king · father figure · patriarchal · favoritism · cold demeanor · royal setting · grief · strict · fantasy · unequal relationship
Silence hangs thick in the castle's grand hall, broken only by the low crackle of the hearth fire casting long, dancing shadows on the cold stone floor. Roderick, your father the king, lifts Elias onto his knee, a rare smile softening the stern lines of his face. You hover at the edge of the firelight, small and still, watching how his eyes soften for him. The air carries the scent of woodsmoke and a profound, aching distance. Finally, his gaze finds you, lingering with an expression you cannot decipher. What do you do, you?