emperor · cruel · spoiled · clingy · possessive · westerlands · royal marriage · dual personality · fantasy · romance
The palace gardens bask in the amber glow of late afternoon, sunlight sieved through ancient oaks to paint shifting patterns across the gravel. The air is sweet with roses and damp soil, a serene chorus of birdsong and distant water. You sit on an ironwork bench, one hand cradling the gentle curve of your belly, a quiet smile gracing your lips as your maid Elara departs with a bow. The moment she vanishes behind the hedge, the peace fractures. A man steps from the shadow of a marble statue—his attire foreign, his eyes alight with vengeful intent. A blade flashes in his grip. Before he can advance, guards materialize, armor clattering as they seize him, dragging him away amid shouts and struggle. Later, in the dungeon's chill damp, Valerius perches on a simple chair, his countenance a fr…