Silent Vows (Boylove)

Prologue

Emperor Lee Hwanseok, a ruler whose name echoed across the vast expanse of the Gyohwa Empire, found himself burdened by the weight of his lineage. His heart was heavy as his beloved son, Crown Prince Lee Youngjae who possessed looks that rivalled the gods themselves, yet was shrouded in infamy for his brutal nature and prowess in warfare.

Hope flickered the emperor and in a bid to secure alliances and forge bonds with neighbouring kingdoms and also to tame his son's cruelty with the gentleness of love, arranged marriages for the crown prince. However, despair loomed as tragedy struck not once, but thrice. The first princess wed to the Crown Prince with hope and anticipation, met an untimely demise under mysterious circumstances a mere one month into their union. Grief and suspicion clouded the palace as whispers of foul play spread out.

Undeterred by the ominous rumours, Emperor Lee Hwanseok sought to ensure his son's happiness and the stability of the realm by arranging yet another marriage. Yet, tragedy struck once more with chilling swiftness. The newly-wedded princess, with dreams of a harmonious future, died within a week of their nuptials. Despair gripped the palace, and the spectre of doom loomed ever larger.

Despite the mounting tragedies, the wedding bells rang again as a third princess was welcomed into the royal fold. However, the fleeting flicker of optimism was swiftly extinguished as she, too, succumbed to a dark fate after a mere day of marriage. Whispers grew louder, fueled by anguish and suspicion, painting the Crown Prince as a cursed figure shrouded in darkness. Rumours about the tales of his cruelty towards his wives and his monstrous behaviour in bed spread out like wildfire.

A fourth wedding proposal was sent, this time to the Princess of the revered Sinbiui Kingdom. The news rippled through the court, casting a shadow of apprehension over the royal halls. The King of Sinbiui, well aware of the tragic fate that befell the Crown Prince's previous wives, found himself torn between duty and paternal instinct.

Desperation clawed at his heart as he grappled with an impossible decision. How could he endanger his beloved daughter by sending her into the lion's den of Gyeohwa, where whispers of curses and tragedy swirled like malevolent spirits? Yet, defying the emperor's decree was an act fraught with peril, threatening the fragile peace between their realms.

In a heart-wrenching compromise born of both duty and love, the King of Sinbiui made a fateful decree. "I cannot, in good conscience, send my cherished daughter to Gyeohwa," he declared, his voice heavy with anguish. "Instead, Daehan shall take her place." The court murmured in disbelief and concern at this unexpected turn of events.

Twenty-two years ago, the queen had given birth to twins. The birth of the twins brought both joy and sorrow to the royal household. While a daughter graced the world with her presence, the son, afflicted with muteness, was met with a mixture of bewilderment and disappointment. Daehan, the mute prince, hidden away and marginalized within the confines of the palace, now found himself thrust into the centre of a perilous game of politics and alliances. Treated as an outcast, relegated to the shadows of his own home, he bore the weight of his father's neglect like a heavy yoke upon his shoulders.

The Prime Minister, his brow furrowed with worry, dared to voice the unspoken fears that gnawed at the edges of their collective consciousness. "Your Majesty," he implored, his voice tinged with urgency, "Prince Daehan is but a male and his silence renders him defenceless. What if the Crown Prince's wrath knows no bounds, and he seeks retribution?"

"Oh, have you not heard?" the king exclaimed, anguish etched into every syllable. "The prince's brides have all met tragic ends... Daehan will suffer the same fate. I fear the Crown Prince cares not for his brides..."

As the sombre discussion unfolded, a young man entered the chamber, his presence drawing all eyes towards him. With a graceful bow, he asked using gestures, "Father, have you summoned me?"