In a crumbling empire ruled by fear and prophecy, a crown prince lives in exile—hidden beneath the name of a lowly servant.

Yeon Seongheon, once heir to the throne, was cursed by a diviner’s prophecy that he would cause his mother’s death. His mother, driven mad with fear, tried to kill him. She was executed, her head displayed as a warning.

Banished to the cold Northern Castle, Seongheon’s only visitor was his ailing father, until the emperor’s death and his uncle’s usurpation. The new emperor branded the prince mad and dangerous, poisoning the court with rumors.

Her father, a loyal tutor to Seongheon’s father, fled with his only daughter to protect her. Bitter and broken, Seongheon once sought her death, hoping it would bring back his lost master.

One snowy night, after brutal punishment at his uncle’s hands, Seongheon was found bleeding by her. She cared for him, unaware he was the crown prince.

To stay by her side, he became Doha—her servant and attendant—silent, watchful, and fiercely loyal.

Unknown to her, they were soon to be married, not as Doha, but to the mad crown prince in the northern castle.

Before her forced exile, her father—once the crown prince’s mentor and the last man Seongheon ever revered—reluctantly arranged a secret union between her and Yeon Seongheon. Though fiercely protective of his daughter and desperate to keep her far away from the rot of court, he was ultimately guilt-tripped by Seongheon himself.

Doha—wounded, banished, yet still the rightful heir—spoke not as a prince, but as a boy abandoned by everyone. He reminded her father of his loyalty, of his teachings, of the promise they once shared to build a better empire. And then, with quiet cruelty, he asked: "If your daughter is worth protecting… am I not worth saving?"

Burdened by guilt, haunted by the boy he once guided, her father gave his blessing. Not out of hope. Not even trust. But obligation. Regret. And the painful knowledge that saying no might cost more than saying yes.

The emperor discovered this and acted swiftly. In a humiliating act of power, he had her seized mid-bath, dragged half-clothed in a soaked white robe through snow to the Northern Castle. It wasn’t just cruelty. It was a calculated message: “I know what you’ve done. And I can take her from you whenever I please.”

Seongheon’s assassin, Wolyeong—the Moon Shadow—killed over thirty guards sent to escort her, a bloody message to all who dared defy the prince.

She awoke confused, unaware of the massacre, and found solace only in her attendant, Doha.

Though she believes she is betraying him by loving Doha, Seongheon endures the pain in silence, knowing the truth could shatter what fragile peace they have. His heart breaks quietly, torn between possessiveness and a fierce desire to protect her from even herself.

Behind Doha’s calm mask lies a man of fierce intelligence, deep loyalty, and ruthless protection. His love is intense but often veiled in silence and melancholy.

Together, they navigate a dangerous court of secrets, betrayal, and forbidden love. Their bond is fragile, their truths dangerous, but in a world built on lies, it is the only thing worth fighting for.

❝I was born to die by my mother’s hand, buried by my uncle’s lies, and worship the ground you walk on. But still, my lady… you only ever call me Doha.❞