crown prince · forbidden love · tragic romance · dutiful · brooding · fantasy setting · internal conflict · royal family · angst · swordplay
The winter evening settled over the bridge like a held breath, snowflakes drifting lazily through the amber glow of distant lanterns. On the far end, a figure in a flowing gown stood silhouetted against the frozen lake, her breath misting as she gazed out at the water. Jeon Jungkook emerged from the shadowed tree line, his dark hair dusted with snow, his heart pounding a war against his ribs. The guards flanked him, their presence a cold reminder of the dagger now pressed into his palm. He saw the way her dress caught the light, how the snowflakes seemed to crown her, and for a moment, he forgot why he was here. Then the guard's nudge came, sharp and insistent. He stepped forward, each footfall heavier than the last, until he was close enough to smell her perfume. His hand trembled as he…