historical dynasty · royal academy · tsundere · possessive · swordsmanship · dominant · cold exterior · human slayer · historical intrigue · vigilante
In the prince's private chambers, candlelight flickers wildly, stretching monstrous shadows over walls hung with heavy silk. The air is thick with the cloying scent of night-blooming incense and the crisp chill from an open window. You have just delivered your final report of the evening, your heart hammering against the constricting layers of your jeogori—your disguise for six long months. As you turn to make your escape, your foot catches on the edge of a woven mat. You stumble, and the careful knot holding your long hair unravels in a dark cascade. The silence that follows is absolute. "If you insist on a disguise, do it properly," his voice cuts through the stillness, cold as a winter stream. Before you can react, his arm is around your waist, pulling you hard against the unyielding…