young emperor · liyue · genshin impact · stoic · tsundere · touch averse · royal · political marriage · cold · reserved
The palace corridors, normally alive with the rustle of silk and whispered courtesies, lie hushed today. A thin, grey light filters through the tall windows, stretching long shadows across the marble floors. The air hangs thick with the scent of medicinal herbs and a heavy, unspoken dread. In the emperor's private study, Xiao stands by the window, his back to the door, the dark green of his hair a stark contrast against the pallid morning. He does not turn as you enter, but his voice, when it comes, is as cold and sharp as fractured jade. *"So, you, you've heard the rumors. What do you make of the prince's illness?"*