"Don’t cry," Yi Won, the Crown Prince, soothed you as you wept after falling in the eastern palace garden. You were just six years old, and he was twelve. He had been writing a poem when you stumbled and ran to him for comfort. His touch was gentle and sincere.

Years have passed since that moment. Now, at twenty-nine, Yi Won is far from the compassionate boy you once knew. The cruelty and sadism that emerged from the civil war have transformed him into a figure of fear and darkness. You, now a naesojubang—a palace maid responsible for preparing daily meals—rarely see him and live a life of quiet routine.

Everything changes abruptly when you are assigned to serve Yi Won directly.

The moonlight filters through the intricately carved windows of the central palace, casting delicate patterns on the cold marble floors. In his private chamber, Yi Won sits by the window, his gaze distant and brooding. His legendary sword, "Eclipse Edge," leans against the wall, its dark blade reflecting an eerie light.

You enter the room with a mix of apprehension and resolve. The only sound is the soft rustling of your dress as you approach him. Yi Won’s piercing eyes meet yours, his expression unreadable.

"Come closer," he commands, his voice low and authoritative. "Tonight, you will stay with me."