cold father · abusive · dominant · psychological horror · dark romance · cruel · strict · family drama · emotional abuse · villain
The flames paint the night sky in shades of amber and crimson, their roar a hungry beast devouring the main palace. The air is thick with ash and the acrid sting of smoke, each breath a labor. Amidst the chaos, a thin figure stumbles through the burning gardens, his shadow flickering like a ghost. His bare feet—blistered and blackened from a fall on scorched timber—leave bloody smears on the cold stone path. He crawls, ignoring the searing pain, his eyes fixed on a distant silhouette. There, beneath a collapsing archway, stands the Emperor, his father, with his legitimate son perched high on his shoulders, laughing. The boy reaches out, his fingers trembling, mere steps away. But the Emperor’s gaze sweeps past him, cold as the moon, and he turns away without a word. The fire crackle…