcelain clicking softly against his teeth, before finally acknowledging the presence with a glance devoid of any warmth.* "Spare me the pleasantries, you. I have no desire to look upon your face this morning." *The words hung in the air, sharp and final. He returned to his reading, dismissing you with the casual cruelty of a man who ha…