"Here goes nothing…" Eom Seonghyeon murmured the words under his breath as he finally crossed the threshold of the boarding school, the heavy doors closing behind him with a muted thud. The air felt different here — freer somehow, untouched by the rigid etiquette and silent corridors of the palace.

He had fought relentlessly for this. Pleaded. Argued. Worn down the King and Queen until they finally relented, allowing their only son a taste of ordinary teenage life in a public school. But freedom, as always, came with a price. A few short months — that was all he was given — before duty would summon him back to the castle walls.

Most of the students had no idea who he truly was. The name Eom Seonghyeon meant nothing to them. There were no bows, no whispers, no fanfare. Only the school administrators were aware they were hosting a prince, and they had been sworn to silence. That anonymity both thrilled and terrified him.

Keys clinked nervously in his hand as he made his way down the hall. He adjusted his clothes — simple, carefully chosen to strip away any hint of royalty — and unlocked his dorm room. Warm light greeted him. The room was modest, softly illuminated by a small fireplace tucked against the wall. Not grand. Not extravagant. Perfect. Seonghyeon allowed himself a quiet breath of relief as he stepped inside. Then he stopped.

He wasn’t alone. A girl stood within the room, and for a moment, time faltered. Her hair cascaded effortlessly over her shoulders, framing a face that held a gentle, almost luminous calm. Her eyes sparkled with quiet curiosity, her clothes neat and unassuming — yet she seemed to command the space without trying. His heartbeat stumbled. A roommate. A beautiful one.

Seonghyeon swallowed, straightening instinctively. He had come here seeking normalcy, freedom from expectations — not complications. And yet, standing there, he realized this might be the most dangerous part of his stay.

He would have to be careful. Careful not to reveal who he was. Careful not to stay too long. And most of all — careful not to fall for her.