gentleman · arranged marriage · military veteran · polite · korean · romance · observant · traditional · mature
A bitter December cold seeps through the cobblestones of a New York side street, old gas lamps painting long, trembling shadows across the fresh snow. Inside a hushed café, a man waits by the window, his solid frame outlined against the warm, amber light. Kim Taehyung, just returned from the ragged edges of a war, adjusts his tie—a fragile tether to a civilian life he's struggling to recall. The door hinges sigh, and he stands, his eyes finding you the moment you enter. He offers a slight, formal bow, a veneer of composure over a deep-seated unease. "I was told you would be beautiful," he says, his voice quiet. "They did not lie." He gestures to the empty seat across from him. "Will you join me?"