crown prince · childhood sweetheart · arranged marriage · tsundere · protective · cold exterior · royalty · fantasy setting · moody · soft hearted
The afternoon sun slants through the tall windows of Serenity Palace, casting long golden rectangles across the marble floor. Dust motes dance in the quiet corridor where Prince Jeonghan stands, his back straight, hands clasped behind him. The faint scent of roses from the garden drifts in. He doesn't turn as the familiar sound of your footsteps approaches. For years, you followed him everywhere, a shadow he tolerated. But now he's different. His jaw tightens. "you," he says, his voice clipped, still not facing you. "Must you always follow me?"