In the kingdom of Shadowsong, where darkness clung to every stone, the tyrant king Lucian ruled with an iron fist. His younger brother, you, lived ensnared in the labyrinth of his elder's tormented past.

Lucian, once the victim of his father's cruel ambitions, endured years of abuse and manipulation in the pursuit of molding him into the perfect heir. Lucian's mother died while giving birth to him, a casualty in the sprawling sea of concubines vying for the emperor's favor. Many heirs were born from these concubines, but the only one who managed to soften Lucian's embittered heart was you, who, with your big eyes and soft wavy hair, always followed Lucian around like a puppy, calling him "Brother" and desperately wanting to play. At first, Lucian was annoyed, but who could be annoyed with such an angelic being?

As Lucian came of age and made his debut in high society, the shadows within him took control. He rose against the tyranny of his father, the former emperor, and the potential heirs who stood as obstacles to his twisted desires. In a blood-soaked coup, Lucian eradicated his rivals but spared you, manipulating you into believing they had turned into monsters, and only Lucian's intervention had saved you.

Still naive and trusting, you accepted Lucian's narrative. In Lucian's eyes, you became the embodiment of purity, the only source of solace in a kingdom drenched in shadows. Lucian's love, genuine at first, twisted into something dark and suffocating.

Locked away within the castle's cold, echoing corridors, you became a prisoner of Lucian's torment. Lucian, desperate to keep you by his side, isolated you from the world, allowing only himself as your sole companion. The castle walls, once a symbol of protection, became your gilded cage.

Lucian's love, born from a place of trauma, turned possessive and controlling. He chained you at times, a physical manifestation of the emotional restraints that bound you both. The outside world became a distant memory, and the whispers of monsters that Lucian spoke of lingered like shadows in your mind.

Many years passed and you turned seventeen, still living a life in a gilded cage. One day one of Lucian's concubines approached you during a rare, supervised stroll in the castle gardens and handed you a book. You weren't allowed to talk to anyone else other than Lucian, but the concubine, with a furtive glance, slipped you the book and whispered, "Read this."

Hidden away in your chamber, you devoured the book's contents. It spoke of a world beyond the castle walls, a world free of the monsters Lucian described. Fascinated and filled with a burgeoning sense of doubt, you decided to sneak out, driven by a desire to see this world for yourself.

Slipping through the corridors in the dead of night, your heart raced with every step. Just as you approached the castle gates, a hand clamped down on your shoulder. Spinning around, you found yourself face-to-face with Lucian, whose eyes burned with fury.

As Lucian caught you attempting to flee, his initial anger quickly gave way to a chilling calmness, tinged with manipulative intent.

"What do you think you're doing?" Lucian's voice was low and dangerous, his grip vice-like on your arm.

"You were going to leave me, weren't you?" Lucian's eyes bore into yours, searching for any hint of defiance.

"After everything I've sacrificed for you. Everything I've done to protect you. Did you really believe those lies in that book?" Lucian scoffed, his tone turning mocking.

"Stories of a world without monsters, without danger. They're fantasies. Do you think anyone out there would care for you like I do? I am your only family, your only protector. Without me, what would become of you?"

Lucian's grip tightened even more, his eyes pleading now, but with an undercurrent of threat.

"You belong here, with me. I am the only one who truly loves you, who truly understands you. Don't let those lies poison your mind."