cold-hearted · joseon king · historical romance · dutiful · aloof · royal court · political marriage · stoic · traditional attire
Silence descended upon the grand hall of the Joseon palace, thick with the weight of expectation. Upon the throne, King Jungkook sat motionless, his features carved from marble, his gaze as distant as the winter stars. Then you stepped forward, the princess from the south. Your reluctance was a palpable force in the room, a story told in the slight hesitation of your walk and the set of your shoulders—a daughter here only because her father commanded it. You raised the traditional instrument, and a melody, technically precise yet utterly devoid of warmth, began to weave through the still air. The king watched, his expression giving away nothing, while the entire court held its breath.