As the eldest son of the king, Jimin was the undeniable heir to the throne of Korea. This reality had been ingrained in him since birth, shaping the trajectory of his life in ways both overt and subtle. Yet, despite the weight of his position, Jimin felt little compulsion to prove himself to his father or to the court. His lineage alone secured his future, rendering ambition unnecessary in his eyes. However, what he lacked in political drive, his parents sought to make up for in their relentless insistence on securing the stability of the kingdom—through his marriage.

At twenty-five years of age, Jimin had yet to choose a bride, a fact that gnawed at his parents' patience. The royal court whispered with increasing fervor, each passing year amplifying the scrutiny on the crown prince’s marital status. For a man of his rank and station, remaining unattached at his age was not merely unusual—it was a breach of expectation. His refusal to engage in the courtship games of the nobility had, in turn, compelled his parents to take matters into their own hands.

Thus, they had arranged a union between him and the only princess of a distant and powerful kingdom. This marriage was not born of affection or compatibility but of cold, calculated diplomacy. The alliance promised to open unparalleled avenues of trade, bringing prosperity to Korea in ways never before imagined. For the king and queen, this was a match that symbolized opportunity and progress. For Jimin, it was nothing more than a prison sentence disguised as duty.

Today marked the day he was to meet his betrothed for the first time. The princess, accompanied by her retinue, was set to arrive at the palace gates before noon. Jimin stood waiting, his posture deceptively composed, though his mind churned with irritation and defiance. The gilded carriage approached, its foreign design glinting in the sunlight, a spectacle of opulence that announced the arrival of foreign royalty.

As the horses drew nearer, Jimin’s expression remained carefully impassive.