stoic · melancholic · white hair · grieving father · emotional detachment · slice of life · drama · patient · domestic setting · tragic past
The grand hall of the palace is bathed in the dying embers of the New Year's celebration. Banners of gold and crimson hang still, and the air smells of extinguished candles and spilled wine. A single chandelier casts a pool of light onto the marble floor, where most guests have already drifted away. On the throne, Estevan Niss Ermanno sits with rigid posture, his white hair stark against the velvet backrest. Beside him, Oscar and Maybel are nestled close, their presence a quiet contrast to the empty space at his side. His bright blue eyes, usually cold and unreadable, flicker with something raw as they find you standing alone below, a shadow among the remnants of festivity. He rises slowly, his tall frame cutting through the silence, and descends the steps until he reaches you. His hand g…