[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/clIHoiY.png[/img][/center] [color=lightgray][h3][center][color=red]TRIGGER WARNING: Abuse![/color][/center][/h3] [color=DDB775]Time:[/color] 8am → 10am [color=DDB775]Location:[/color] Castle Corridors → Drawing Room [color=DDB775]Mention:[/color] [@Helo] Callum [@SilverPaw] Wulfric [@CitrusArms] Stratya [@Inertia] Auguste(Has given me NPC rights), [@ReusableSword] Roman [hr] King Edin strode through the corridors. The rising sun filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow that brushed against his skin and scattered light from the jewels in his crown. He had been on his daily morning mission to descend to the dining room for breakfast when the soft murmur of voices from within made him freeze. His gaze fixated on the nearby tea room. It was Alibeth, speaking in her usual composed tone. Wulfric and Callum's voices followed. He could make out Anastasia’s light hair through the window of the door. But what infuriated him most was the voice he didn’t recognize—some random woman speaking in some accent from Gods knew where… As if she belonged there among his family! The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as anger began to bubble inside him. [color=DDB775][i]My family, meeting behind closed doors—without me… Again… Even inviting some unknown woman into our inner circle?[/i][/color] It was as though they had willfully excluded him from whatever conversation was happening, whatever decisions were being made. And this hadn’t been the first time. Lately, Alibeth seemed to be habitually gathering their children to speak to them unsupervised. His hand hovered near the door handle, but he stopped himself. [color=DDB775][i]No,[/i][/color] he thought bitterly. [color=DDB775][i]I won’t go in there like some fool, begging for answers. Let them have their little meeting. Let them think they can scheme without me.[/i][/color] Edin clenched his jaw, muscles tightening as his mind raced. He had always known Alibeth was capable of things like this—behind that perfect wife facade, she was clever, too clever. And Wulfric, he had the same calculating mind, but it stung to think he might be conspiring with his mother. But this stranger… She was the final insult, her very presence a reminder that they thought they could do whatever they wanted without his say. [color=DDB775][i]So this is how it’s going to be?[/i][/color] His thoughts festered as he then marched down the hall. He stormed into one of the drawing rooms down the corridor, slamming the door behind him. The loud echo reverberated through the castle, but no one dared come near him. Edin paced, running his fingers through his hair, seething with frustration. [color=DDB775][i]They think they can have meetings without me, the King?[/i][/color] he snarled to himself, his mind spinning with thoughts of betrayal. [color=DDB775][i]I’ll show them who holds the power in this family.[/i][/color] His hand reached for a decanter on a nearby side table. It wasn’t wine, not this time. He needed something harder. His fingers wrapped around the neck of the bottle, pouring himself a generous glass of brandy. He downed it in one go, the burn doing nothing to soothe the storm brewing within him. [color=DDB775][i]What are they talking about in there?[/i][/color] His thoughts twisted darkly. [color=DDB775][i]Is Wulfric telling Alibeth about Marek?[/i][/color] He set the glass down harder than intended. His heart raced with the thought. After their conversation at The Royal Curd, Edin had shared far more than perhaps he should have. [color=DDB775][i]Did I trust him too much?[/i][/color] The idea that Wulfric might be sharing that knowledge with Alibeth ate away at him. He poured another drink, slower this time, trying to quiet the paranoia that gnawed at him. He sipped this one, pacing once more. [color=DDB775]"I should have kept it to myself,"[/color] he muttered under his breath. [color=DDB775][i]But what was I supposed to do? Wulfric will step into my shoes one day. The Black Rose will put strings on him just as they had me.[/i][/color] He turned, expecting to find his own reflection in the ornate mirror hanging on the wall. But it wasn’t his reflection, not at first. A stern face framed by messy black hair stared back at him, eyes full of the same intensity that Edin had tried so hard to forget. His brow was always furrowed in displeasure and deep lines were etched into his forehead from years of scowling. His piercing blue eyes held no warmth, only the cold, calculating gaze of a man who demanded perfection. His thin lips, often pressed into a hard line, had rarely broken into a smile. [sub][b][i][color=gray]"Everything must be perfect, Edin. The Gods demand it. If we falter, if we slip, everything will be ripped from us. Do you understand?"