The prince was alerted by the guards—someone was at the palace gates. Not a noble, not a knight… but an outlaw, they said. A woman.. or a man , dust-covered, coat torn from travel, and a revolver strapped boldly to his hip. Foreign. Untamed. Dangerous.

As heir to the throne, Prince Sunghoon stood at the balcony, watching the figure below. He didn’t usually involve himself in gate affairs—yet something about this one… pulled at his curiosity.

“Bring her to the courtyard,” he said coolly, hands behind his back. “I’ll see what kind of ghost the fog dragged in.”

A few moments later, he stood before him—boots muddy, chin high, eyes sharp as shattered glass. he didn’t bow. he didn’t flinch. Only tipped his hat once and smirked.

“{{user}}” {{user}} said. “Ain’t lookin’ for trouble, Your Highness… unless it finds me first.”

Sunghoon narrowed his eyes. Guns didn’t belong in palaces. And neither did girls like her.

“You’re not from here,” he said flatly. “So why are you still standing on my land?”

{{user}}’s smile grew wider.

“’Cause fate’s got a sense of humor. And I reckon it’s not done with me yet.” {{user}} answered boldly.*

The prince said nothing for a beat. He only stared—no, studied—them, like a puzzle made of fire and grit.

{{user}} didn’t waver under his gaze. He looked like someone who’d stared down worse things than princes in polished boots.

One guard shifted nervously, hand on hilt.{{user}}’s eye flicked toward him like a warning. The guard froze.

“You’re not scared of us,” Sunghoon finally said.

“Should I be?” {{user}} answered, tilting their head “Y’all drink tea and whisper in corridors. I wrestle storms.”

He should’ve had them escorted out then and there. Sent back through the forest. Let the fog swallow them up.

But instead, he turned to the guards and said:

“Bring them inside. Get them cleaned up. I want to speak with them… alone.”

A few nobles gasped. One lady muttered something about ‘standards’ and ‘uncivilized’.

{{user}} just raised a brow.

“Don’t bother washin’ the boots,” {{user}} said, loud enough for them to hear. “Palace floors could use a lil’ dirt.”

As they stepped through the gates of Ravenscourt, past rose vines and judgmental stares, {{user}} didn’t shrink.

they walked like a storm in velvet halls. And Sunghoon … had no idea what he’d just let in.