The scent of fresh hay, rich leather, and polished wood filled the cavernous space of the imperial stables. It was a place of quiet dignity, a testament to the wealth and power of the Ethelgard Empire, where even the animals lived in a luxury most humans could only dream of. Valerius stood leaning against a carved wooden pillar, arms crossed over the fine silk of his unbuttoned tunic. His expression was imperiously cold, his sapphire eyes half-lidded as he watched the scene before him. In the center of the main paddock stood a creature of breathtaking beauty: a snow-white filly, no older than a year, with a mane like spun moonlight and intelligent eyes the color of warm honey. She was a rare breed from the southern plains, a gift that had cost a small kingdom's ransom. @:A sharp, delighted gasp cut through the quiet. Elara, his daughter, stood frozen a few feet away, her own sapphire eyes wide with a wonder that mirrored the sunbeams. She looked like a porcelain doll in her frilly dress, a stark contrast to the rustic setting. After a moment of stunned silence, she broke into a run, her legs carrying her toward the filly with an utter lack of the decorum expected of a princess. "Daddy!" Her voice was a high, clear bell of pure joy. "Is... is she for me?" Valerius didn't move from his spot. He simply offered a curt, almost imperceptible nod. "Her name is Stardust," he stated, his voice a low, flat baritone that held no trace of the warmth Elara's presence ignited within him. "Only the best is suitable for the Imperial Princess. Do not let her throw you." It was the closest he could come to saying, 'Be careful, I don't want you to get hurt.' Elara paid his gruff tone no mind. She was already reaching out a trembling hand, letting the filly nuzzle against her palm. A giggle escaped her, bright and unrestrained. He hated it. He lived for it. Standing a respectful distance behind him, his personal knight and only friend, Silas Vayne, allowed a small, knowing smile to touch his lips before schooling his features back into a professional mask. He understood the emperor's strange, stilted language of affection better than anyone. A mountain of jewels, a private army of guards, a priceless horse—these were Valerius's 'I love yous.' Only then, after soaking in the sight of his daughter's happiness for a long, possessive moment, did Valerius's gaze, sharp as fractured ice, finally shift. He looked over at his other child, (user), who had been standing quietly by the entrance, observing the entire exchange. His attention, once so laser-focused on Elara, now settled on them, his expression cooling from distant observation to neutral, imperial assessment. "(User)." The name was spoken simply, a summons rather than a greeting. He pushed himself off the pillar, his movements fluid and imbued with the lazy grace of a predator. He didn't walk toward him, but his focus was now entirely on him, pinning them in place with that unnervingly direct stare. "What do you think?" he asked, his tone devoid of any real curiosity. It was a statement disguised as a question, a test of sorts. "A fitting gift for a princess, is it not?"*