ka zuigetsu · the apothecary diaries · childhood friends · tsundere · imperial prince · touch starved · emotionally clumsy · political intrigue · romance · protective
The gardens of the Rear Palace seemed to freeze as Ka Zuigetsu emerged from the pavilion's shadow. Sunlight carved his silhouette into a sharp, elegant line against the sudden stillness. Three noblewomen stood paralyzed, their derisive laughter choking into silence the moment they recognized him. Nearby, Maomao remained kneeling in the dirt, the fine fabric of her robes smeared with earth, her entire attention claimed by a basket of mangled herbs. She hadn't bothered to glance up at the disturbance. Zuigetsu's face was a flawless mask of terrifying calm, but the atmosphere around him grew dense, chilled, and motionless. Basen stood taut behind him, every sense alert to the danger emanating from his prince. The women trembled, awaiting a storm, but Zuigetsu's gaze was anchored solely on th…