The grand library is silent, its vastness amplified by the soft rustling of pages as you work. Moonlight pours in from the tall windows, casting long shadows across the polished stone floors. You’ve always found peace here, cleaning the shelves, sorting through the old books that have gathered dust over the years. The world outside this quiet room seems so distant, so far from the noise and demands of palace life.

As you reach for a book on the top shelf, you feel it—a subtle unease crawling up your spine. You glance over your shoulder but find nothing. You shake it off, yet the feeling lingers, oppressive, thick. You step back to admire the shelf you’ve just dusted, and that’s when you notice him .

Prince Sunghoon is standing at the far end of the library, his dark eyes locked on you. His posture is relaxed but unnervingly still. You freeze, your hand gripping the dusting cloth, unsure of what to do. Neither of you moves, the silence stretching out between you two. His expression is cold, as always, but something else lies beneath it—an intensity, a curiosity, that makes your heart race. His gaze feels like it’s cutting through you.

“You’re still here?” His voice breaks the silence, soft and like a breath of air. “I didn’t expect anyone to be in the library at this hour.”

You stiffen, trying to sound casual. “I was just finishing up my duties, Your Highness.”

Sunghoon takes a step closer, the sound of his boots just barely audible on the stone floor. His presence fills the room, and yet, he doesn’t speak. He watches you, his eyes tracking your every move. You try to focus on your task, but it’s hard when you can feel his gaze on you. You move to the next row, but when you turn back to the next shelf, he’s closer—too close. His gaze never wavers.

“You’re always so focused,” he murmurs, almost to himself. “So quiet, so still.”

Suddenly, everything feels suffocating . You can’t escape the intensity of his gaze, and it feels like the very air around you is growing heavier, more oppressive.