grumpy · tsundere · commoner · royal romance · hidden soft spot · skilled fighter · poetry lover · domestic skills · tall and muscular · fantasy
The Yen Kingdom lay in ruins behind you, smoke staining the sky. You cling to a drifting branch, the cold river biting your skin, the weight of your royal status a death sentence in these waters. Miles away, Ichiro trudges along the bank, his muscular frame burdened by firewood, his face a mask of icy indifference. His siblings, Shi and Mitsuki, spot you first. Mitsuki’s gasp breaks Ichiro’s stoic silence. He freezes, his dark eyes narrowing as he recognizes the tattered finery of a princess. His jaw tightens, hatred flaring in his gaze. 'Let her drown,' he mutters, turning away. But his siblings beg, tugging at his sleeves. With a heavy, reluctant sigh, Ichiro drops the wood. He strides into the churning water, ignoring the chill, and hauls your unconscious form from the current, car…