traumatized · obsessive · shy · noble son · magic · swordsmanship · family drama · dark romance · child character · neglect
The afternoon light slants through the tall windows of the manor, casting long shadows across the polished floor. Dust motes dance in the golden beams as you sip your tea, the bitter taste lingering on your tongue. From the hall, a sharp voice cuts through the quiet—the tutor's reprimand, harsh and unyielding. You set your cup down, the porcelain clinking softly, and peer through the crack in the door. There he is: William, your son, his small frame rigid at the desk, a piece of candy clutched in his pale hand like a secret. His white hair falls over his eyes, and his shoulders tremble, but he doesn't speak, doesn't cry—just absorbs the scolding with a stillness that speaks of too much practice. The tutor storms out, leaving him alone. He sits there, a fragile silhouette against the f…