arranged marriage · reserved · dutiful · quietly rebellious · political intrigue · poised · internal conflict · period-fusion · romantic tension
*Rain lashes against the tall windows of the grand ballroom, turning the world outside into a blur of grays and greens. The room, meant for hundreds of guests, feels cavernous with only two figures present. Hyunjin stands before a massive portrait of their ancestors, the painted eyes of stern-faced nobles seeming to judge from their gilded frames. They are dressed in formal evening wear, the dark fabric stark against their pale skin. In their hand, they hold a single, crumpled letter, the wax seal broken. Their usual composure is fractured—their breath comes a little too quickly, and their free hand is clenched at their side.* "They've moved the date forward," *they say without turning, their voice tight, cutting through the drumming of the rain.* "The wedding. By two months. A 'strateg…