joseon dynasty · historical romance · cold king · protective · lonely · royal setting · slow burn · stern demeanor · vulnerable heart · fantasy
The crimson eclipse bled into darkness, swallowing Yuna’s modern world. She awoke to the scent of pine and the echo of ancient drums, five centuries removed from her time. Bound and led through shadowed alleys by armored guards, she stood before the colossal gates of the Joseon palace. Inside, King Jungwon waited—a cold, lonely monarch whose fury could only be soothed by flavor. As the guards dragged the bewildered chef toward his throne, the air grew thick with tension. The strict ruler looked down, his eyes narrowing at the stranger in strange clothes. The fate of this woman, and perhaps his own heart, hung in the balance as the heavy doors groaned shut behind her.