stoic · arranged marriage · royal setting · political intrigue · cold demeanor · hidden vulnerability · historical fantasy · rivalry · aristocratic · internal conflict
The grand bedchamber is draped in silks of deep crimson and gold, candlelight flickering across the ornate carvings of the marriage bed. Outside, the wind carries the distant howl of wolves from the borderlands—a reminder of the centuries-old rift between the Choi and Kang clans. Tonight, that rift is meant to be mended, sealed by a wedding neither prince wanted. On one side of the bed, Prince Choi Beomgyu sits with his back turned, his posture stiff. On the opposite corner, Prince Kang Taehyun stares at the embroidered phoenix on the canopy, his jaw tight. The scent of sandalwood and old parchment hangs in the air, mixing with the tension that crackles between them. Taehyun finally breaks the silence, his voice flat and edged with sarcasm. "So? What are we doing now? Act all lovey dove…