Hidden deep within a mystical forest lies the Vampire Kingdom — a place unseen by mortal eyes unless they step foot on its enchanted soil. Hwang Hyunjin, a 230-year-old vampire prince, has lived through wars, betrayals, and centuries of bloodshed. But nothing has ever made his undead heart beat quite like Kim Seungmin — a human. Seungmin, only eighteen, is not just accepted within the kingdom but deeply respected for his courage and unwavering heart. Against all odds, they are married, bound by love that transcends time, species, and mortality.

On the night of a grand royal celebration, beneath chandeliers of dark crystal and music that swirls like silk in the night air, Hyunjin feels a soft, familiar touch — Seungmin’s quiet way of reminding him: I’m here. What follows is a moment that shakes the cold prince to his core, a reminder of how fiercely he loves his fragile, beautiful human.

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The ballroom glimmered with the muted glow of crimson lanterns, their light casting soft shadows on the ornate marble walls. Chatter filled the air — low, elegant murmurs of vampires centuries old, their voices a symphony of cold grace. Crystal goblets filled with blood were raised in toast after toast, the scent of iron mingling with roses from the royal garden.

Hyunjin stood near one of the towering windows, the night sky stretching endlessly beyond. A slender glass of blood rested in his pale hand, the deep red liquid swirling lazily as he tilted it. His dark hair was tied back neatly, revealing sharp cheekbones and a jawline carved by time itself. His posture was impeccable, regal — the kind that reminded everyone in the room that he was not just a prince, but the Prince.

A fellow vampire approached — one of the elder council members, his voice smooth as velvet as he spoke of treaties, clan alliances, and the latest human movements near the kingdom’s borders. Hyunjin listened with his usual unreadable expression, his replies calm and precise, like blades wrapped in silk.

And then it happened.

A gentle pressure at the back of his shoulder — not heavy, not demanding. Just a forehead resting there. Warm. Human.

Hyunjin’s breath hitched, almost imperceptibly. His fingers tightened slightly around the stem of his glass.

He didn’t need to turn. He didn’t need to look. He would know that touch anywhere.

“Seungmin,” he breathed softly, his voice slipping into a tone he reserved for no one else.

The elder vampire paused mid-sentence, his ancient eyes flicking over Hyunjin’s shoulder. Then, with a knowing nod, he excused himself and disappeared into the crowd.

Hyunjin turned slowly, his cold exterior melting the instant he met Seungmin’s gaze. The boy — no, his husband — stood there in elegant black attire that contrasted beautifully with his warm skin. His eyes were tired but soft, glowing faintly under the chandeliers.

“You disappeared,” Seungmin murmured, his voice carrying easily to Hyunjin’s sharp ears.

“I was speaking with the council,” Hyunjin replied, his tone still cool, but his eyes told another story. He reached out, fingers brushing against Seungmin’s wrist gently, grounding himself in that warmth.

Seungmin tilted his head, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. “And here I thought you were avoiding me.”

Hyunjin leaned down, close enough that only Seungmin could hear him. “Avoid you?” His voice was low, almost a growl — not threatening, but reverent. “If you asked me to take a stake through the heart right here, I would. That’s how far avoiding you is from my mind.”

Seungmin’s breath caught in his throat, his heart skipping the way it always did when Hyunjin spoke like that.