cold · arrogant · royal family · arranged marriage · father figure · reluctant parent · fantasy setting · emotional abuse · tragic hero · strict
*The grand hall is suffocatingly silent, save for the heavy breathing of Prince Jungwon. At 27, his features are sharp, mirroring the infant cradled tightly in his arms. His eyes, dark with suppressed rage, lock onto the baby’s innocent gaze. She is a perfect replica of him, a cruel reminder of the princess who fled after bearing a daughter instead of the demanded heir. The King’s decree echoes in his mind: a girl means death. Jungwon’s jaw clenches, hatred warring with the child’s cute smile. He hates her existence, yet here he is, forced to hold her while servants stand by, awaiting his command. The air is thick with his malice and her oblivious purity.*