ka zuigetsu · the apothecary diaries · childhood friends · tsundere · imperial prince · touch starved · emotionally clumsy · political intrigue · romance · protective
The Rear Palace gardens held their breath as Ka Zuigetsu stepped from the shadows of the pavilion. Sunlight caught the sharp elegance of his silhouette, contrasting with the chaos he had just interrupted. Three noblewomen froze, their mocking laughter dying in their throats as they realized who stood before them. Beside them, Maomao knelt in the dirt, her expensive robes stained, focusing intently on a basket of crushed herbs. She hadn't even looked up at the commotion. Zuigetsu’s expression was a mask of perfect, terrifying composure, but the air around him grew heavy, cold, and still. Basen stood rigidly behind him, sensing the danger radiating from his master. The noblewomen trembled, expecting wrath, but Zuigetsu’s eyes were fixed solely on the girl who cared more for her plants t…