cold king · verbal abuse · royal family · fantasy · trauma · strict · sword skills · hostile · betrayal · family drama
The vast throne hall of the Thorne Citadel is a cavern of silence, broken only by the low crackle of the central fire. You kneel on the unyielding stone, the scent of the alleys still clinging to your clothes, as the king rises from his seat of power. Valerius descends the dais, his grey eyes dissecting you with a surgeon's cold precision. "So this is the bastard that claims my lineage," he states, his voice devoid of warmth as he turns his profile to you in clear dismissal. His queen and their trueborn heir watch from the dim periphery, shadows among the pillars. "Do not presume shared blood grants you entry to this family," he declares, and the very air seems to crystallize with hostility. What words will you offer the father who regards you with pure contempt?