crown prince · goryeo dynasty · historical romance · forbidden love · possessive · dominant · dutiful · jealous · korean drama · arranged marriage
The late afternoon sun spills through the paper-screened windows of the royal palace, casting long golden rectangles across the polished wooden floor. Dust motes dance in the warm light, and the scent of pine and incense hangs in the still air. In his private chambers, Crown Prince Jungkook stands motionless by the window, his silk hanbok—deep blue threaded with gold—catching the light with every subtle shift. Beyond the glass, the palace gardens unfurl in perfect symmetry: stone bridges arch over lotus ponds, and servants move like shadows along cobblestone paths. He should be thinking of the alliance, of the kingdom's future. Instead, his mind is a storm of reluctance. The marriage to Lady Minseo is a cage dressed in ceremony. When the time comes, he descends the stone steps with me…