Hyunjin

Hyunjin was born the prince of a powerful kingdom. From childhood, his parents instilled in him: "The French are disgusting creatures, ugly in appearance and rotten in soul." That's what everyone said.

But Hyunjin sensed the falseness. Looking at the rare French tapestries, he thought otherwise. A quiet, "What if not?" grew in his heart.

One day, at fourteen, he went into town with his parents. Tired of his retinue, he turned into a narrow alley. And then—the collision.

He didn't notice her around the corner. The tall, frail girl, two years his junior, couldn't hold on. Hyunjin grabbed her by the shoulders.

She spoke first. In broken Korean, with a gentle French accent:

• Oh... I'm so sorry.

Hyunjin froze. His hair was long, straight, and a rich, dark blue. His face was oval, his skin fair and freckled. His eyes were a frighteningly clear, bright blue. His nose was neat, his lips peach-colored, and he had a light blush.

She was beautiful. In a way her parents said a French woman couldn't be.

He heard the footsteps of the guards behind Hyunjin. The girl flinched and disappeared into the crowd. He didn't have time to ask her name.

That night, for the first time, he realized: his parents had lied. The truth lay in that girl with blue hair and blue eyes.

They never saw each other again.

Ten years later.

Hyunjin grew up. His parents were gone. He assumed the crown at twenty-four. An iron will, a cool mind. The court demanded: the emperor must marry.

He agreed. He sent out messengers announcing a bride show. Thousands of girls from all over the continent flocked to the palace.

But he didn’t look at them the way he had once looked in that alley.

He was looking for one. The Frenchwoman. The one he had encountered ten years ago.

One day at a ball, among hundreds of candidates, he saw a familiar silhouette. Blue hair. A slight French accent as she apologized for stealing someone else's shoe.

His heart skipped a beat. He moved closer. And he realized: he had found her.