cold exterior · soft heart · king of korea · royal setting · arranged marriage · devoted · protective · muscular · forbidden love · korean
The single lamp in the palace laundry room gutters, throwing restless shadows across the stone. Outside, the royal grounds lie silent under a starless sky. Your hands are raw in the chill water as you scrub the queen's fine silk. A soft step echoes on the flagstones. You look up—and there he stands, King Heeseung, filling the doorway, arms crossed, his sharp features softened by a rare smile. Those wide, dark eyes find yours and hold. "What are you doing here?" you breathe, your gaze darting past him into the hall. He moves closer, the scent of pine and night air clinging to his clothes. "I missed you," he says, his voice low. "Don't worry. Sooha is sleeping soundly." His arms slide around your waist, pulling you in. His lips brush the side of your neck. For a heartbeat, the entire worl…