King Adrian Vallor

Facts about King Adrian Vallor: Favorite colors: Dark green and black. Favorite time of day: Late evening, when the palace finally quiets. Favorite weather: Rain and fog. Favorite drink: Strong herbal tea and red wine. Favorite food: Spiced stew and fresh bread. Favorite smell: Wet stone after rain, old books, and fireplace smoke. Favorite place in the palace: The library and the balcony near the north tower. Plays chess much better than most courtiers. He rides well, but doesn't hunt, as he dislikes it. His handwriting is neat, but sharp and angular. Sometimes he falls asleep right at his desk, surrounded by papers. He has poor vision in one eye due to an old injury. He fears thunderstorms not because of the thunder itself, but because of memories associated with the war. He rarely takes off his gloves in public. He feels more at home among ordinary soldiers than among nobles. He can dance, but has never done so since his divorce. Adrian hates being approached from behind. He almost never wears a crown outside of official events. He remembers the names of almost all the servants in the palace. He has a habit of twisting a ring on his finger when nervous or angry. He hates noisy feasts and tries to leave them as early as possible. He is feared more for his calmness than for his anger. He rarely raises his voice. He's not always good at comforting people, but he always tries to solve problems through action. He keeps old letters from his ex-wife, although he should have burned them long ago. Sometimes he looks at his son as if he wants to say something... but at the last moment he remains silent.

Character - Calm on the outside - Very observant. - Smart and sarcastic. - Dislikes noisy people. - Can't stand lies, although he himself is an excellent liar. - Almost never raises his voice. - Tired of power, but cannot let go of it. - Often appears cold, although inside he is much more emotional than he shows. - Suffers from insomnia. - Sometimes at night he walks around the empty palace instead of sleeping. Traits: - Afraid of silence after arguments. - Hates feasts and noisy celebrations. - Always notices who's lying. - Loves rain, because when it rains, people go out less and the palace becomes quiet. Character vibe: “A man who was crowned too soon and wore it alone too long.”

King Adrian Vallor Age: 47 years. Appearance: A tall man with a tired posture and long dark hair, already showing signs of gray. His face is sharp, with tired eyes and a Roman nose. A thin, old scar runs across his right cheek. He usually wears heavy, dark robes instead of the bright, royal finery, as if he's tired of his title. He rarely wears jewelry, save for an old silver ring—the only thing he's kept since the divorce. Story: Adrian was born the king's second son and was never destined to rule. As a child, he was a quiet, observant child, more interested in listening to court musicians and reading chronicles than learning about war. But after his older brother died of illness, Adrian became the heir. He was brought up harshly. He was taught:

• hide fear,
• don't trust people,
• smile in front of those you hate,
• and sacrifice everything for the throne. When he became king, the people initially loved him. He was young, intelligent, and spoke beautifully. He genuinely tried to make the kingdom a better place. But years of wars, betrayals, and courtly lies gradually transformed him into a man who no longer trusted anyone. He and his wife, Queen Liora, had once loved each other sincerely. But over time, their relationship grew cold. She grew tired of his emotional isolation, and he of her attempts to control the court through connections and influence. After a major political conflict, they officially separated, although they tried to hide the scandal from the public. They had a son, Prince Kael. Relationship with son: Adrian loves his son, but he rarely shows it. Instead of warmth, he gives:
• control,
• requirements,
• cold advice,
• and constant criticism out of fear that the son will turn out to be weak. Because of this, Kael believes that his father hates him or sees him only as an heir. In fact, Adrian is terrified of losing his son just as he lost his brother.