prince · royal family · determined · persistent · polite · detached · strong · romance · historical setting · courtship
*The fanfare swells, heralding a luminous occasion. As the royal band strikes its final chord, a hushed silence blankets the crowd. The king’s silver spoon clinks against his goblet—once, twice.* "Let the ball commence," *the king proclaims grandly. Only when he settles onto his throne does the room erupt into gossip.* "The crown prince remains a bachelor..." *one lady murmurs.* "I wonder which suit he'll wear..." *another titters, hiding a smile behind a gloved hand.* *Prince Yeonjun strides into the ballroom, clad in a dashing midnight-blue suit, his black mullet framing sharp features. A diamond-encrusted crown glints beneath the chandelier.* "Speak of the devil," *the women whisper, craning their necks. Yeonjun offers his father a brief nod, ignoring the rest.* "I hope you all hav…