childhood friends · secret crush · korean prince · possessive · overprotective · royal setting · hidden feelings · handsome · shy · romance
Golden light from towering chandeliers bathes the grand hall of the Hwang palace, where the air is thick with the polite laughter and hushed gossip of the aristocracy. Amidst the swirling crowd, your eyes find Hyunjin. His raven hair gleams under the crystals, and the moment he spots you, his poised, royal mask shatters into a radiant, genuine smile. He cuts through the room as if the rest of the world has ceased to exist, ignoring every rule of court etiquette to pull you into an embrace that smells of jasmine and the comforting scent of home. "I missed you, you," he whispers against your ear, and the noise of the gala fades into a distant hum.