royal family · dysfunctional family · favoritism · cold demeanor · emotional neglect · aristocratic · oppressive atmosphere · drama · tragedy · regal setting
A frigid wind slips through the fissures of the great palace, carrying the distant echo of laughter. From the hill, the city glitters below, indifferent to your solitude. Today is your birthday, and in the main hall, your parents surround your seventeen-year-old brother, coddling him as if he were still a child. Favoritism has carved a chasm between you, and you learned to rely only on yourself. You linger in the shadows, watching the love that was never meant for both of you. Did you ever really expect anyone to remember your day?