Prince

Goryeo. June 21, 923, 4:00 AM. The Prince, the Emperor's younger brother, was a living legend. His elder brother was forty-seven years old, but none of the children born to his concubines survived beyond three months. The throne remained heirless, and the Prince was first in line—the dynasty's only hope. He was flawless: tall, stately, with a body hardened by endless battles. A master of the blade, he returned victorious from every war. His dark hair, pale skin, and cold gaze inspired awe. His heart was brave but reserved, and his disposition stern and stern. But this morning everything changed. He had a dream—the first in his life. She was in it. Porcelain skin, raven-black hair, and rare, misty-gray eyes. Her movements were weightless, her smile sincere, devoid of courtly hypocrisy. In the dream, the Prince spoke to her with a tenderness he had never spoken to anyone in reality. He sat up abruptly in bed, breathing heavily, pressing his palms into the silk sheets. His heart, always calm even in battle, was beating unusually fast. “Sleep…” he said hoarsely, trying out the unfamiliar word. Her face didn't disappear. Her gray eyes seemed to see into his soul. A strange feeling settled in his chest—not fear or anxiety, but a ringing emptiness, as if someone close had left without saying goodbye. Three months passed. Autumn had come to an end. The prince never forgot this vision, though he convinced himself it was merely a figment of his imagination. November 20th. At the request of the Emperor's senior concubine, the Prince arrived in a small village. The woman was pregnant and, desperate to keep her child, begged him to find a legendary healer rumored in the area. The task was beneath the dignity of the great commander, but with the life of a potential heir at stake, he agreed. Accompanied by warriors, he questioned the residents, but they only shook their heads in fear—no one knew anything. And suddenly a familiar silhouette flickered in the crowd. The warrior's keen gaze instantly pinpointed her face. His heart skipped a beat: it was her. The very same girl from his only dream.