[/color] [/i][/b][/sub] The glass in Edin's hand trembled. His throat felt tight as he stared at his father in the mirror, the weight suffocating him. [color=DDB775]"Perfect… It all has to be perfect,"[/color] he muttered, feeling the familiar fear claw its way up his spine. [color=DDB775][i]Wulfric has to understand,[/i][/color] Edin thought, [color=DDB775][i]He has to know that everything depends on him. Not just the kingdom… our very lives. If we lose control, if we don't keep this image…We’ll lose everything.[/i][/color] The Black Rose had its claws deep in their family, and no matter how much power or control Edin thought he had, they were always there—pulling strings, watching, waiting. They couldn’t escape it. Not now. Not ever. The image in the mirror shifted, his father’s face blending back into his own reflection. [color=DDB775]“...Wulfric will understand if I tell him the whole story. He has to… Right?”[/color] [sub][i]His mind wandered back to a moment in his past. He had been around ten years old as he had stood trembling in a cold stone room. The floor beneath him felt like ice, but the real chill had come from his father’s gaze. King George sat in a high-backed chair, staring down at his son with the contempt reserved for a dog that had soiled the floor. [color=gray]"You think crying will fix this?"[/color] George’s voice was sharp, each word sinking into Edin’s skin like a knife. [color=gray]"You disappoint me. You are weak. Pathetic."[/color] Edin’s tears stung his eyes, but he dared not let them fall. George hated tears; he saw them as the ultimate sign of weakness. [color=gray]"I—I tried, father,"[/color] young Edin stammered. [b][color=red]CRACK![/color][/b] The sound of his hand slapping the boy’s face echoed in the room. The boy recoiled, the fear overwhelming him, but he remained frozen in place, terrified of moving, terrified of what might happen next. [color=gray]"Trying isn’t enough,"[/color] George spat, standing and towering over his son. [color=gray]"In this world, in this family, you succeed or you die. Understand?"[/color] Edin nodded frantically, but it wasn’t enough. George sneered and grabbed his son by the collar, lifting him off the ground with one hand. His strength was monstrous, and Edin felt utterly powerless, like a ragdoll in his father’s grasp. [color=gray]"You are nothing without me. Do you hear me? Nothing! If you fail again, I’ll show you pain you couldn’t even dream of existing."[/color] George whispered, his voice lowering to a menacing growl. [color=gray]"I will strip away everything you are, everything you could have been, and I will make sure you wish you were never born."[/color] George slammed him back down, the boy crumpling at his feet, gasping for breath. He didn't cry. He couldn’t. [color=gray]"Clean yourself up. Tomorrow, you’ll do that speech again, and this time, you won’t fail. Or so help me, Edin, I will break you."[/color] [/i][/sub] The memory faded from Edin’s mind as he stared into the mirror. [i]You are nothing without me.[/i] [color=DDB775]"Wulfric has to be perfect,"[/color] he said darkly. [color=DDB775]"Just like I had to be. If he fails… if he doesn’t understand…"[/color] His voice trailed off as he saw the image of George once more in the mirror, mocking him, always there, always watching. [i]Our family will lose everything.[/i] As the minutes stretched into an hour, Edin’s paranoia grew. His head buzzed, his body swaying. Every shadow in the room seemed to twist into George’s figure, looming over him, silently judging him. Then the door creaked open, pulling Edin out of his thoughts. He turned his bloodshot eyes to see Auguste standing in the doorway. [color=#EEDC5B]“Father?”[/color] Auguste began cautiously. [color=#EEDC5B]“Is everything alright? I heard the door slam.”[/color] Edin’s jaw tightened at the sight of him, a sudden surge of anger boiling to the surface. [color=DDB775][i]He’s always so soft,[/i][/color] Edin thought bitterly. [color=DDB775][i]Just like George said I was. Always so kind… too kind.[/i][/color]His hand clenched into a fist. [color=DDB775][i]That’s what makes him weak.[/i][/color] [color=DDB775]“Come here, Auguste,”[/color] Edin commanded, his voice sharper than intended. He poured another glass of brandy and gestured for his son to sit. Auguste hesitated but obeyed, sitting across from his father with a wary expression. Edin stared at him, the alcohol fueling the fire in his veins. He could see George’s sneering face in his mind, could hear his father’s cruel words echoing through the years. [color=gray][i]If you don’t fix him now, he’ll be worthless. Just like you were…[/i][/color] [color=DDB775]“You think being soft is going to get you anywhere, Auguste?”[/color] Edin spat suddenly. [color=DDB775]“You think this kingdom will respect a prince who spends all his time doting on his sister and letting random people eat from our kitchen?”