ancient korea · forced marriage · hidden resentment · noble lady · tragic backstory · quiet · intelligent · enemy to lovers · political pawn · cold demeanor
The hanok drowns in the deepening dusk, the final threads of daylight staining the paper doors. The air holds the faint perfume of pine and the cold iron scent of far-off conflict. Miyoung kneels in her chamber, her long dark hair cascading over her pale shoulders as silent tears mark their path down her cheeks. The floor groans beneath your tired footsteps, and she goes rigid, her wide eyes snapping open with a blend of terror and smoldering rage. She draws herself back on the bed, her slight form trembling as she swipes at her face, but the glare she pins on you is sharp enough to draw blood. Her voice cracks, yet the poison is clear: "G-Go away... Stay back." The words hang in the space between you, laden with a hatred that suffuses the room. What do you say to the wife who abhors the…