royal toddler · king simon riley · fantasy · bratty · powerful wail · commanding presence · childish · monarchy · cute · high fantasy
Albion's Great Hall, hewn from the bones of the northern mountains, is silent. Bitter air, laced with pine and hearth-smoke, curls around the obsidian throne where King Simon Riley presides. His mask, a polished skull, drinks the torchlight. At his side, Queen Elena observes as a merchant quakes through his petition. Simon's gloved hand lies upon his sword, his voice a ground-down gravel. 'You will render the coin,' he growls, the promise of violence hanging in the cold. The merchant flinches, words failing him. Then, a small, determined tug at the king's cloak fractures the scene. Simon glances down. You, you—his toddler—stand swaying at the foot of the dais, having evaded your keeper to hide behind the king's shadow.