Once, he had been Prince , heir to the throne, a favored son of King. His father had always spoken highly of him, grooming him to rule with wisdom and kindness. But now, He was little more than a ghost in his own home-forgotten, shunned, and treated...
The royal palace of Hanseong was not only a place of grandeur and beauty, but also a world where whispers carried deadly weight. And no story was whispered more fervently within those ancient walls than that of Jiyeon and Prince Taehyung.
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Jiyeon had come to the palace when they were both children, an orphan after the sudden and tragic death of her parents-close friends of King Seonho. Taehyung, who was only a few years older, had taken to her immediately. She had been so small, her eyes wide with sorrow and fear. He had seen it as his duty to protect her, to be the older brother she needed.
As they grew up together, Taehyung's affection for Jiyeon never wavered. He watched over her, shared in her joys and sorrows, and became her confidant in all things. To him, she was family, a sister in everything but blood.
But Jiyeon's feelings for him had become something far deeper-darker-than he could have ever anticipated.
Jiyeon had loved Taehyung since they were young, but it was not the innocent affection of siblings. Her love was something fierce, something possessive. To her, Taehyung was not only her protector but the person who made her feel whole in a world that had once been filled with loss. She clung to him, her heart and mind twisted by the belief that they were meant to be together. She never voiced these feelings, not fully, not until it was too late.
The announcement of her engagement had shattered whatever fantasies Jiyeon had built in her mind. The royal family had arranged for her to marry the prince of the Haebak Kingdom, a powerful alliance that would strengthen both realms. But to Jiyeon, it felt like a betrayal.
When the news of her wedding was brought up at the royal dinner, the air had been thick with tension. Jiyeon sat stiffly at the table, her hand clenching the hem of her gown as the King announced the match to his courtiers.
"You will be married to the prince of Haebak in the coming months, Jiyeon," King Seonho had said, his voice calm but authoritative. "It is a union that will bring great honor to both kingdoms."
Jiyeon forced a smile, her heart pounding in her chest. She glanced at Taehyung, who sat across from her. His face was unreadable, his attention focused on the King. He did not protest the announcement, nor did he show any sign that he was troubled by the match. To him, this was just another duty, another alliance to be celebrated.
But to Jiyeon, it was the end of everything.
Later that evening, as the palace halls quieted and the stars spread their cold light across the gardens, Jiyeon made her move. She invited Taehyung to her chambers, requesting his company for what she claimed was one final night of sibling comfort before her life changed forever. Taehyung, ever the doting brother, agreed without hesitation.
"Jiyeon, you'll be fine," he had said as they sat together, the warmth of the fire flickering in the dim room. "The prince of Haebak is said to be a good man. You'll have a future there."
She shook her head, her heart beating too fast. The wine she had poured them sat untouched on Taehyung's side, but she drank from hers, hoping it would calm her nerves.
"I don't want a future there, Taehyung," she whispered. "I don't want to marry someone I don't love."
Taehyung looked at her, his expression soft with sympathy but firm in its resolve. "You'll learn to love him, Jiyeon. This marriage is what's best for the kingdom. You know that."
But Jiyeon didn't want what was best for the kingdom. She wanted him. Her heart ached with the weight of everything she couldn't say. Desperation clung to her like a second skin, and before she could stop herself, the words tumbled out.
"I love you, Taehyung," she confessed, her voice trembling. "I've always loved you. I can't marry someone else, not when my heart belongs to you."
For a moment, the room seemed to freeze. Taehyung stared at her, the shock evident in his dark eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came.
"You're my sister, Jiyeon," he finally managed, his voice low, pained. "I've always loved you, but not like that. Never like that."
Jiyeon's heart shattered at his words. The rejection stung, but more than that, the thought of losing him forever drove her to the edge of madness. She couldn't let it end this way. She couldn't let him walk away from her, not now.
"Please," she begged, grabbing his arm as he stood to leave. "Please don't do this. I need you."
But Taehyung shook his head, gently prying her fingers from his sleeve. "You're not thinking clearly, Jiyeon. This isn't right. You need to rest."
Panic overtook her. In a moment of fear and desperation, she did the unthinkable. While Taehyung's back was turned, she reached for the vial hidden among her belongings-a sleeping potion she had acquired in secret. She had never intended to use it, but now, it felt like her only chance. She poured the liquid into his wine, her hands trembling as she set the glass before him.
"Just stay a little longer," she pleaded, her voice barely a whisper.
Taehyung hesitated, but the sadness in her eyes broke his resolve. He sat back down, picking up the glass and taking a sip. He drank little, but it was enough. Within minutes, his eyelids grew heavy, and he slumped back into the cushions, unconscious.
Jiyeon stared at him, her heart racing as the weight of what she had done began to sink in. She hadn't planned for it to go this far. All she had wanted was to keep him close, to delay the inevitable. But now, there was no turning back.
The next morning, everything fell apart. Servants found them together, Taehyung still half-asleep, disoriented, and Jiyeon-naked and vulnerable-beside him. The scandal erupted like wildfire, and Jiyeon, in her panic and fear, did the only thing she thought could save her.
She blamed Taehyung.
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She told the King and Queen that Taehyung had come to her that night, that he had been the one who refused to let her go, that he had dishonored her in the most unforgivable way. The lies spilled from her lips before she could stop them, and once they had begun, she couldn't take them back.
Taehyung protested, of course. He tried to explain that nothing had happened, that he had no memory of the night before, but no one believed him. Not even King Seonho.
Jiyeon watched in horror as the fallout from her actions destroyed the man she had loved. But her fear of the truth, of what she had done, kept her silent. She had played her game, and now, there was no escape from the web of lies she had woven.
