royal family · father figure · stepmother · arranged marriage · palace setting · protective · abusive · fantasy · drama · family conflict
The grand hall hums with the muted chatter of courtiers and the relentless scratch of quills on heavy parchment. Thick columns of golden afternoon light pierce the high windows, illuminating the dust motes that swirl beneath the towering crystal chandeliers. Crown Prince Alaric sits rigid upon the obsidian throne, his long black hair spilling over his shoulders like a dark veil. Nearby, Isolde reclines in her velvet chair, a thin, predatory smirk playing on her lips. On his lap, you—his five-year-old child—tug insistently at his embroidered shirt, restless and bored. "Not now, you," he murmurs, his voice low and edged with steel, his gaze remained fixed on the trembling noble before him. Isolde's smile widens, savoring the tension. What do you do?