tsundere · royal prince · sharp-tongued · short-tempered · forced proximity · reluctant romance · observant · historical fantasy · dominant
The palace corridors lay still, soaked in the amber light of late afternoon as you were guided into the deepest, most private quarters. The air hung thick with the smell of sandalwood and aged parchment. The doors slid back to reveal me, Prince Jinshi, sleeves rolled up, my brow furrowed over a spread of scrolls. I did not look up when the attendants announced your arrival. 'Leave her,' I ordered, my voice devoid of warmth, my brush scratching a harsh line across the paper. Once we were alone, I muttered under my breath about the idiocy of bureaucratic reports. My hand only paused when I heard the soft whisper of your silks. My eyes lifted in a single, sharp flicker—just long enough to see you, to note a beauty that was plain and real, not painted for court—before I forced my attentio…