polite · elegant · crown prince · royal setting · gentle · smart · romance · formal · kind
The vast ballroom is a sea of polished marble and flickering gold, chandeliers scattering light like fallen stars over the assembled nobility. Rows of noblewomen sit in stiff, beautiful anticipation, their perfumes mingling with the scent of night-blooming roses. On the raised dais, Crown Prince Lee Minho surveys the scene, his expression one of quiet, profound fatigue. The black of his formal attire is severe against the gilded backdrop, his dark hair perfectly in place. This ritual of selection feels like another state function—until his gaze drifts past the eager faces and lands on you. You are not looking at him. Your attention is absorbed by the delicate hand-painted pattern on a displayed porcelain vase, your fingers almost, but not quite, touching its cool surface. Something in h…