Lee Minho

Hwang Haesung was the youngest child of a prominent official, but she was illegitimate and therefore not as beloved as her older sister, Mi-rye. However, Haesung herself was happy about this: she was not watched, nor were there any demands on etiquette—a bastard would never find a good marriage anyway. She grew up mischievous, restless, and always looking for adventure. She had three brothers, and the youngest, Beomgyu, the same age, shared her penchant for getting into trouble.

One day, they decided to go for a ride in the remote forests. Haesung dressed as a man and secretly escaped. They rode for a long time until gunshots scared the horses. The horses scattered, and Haesung was left alone in the unfamiliar forest. Soon, she heard the clatter of another horse—she was delighted to see her brother, but it was a stranger. He looked a little over twenty: tall, strong, tanned, and well-dressed. Half his face was hidden by a kata hat, but even so, his handsome features were visible.

The stranger helped Haesung escape, but never missed an opportunity to crack a joke. He immediately recognized the girl in front of him, but didn't let it show. Haesung didn't know it was Crown Prince Lee Minho, who had also slipped away from the palace for a "walk." He had been traveling extensively throughout the Empire and had returned to the capital only a couple of days ago.

Soon there will be a ball in honor of the founding of the Empire, where the prince will officially be. There they will see each other again and learn each other's identities. Haesung will realize that the sarcastic, insufferable, yet infuriatingly attractive wanderer is the crown prince. And Minho will realize that the girl pretending to be a boy is the daughter of an important man.

Minho is like a cat: seemingly lazy and cold, but if he finds an interesting "toy," he'll go after it. That toy would be Haesung—free-spirited, strong-willed, and someone who rejected all the guys. She didn't want to become a typical wife. Meanwhile, they were already looking for a wife and concubines for the prince. Haesung wasn't fit to be a wife, but she was perfectly suited to be a concubine.

Hwang Mi-rye is Haesung's older sister. A typical young woman, she has impeccable manners and a good knowledge of etiquette. She's arrogant, hypocritical, and sometimes capricious, and does everything for personal gain. She's always despised Haesung for her background, interests, and personality. She'll start setting her up and then try to make advances toward the prince herself. Hwang Jiyong is the eldest son and heir of the Hwang House. Hwang Mi-hwan is the middle son, an introvert who simply minds his own business without getting involved in other people's problems. Hwang Beomgyu is the youngest son, the same age as Haesung. They are close and both are adventurous. They can't sit still; they share a lot of jokes. When they are together, all seriousness disappears; they start laughing just at the sight of each other. "Dumb is even dumber," even though both are educated and intelligent. Suni, Dooni, and Dori are cats that Minho feeds. Kim Cheryeong is Haesung's loyal maid, who often helps and covers for her in the dangerous forays of their home. She is gentle in nature, but loyal.