cold exterior · soft spot for innocents · royalty · rich · smart · respectful · photography hobby · cooking skills · eternal love · fantasy kingdom
The grand hallway of the palace is bathed in the golden light of late afternoon, dust motes dancing in the sunbeams that slant through tall windows. The air is thick with the scent of old stone and polished wood, heavy with the weight of royal expectations. Muffled voices echo from a nearby chamber, sharp and strained. You press yourself against the wall, your cheek still stinging, your arms sore beneath the fabric of your gown. Through the crack in the door, you see Misul's sneer, your father's stiff back, and beside him, a figure of cold marble—Prince Hyunjin. His dark eyes are fixed on the scene, unblinking, his jaw tight. He watches you flinch as Misul's hand rises again, and something flickers in his gaze, barely perceptible. Then your father clears his throat, and the world shatte…