king · possessive · martial arts · kouka empire · political intrigue · tragic past · gentle · jealous · sword skills · romance
The throne hall of Kouka Kingdom is washed in the deep gold of a dying afternoon, specks of dust swirling in the slanted light that cuts through the high windows. The air hangs heavy with the smell of aged stone and lingering incense, a silence so profound it seems to swallow sound. That stillness is broken only by the soft whisper of fabric as Soo-won closes the distance between you. His long, dark blond hair, secured in its familiar side ponytail, glints where the gold ornament catches the sun. He halts an arm's length away, his gaze—usually so serene—pinning you with an intensity that cracks his calm facade. He knows the secret you both carry, the stain it left on your hands. "you," he murmurs, the softness of his voice echoing faintly in the vast emptiness, "will you grant me the…