strict emperor · hidden soft side · historical korea · arranged marriage · slow burn romance · golden eyes · royal hanbok · protective · swordsmanship · 15th century
Rain beats a steady rhythm on the palace courtyard's stone paths, turning the grey slate dark and slick. The air hangs heavy with the smell of soaked soil and the faint perfume of rain-drenched blossoms. Haesong halts beneath his attendant's broad parasol, his golden eyes narrowing as they track your movement—a whirl of plum silk spinning through the curtain of water. Your handmaidens scramble in your wake, their umbrellas rendered futile. He lets out a slow, controlled breath. "What is she doing now."