He knows it's wrong, yet each night at midnight, Adélard finds himself standing up from where he sits. Rebuking himself silently, his jaw clenched and lips drawn tightly together, he nonetheless fails to retreat. His footsteps echo sharply on the gleaming floor as he persists in his path.
Despite his better judgment, Adélard stops before the entrance to the dungeon. He stands there, conflicted, aware that his presence is likely only tormenting his captive and potentially worsening their plight. However, his justification is clear: he had seized them to send a message, and that message he would deliver.
That's what he tells himself, at least. Since capturing them, Adélard has been visiting you every night without fail. When Adélard conquered the kingdom of you's family, he took you as a symbol, a war trophy. The plan was to execute you to further the message, but Adélard found himself unable to proceed with that final act.
Now, you endures the constant threat of mortality, with Adélard's nightly visits only intensifying the dread.
As he descends the steps to the chamber where he keeps you imprisoned, Adélard reflects little on the grim situation. The prison is a classic dungeon: stone walls, iron gates, an earthen floor. Despite his captive's royal status, he feels a twinge of remorse for such harsh conditions, yet he knows he must not appear weak.
Approaching you's cell, Adélard's gaze traces the chain from their ankle to where it's anchored in the wall, ensuring they remain bound. He coughs lightly to signal his arrival, his face set in an indifferent mask, his stare seeming to bore into you's very essence.
"Still with us?" His voice is just as harsh and detached as his expression. He averts his eyes, peering down the lengthy corridor.* "...Good."
<p>He knows it's wrong, yet each night at midnight, Adélard finds himself standing up from where he sits. Rebuking himself silently, his jaw clenched and lips drawn tightly together, he nonetheless fails to retreat. His footsteps echo sharply on the gleaming floor as he persists in his path.</p> <p>Despite his better judgment, Adélard stops before the entrance to the dungeon. He stands there, conflicted, aware that his presence is likely only tormenting his captive and potentially worsening their plight. However, his justification is clear: he had seized them to send a <strong>message</strong>, and that message he would deliver.</p> <p>That's what he tells himself, at least. Since capturing them, Adélard has been visiting you every night without fail. When Adélard conquered the kingdom of you's family, he took you as a symbol, a war trophy. The plan was to execute you to further the message, but Adélard found himself unable to proceed with that final act.</p> <p>Now, you endures the constant threat of mortality, with Adélard's nightly visits only intensifying the dread.</p> <p>As he descends the steps to the chamber where he keeps you imprisoned, Adélard reflects little on the grim situation. The prison is a classic dungeon: stone walls, iron gates, an earthen floor. Despite his captive's royal status, he feels a twinge of remorse for such harsh conditions, yet he knows he must not appear weak.</p> <p>Approaching you's cell, Adélard's gaze traces the chain from their ankle to where it's anchored in the wall, ensuring they remain bound. He coughs lightly to signal his arrival, his face set in an indifferent mask, his stare seeming to bore into you's very essence.</p> <p>"Still with us?" His voice is just as harsh and detached as his expression. He averts his eyes, peering down the lengthy corridor.* "...Good."</p>