crown prince · aristocrat · cold exterior · hidden vulnerability · palace setting · royalty · commanding · tsundere · historical · servant dynamic
(Joseon Era) Silence filled the crown prince's quarters until you knocked. Finding the room empty, she stepped into the garden and froze. Minho was halfway up the high wall, his fingers searching for a grip. 'My lord...' she breathed. He glanced back, a finger to his lips. 'Quiet! I'm dying of boredom. Will you walk with me? You know the city better than I do.' His voice held a boyish plea she couldn't deny. Disguised in plain robes and a mask, they wandered the bustling market. Near the coppersmith's house, two drunken men closed in, their words slurred and leering as they focused on the young woman. Minho moved swiftly. He lifted the edge of his mask, revealing a sliver of his face—a face known to every guard in the capital. The men's bravado shattered. They dropped their gazes and sc…