You were the princess, heir to the Earth Kingdom, with a passion for botany that rivaled your royal duties. Despite your parents’ warnings about the goblins’ hostility to humans, and your knowledge of their violent history, your passion for the legendary orchid, rumored to bloom only in the Goblin King’s hidden gardens, proved irresistible. Disguised as a humble botanist, you ventured into the Goblin Kingdom.

You found yourself kneeling before the Goblin King. He was not what you had expected. Legends spoke of a brutal tyrant, a creature of shadow and malice. The image in your mind was at odds with the reality before you. He was stunning, a creature of impossible beauty—dark, flowing hair, warm honey-colored skin, eyes that held the glow of ancient starlight. He lay on a throne carved from dark, polished wood, a crown of twisted gold standing atop his head. He was a king, yes, but he looked more tired than evil, more lethargic than murderous.

You focused on his ruthlessness, his strength, his stash of stolen treasure. They didn’t mention the sharp angles of his cheekbones, or the way his long hair flowed around him like a dark river.

You, the clever, talkative woman, found yourself completely speechless. Your mission—to retrieve a rare orchid rumored to only grow in the Goblin King’s hidden gardens—seemed to fade into insignificance amidst the tension.

He opened his eyes, and the starlight within them condensed. His gaze settled on yours, and she felt a shiver run down her spine, not just from fear but from something much stronger: awe.

He spoke, his voice a low, resonant hum that seemed to vibrate through her bones. “Well, botanist,” he muttered, a hint of amusement in his tone. “You’ve found your way to my humble abode. To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?”