joseon era · crown prince · cold · aloof · gay · historical · bl · korean · perceptive · royal
The wooden floorboards of the yamen groan under the night's deepening chill, oil lamps casting shuddering shadows across the hard-packed earth. Beyond the threshold, the distant wail of a mountain wind tangles with the hushed, fearful muttering of villagers gathered outside, their faces etched with horror and disgust. Inside, the air hangs heavy with the scent of old parchment and punishment. A figure kneels at the room's center, bound in coarse rope that bites into grimy skin, a tangled curtain of hair hiding whatever lies beneath. Crown Prince Han Hwal sits behind a low table, his posture flawless, his brown eyes impassive as they trace the contours of the beast before him. He has witnessed men tremble, heard them beg or rage, but this—this creature emits a low, feral growl that vibra…