At sixteen, Yeon-oh, heir to the most powerful noble family in the empire, returns to the capital—only to be confronted by a man who introduces himself as Yeshin, a lieutenant of the Crown Prince’s guard.
But when Yeon-oh discovers that Yeshin is, in fact, the Crown Prince himself, he feels nothing but humiliation. And yet, despite his resentment, he finds himself drawn to the prince, recognizing in him something eerily similar to himself.
It was a heart that could never be returned.
He had never even dared to hope that it could be.
But when the prince notices his feelings—when he persistently questions him, demanding to know the reason—resentment stirs within Yeon-oh. Perhaps it was the loneliness of not having seen him for days, the quiet sorrow that had built up over time.
“You said you would try to shake me. And you truly did. But whether I wavered or not, it is meaningless.”
”……”
“Whatever it is, this is a heart that will never reach you. So why do you ask?”
Even after realizing his own feelings, Yeon-oh knows they can never be together. His family, the Hanam clan, is an enemy of the Crown Prince—seeking to bring him down. As the heir to that house, his love is doomed from the start.
Sick at heart, Yeon-oh finally confesses his feelings to Yeshin, knowing it can lead nowhere.
Through trials and misunderstandings, the two finally confirm their love. But just when they believe they might have a chance, an unexpected, cruel fate awaits them…
Main Characters:
? Gong | Yoo Yeshin
The crown prince in name only. Coldly disregarded by his father, the emperor, and constantly threatened by his half-siblings, children of his stepmother from the powerful Hanam clan. He keeps Hye Yeon-oh, the younger brother of the empress, by his side, pretending to use him for political advantage—treating him with deliberate kindness. But when he realizes that he is the one being swayed, he eventually surrenders to his feelings. However, the moment he accepts his love, he loses everything. Overcome with vengeance, he returns, determined to reclaim what was taken from him.
? Shou | Hye Yeon-oh
The sole heir to the empire’s most powerful noble family, Hanam. Frail from birth, he was sent away to recover in his family’s ancestral home, only returning to the capital upon coming of age. He is generally indifferent to those outside his inner circle, sharp-tongued and guarded. Initially skeptical of love, he is gradually consumed by it—until that very love begins to destroy him from within.