[/color] Auguste’s eyes widened, taken aback by the sudden aggression. [color=#EEDC5B]“Father, I—”[/color] [b][color=red]CRACK![/color][/b] The sound wasn’t real, but Edin felt the ghost of his own father’s hand echoing in his mind as if he were back in that cold room all over again. [color=DDB775]“I don’t care about your excuses!”[/color] Edin snarled, standing abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. [color=DDB775]“Do you know what it takes to be a Danrose? Do you understand the weight on your shoulders?”[/color] Auguste stood as well, frowning deeply. [color=#EEDC5B]“Of course I do, Father. I’ve trained my whole life—”[/color] [color=DDB775]“Training isn’t enough!”[/color] Edin roared. His hand shot out, grabbing Auguste by the collar just as George had done to him so many times before. [color=DDB775]“You succeed, or you die. You hear me?”[/color] Auguste’s eyes flashed, but he didn’t resist. He knew better than to fight back when his father was like this. [color=DDB775]“If you fail… If you even think about failing… I will break you.”[/color] His voice dropped to a low growl. He subsequently released Auguste, shoving him back slightly, who stumbled but kept his balance. Edin turned away, unable to face the look in his son’s eyes. [color=DDB775]“Leave,”[/color] he muttered, his voice hoarse. [color=DDB775]“Just… leave.”[/color] Auguste hesitated for a moment, but then he turned and left without another word, the door swinging behind him. [i]Perfect… It all has to be perfect…[/i] [color=orange]“Your Majesty,” [/color]A voice cut through the silence. Edin raised his gaze to find one of his three new advisors standing in the doorway. [color=orange]“I’ve come to inform you that we’ve scheduled the royal decree regarding the Varian guests for this afternoon. As per your orders… the Varian attendees of Lord Ravenwood's ceremony will be mandated to attend the upcoming banquet and then be questioned afterward one by one.”[/color] Edin’s head lifted slowly, his gaze focusing on the advisor with bleary eyes. The memory of his conversation with Wulfric came rushing back along with the conversation he had with his new advisors earlier this morning. [color=DDB775]“Good,”[/color] he pushed himself up from the chair, steadying himself against the armrest as the room tilted slightly. The advisor hesitated for a moment, concern evident on his face. [color=orange]"Your Majesty, Lord Roman Ravenwood is a noble from Varian," [/color]he began carefully. [color=orange]"Direct consequences against a noble of his standing, particularly without a diplomatic discussion, may provoke a response from their royal court. Given the precarious nature of our relations with Varian, perhaps... it would be wise to proceed with more caution. The Varians are already be spinning the incident in their favor. Any direct action might escalate tensions further."[/color] Edin’s eyes narrowed, irritation rising at the thought of having to tread carefully with someone who had assaulted his guards. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the arm of his chair as he considered the advisor’s words. [color=DDB775]“Then what do you suggest, hmm? Let him off without punishment?”[/color] he growled lowly, [color=DDB775]“We cannot afford to appear weak.”[/color] The advisor cleared his throat, treading carefully.[color=orange] "Perhaps… a trial, Your Majesty. One where we can publicly hold Lord Ravenwood accountable for his actions without directly condemning him ourselves. It would give the Varians a chance to defend their nobleman, but it would also make clear that we demand justice."[/color] [color=DDB775]“A trial…”[/color] Edin mused, leaning back in his chair, the idea slowly settling in. Wulfric had also mentioned the notion of a trial. [color=DDB775]“Yes… yes, that could work. We’ll hold a public trial for Boman, and even let the Varians have some say in it... Make it clear to the Varians that we demand justice for the attack on our guards. If they defend him, then let them. We’ll see how well they spin it when the facts are laid bare before the court.”[/color] He stood abruptly, the alcohol in his system giving him a renewed burst of energy. [color=DDB775]“Prepare the necessary arrangements for the trial. We will not do it immediately as we need to gather evidence and witnesses. I want everything in place before we send word to the Varian court. Make sure Wulfric is involved and kept informed. Send word for him to receive after he’s done with the Edwards’ stupid birthday party that the Varians will be spoken to tomorrow night after the banquet.”[/color] The advisor nodded. [color=orange]“At once, Your Majesty.”[/color] As the advisor bowed, Edin raised his hand. [color=DDB775]“I also require that you bring me as many beautiful women as possible. [i][b]Now.[/b][/i]”[/color] [/color]