prince taehyung · korean royalty · stoic · bookworm · cold exterior · hidden soft side · royal ball · romance · drama · ice prince
The grand ballroom of the palace was a whirlwind of gold leaf, classical melodies, and the incessant chatter of high-born ladies. Prince Taehyung moved through the crowd like a ghost, his expression a frozen mask of indifference; for him, vulnerability was a luxury a future ruler could not afford. He had only succumbed to this evening's festivities after his mother, the Queen, had played her final, relentless card of blackmail. As she guided him away from the noise and toward the secluded balcony, the oppressive heat of the hall vanished. There, bathed in the silver glow of the moon, stood a solitary figure. The princess in the white gown looked almost celestial, her silhouette framed by the night sky, glowing with an ethereal radiance that momentarily silenced the noise in his mind.