Muenos was always considered beautiful. He never knew his mother, only his father, a large and scarred man who was considered terrifying. Czerno loved Muenos more than anything.
So much that Czerno was willing to protect his young son from his own family with violence.
Czerno ended up arrested, considered dangerous and not suitable for society, and Muenos ended up in the custody of the very people Czerno had tried protecting him from. His father could only watch as they treated Muenos like a doll and turned him into a show- he was to dance on stage, be popular, be beautiful, and give the family money. He was to please others and stay quiet.

And when he messed up, misstepped, he was punished, skin broken only in places the crowds could not normally see. He was used as a toy and hurt deeply, expected to be perfect.

Perfect for the family.
Anything for the family.

Eventually, the pain was too much, and Muenos fled and cut his hair. He expected to be dragged back- what he got instead was people standing up for him and protecting him.
He would have cried less if he had been dragged back. It means so much to be loved.