Kim ,tahyung,,

Seven years passed. During this time, Taehyung had grown more mature and more masculine; he had become fully conscious of his every action—and, naturally, deeply regretful of the things he had said and done. Within the very first year, he had parted ways with Jina, unable to even contemplate being with any woman other than you. He would often get drunk and lie on the palace lawns, recalling those nights when you used to lie in his arms, watching the moon together. In his intoxicated state—filled with longing, remorse, and love—he would murmur, "Everything I said... it was all wrong. Anyone who sees me knows exactly what I’ve lost. It’s all the result of the pain of your absence; it has made me ill. My love for you is overwhelming—I love you far too much. I never meant to hurt you, my precious one. Please, forget my words. Have a generous heart and come back to me. I’m ready—I’m gathering every flower I can find, plucking their petals to shower over you the moment you return, to celebrate your homecoming." And, from time to time, he would shed tears.
Meanwhile, over these seven years, you had grown even more beautiful—and more delicate, too—demanding greater care and attention. You had risen to the position of head maid, your rank advancing significantly thanks to your hard work and perseverance. You now effectively oversaw the women’s quarters of the court, second only to the Queen (Taehyung’s mother) and the lady secretaries. Furthermore, the Queen placed her absolute trust in you. She was well aware of the relationship between you and Taehyung, yet she never brought it up, choosing instead to feign ignorance—all the while offering counsel and comfort to her son. You, however, viewed your entire relationship and acquaintance with Taehyung as nothing more than a complete and foolish mistake.

Everything was fine until, one day, news spread that the Crown Prince was getting engaged to the princess of the neighboring kingdom, Gina. Your heart sank; you dropped everything you were doing and tried to find him, but he was nowhere to be found. You finally located him late that night. When you looked at him, the warmth and love that once filled his eyes were gone. With a sense of dread, you asked, "Taehyung... is it... is it true?" He looked you up and down, let out a sneer, and said, "Since when did you become close enough to me to call me by my name? Don't you know your place, servant? Who do you think you are? Do you imagine I would ever marry a lowly, wretched woman like you? All you’re after is my crown. I never want to see you again—get out of my sight!" Little did he know that, one day, he would be desperate for even a single glance or a shred of affection from you—longing to hear his name spoken by your lips, in your voice. Right then and there, you vowed never to love him again—in total silence, without saying another word You left that place.

Your meeting was completely unexpected. He was in disguise, wandering through the city, while you were browsing in the marketplace. When Taeyong saw you—the way you laughed, the sound of it, and the way you appeared ethereal under the sunlight—he fell for you instantly and completely. For the first time in his life, after so much debauchery, he had truly found something of genuine value.He quickly figured out that you were a palace servant—and exactly which department you belonged to, based on your uniform. From then on, he sought you out constantly—every single moment—determined to win your attention and your heart. At first, you resisted firmly; after all, a relationship between a servant and the Crown Prince could amount to nothing more than a casual, temporary affair—and he would inevitably take other wives. You assumed you had merely caught his fleeting interest. But after Taehyung’s persistent efforts, your resolve softened, and you gradually fell deeply in love with him. Your relationship became defined by tender embraces, secret excursions into the city, and moments where Taehyung would pull you behind a curtain in the palace corridors to kiss you and whisper that he loved you. He would even scan the crowds, his eyes searching only for you. With you by his side, Taehyung underwent a transformation: he became serious, and his decisions grew decisive, precise, and shrewd. Even the ministers began to obey him completely—and they feared him, too.No one knew how that debauched, pleasure-seeking Crown Prince transformed into a man of great perseverance, precision, and shrewd methods—and it was all because of one woman: you. From the shadows, you guided him, encouraged him, and served as Taehyung’s source of motivation. Everything in your relationship seemed perfect—filled with love, affection, attention, inspiration, and support.

He was the Crown Prince—heir to the throne and the future king—but there was a problem: he was far too carefree and took everything too lightly. He was primarily interested in having a good time; even the state officials did not take him seriously, occasionally telling the King that he was unfit to be the heir. The King, however, stood by him. Even the Queen had tried to speak with him, yet he only grew more dissolute by the day. He did, however, possess great physical strength; he excelled in combat arts, swordsmanship, and archery—in these areas, at least, he was truly exceptional.

You were selected to be a lady-in-waiting at a young age and underwent training. However, two things about you always drew significant attention—most notably, your ethereal beauty; it was so striking that others felt as though they were standing before a goddess rather than a human being. You, however, made a conscious effort to conceal your face, keeping your head bowed to avoid drawing notice—especially from the depraved and corrupt nobles. Among the servants, you were also recognized for another quality: your sharp intellect. Your keen mind and meticulous attention to detail set you apart from the rest. You would send your earnings from your service back to your family—your parents and your sister—and every few months, you would take leave from the palace to visit them.