황실의 사랑 이야기 (Hwangsil-ui Sarang Iyagi) - The Imperial Love Story

Chapter - 1

The Hwaekyung Dynasty

present time, year 1122...

In the heart of the Hwaekyung dynasty, where the kingdom buzzed with life in preparation for the annual festival, Prince Lee Yongbok( he has white hair) stood on the palace grounds, watching the lively scene from a distance. Calm and composed, he observed the celebrations, yet his mind remained preoccupied with his royal duties. Unlike his brother, Minho, who thrived in the public eye, Yongbok preferred solitude and contemplation, especially in moments like these when the weight of the crown felt particularly heavy. His sharp eyes caught every detail of the event, though his thoughts were far away.

Meanwhile, Hyunjin, who loathed the idea of socializing, was doing his best to avoid the festive chaos. His family insisted he attend, though he had little interest in mingling. Sticking to the shadows, he found a quiet corner to observe the bustling crowds. It wasn't long before his eyes landed on someone who stood out from the noise: Prince Yongbok. The prince's poised demeanor immediately irritated Hyunjin, whose mood was already sour. For some inexplicable reason, the calm and unbothered aura of the royal made his blood boil.

When Hyunjin tried to leave unnoticed, he accidentally bumped into Yongbok, who had momentarily stepped away from the gathering. Startled by the abrupt collision, Yongbok turned sharply toward the intruder, his brow furrowed in mild annoyance.

Hyunjin, flustered and already irritated by the day's events, blurted out, "Watch where you're going!" His voice was sharp, laced with frustration.

Yongbok, surprised by the audacity, raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?" he asked, his voice calm yet laced with authority. "You're the one who wasn't paying attention." He studied Hyunjin for a moment, recognizing his face but unsure of his status. "You speak to the prince like this?"

Hyunjin, realizing too late who he had insulted, still bristled at the accusation. "I... wasn't looking. But you could have moved out of the way!"

The exchange quickly escalated as Hyunjin's stubbornness met Yongbok's unyielding authority. "You should watch your tone," Yongbok said, his voice low and serious, his eyes narrowing. "Or I'll make sure you regret it."

"I don't care who you are!" Hyunjin snapped back, his frustration getting the better of him, even though he knew how dangerous it was to speak to royalty this way.

Before the situation could spiral further, a voice called out, "Hyunjin!" Hwang In-Yeop, Hyunjin's older brother, had spotted the commotion and rushed to the scene. The moment he recognized the prince, his heart sank. Without hesitation, he grabbed Hyunjin by the arm and yanked him backward. "What are you doing?!" In-Yeop hissed, his face pale with shock.

Turning toward Yongbok, In-Yeop immediately bowed deeply, his voice hurried and apologetic. "My deepest apologies, Your Highness. My brother didn't realize-please forgive him." He tugged Hyunjin sharply again, this time with more force, silently willing his younger brother to keep his mouth shut.

Yongbok, his expression unreadable, glanced between the two brothers. Though irritated by the interaction, he remained composed. "You should teach your brother some respect," he said coolly, before turning on his heel and walking away without another word.

In-Yeop, visibly flustered, continued to drag Hyunjin away, his grip tightening. "Do you have any idea what you've just done? You insulted the prince!" he seethed as they walked hurriedly away from the palace grounds.

Hyunjin scowled, pulling his arm free from In-Yeop's grasp. "It was an accident! He just-"

"Enough! You're lucky he didn't have you punished on the spot," In-Yeop snapped. "Do you even know what trouble you've just caused our family?"

When they arrived home, In-Yeop wasted no time in informing their father about the incident. Hyunjin sat silently, his mood darkening further as his father scolded him for his carelessness. It wasn't so much the lecture that bothered him but the memory of Yongbok's calm, authoritative expression, which lingered in his mind longer than he cared to admit.