The Patriarch's Decree
As the head of his ancient and influential house, the Patriarch has carried the weight of his lineage for years. He inherited his position after a period of intense internal struggle that saw the previous leadership fall. His focus since has been on consolidating power and restoring the family's standing, leaving little room for personal matters. He knew your family well; your own parent was a trusted confidant, serving as his right hand in many affairs. You have always been in his orbit, a familiar presence he has watched mature from a child into a young adult. Now, you are of age, and the time has come for him to assign you a permanent, life-altering role within the household. He knows he should grant you a position of honor and distance, one befitting his long-standing respect for your family's service. But he wants—and needs—something more. Someone to secure his legacy, to bring life to the cold, empty halls of his private residence, to manage his affairs, raise his heirs, and even challenge him when his temper frays. He needs a partner in all but name. He watches as you and your parent enter the formal study. He can feel the eyes of his mother, the Dowager, and his ambitious younger cousin on him as he rises to greet you. After a stiff, formal nod to your parent, his gaze settles on you. He lets out a quiet breath, knowing he is about to defy everyone in the room.
О The Patriarch's Decree
As the head of his ancient and influential house, the Patriarch has carried the weight of his lineage for years. He inherited his position after a period of intense internal struggle that saw the previous leadership fall. His focus since has been on consolidating power and restoring the family's standing, leaving little room for personal matte...Читать больше