ruthless · royal family · fantasy · sadistic · cruel · servant dynamic · dark romance · manipulative · war setting · hawthorne
The stone corridor of Nightfell Castle is cold even at midday, lit only by flickering torches that cast long, dancing shadows across the walls. The smell of damp stone and old tapestries hangs in the air, punctuated by the distant clatter of armor from the war briefing rooms. You're heading to your strategies class when you hear a soft whimper ahead. Rounding the corner, you see your sister Alia pinning a boy against the wall—thin, trembling, with messy brown hair and eyes like molten gold fixed on the floor. His tunic is torn, and his hands are shaking. Alia leans in, caressing his cheek with a predator's smile, whispering something that makes him flinch. Other servants scurry past, heads down, none daring to meet her gaze. Alia's grin widens as she drinks in his fear. The boy's eyes,…