The rose behind thorns

❀༶•┈┈୨୧┈┈•༶❀ Truth in Silk and Shadows ❀༶•┈┈୨୧┈┈•༶❀

Morning sunlight streamed through the palace windows, casting golden patterns on the floor. Hana stood by the mirror, still trying to adjust to the weight of royal hairpins, the tight hanbok, and the bowing servants at her every step.

But she wasn’t the naive girl who first fell through time. Not anymore.

"You're not here to play princess," she whispered to herself. "You're here to survive... and take back what's yours."

Suddenly—

KNOCK KNOCK!

Eunji peeked in. “Princess Hana, Lady Myung requests your presence in the Tea Pavilion.”

Hana’s stomach tightened. The viper was calling.

—— ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ——

The Tea Pavilion was quiet—too quiet. The fragrant steam from jasmine tea couldn’t hide the bitterness in the air.

Lady Myung sat gracefully, her smile poisonous. Beside her, Sook-Yi poured tea like a dutiful daughter.

“My dear Hana,” Lady Myung purred, “You’ve been… changing. Sneaking into libraries. Speaking with generals. That’s not behavior fit for a royal girl.”

Hana sat down slowly. “Is that so? I thought queens should be educated.”

Sook-Yi raised a brow. “We only need one queen, sister.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Hana replied with a sweet, chilling smile. “I’m not here to play second.”

Lady Myung’s smile twitched.

⚠️ This was war in lace and porcelain ⚠️

“Such spirit,” Lady Myung said, sipping tea. “But you’d do well to remember—spirit alone doesn’t win battles.”

Hana leaned closer. “Neither does treachery. But I suppose you’d know that better than anyone.”

There was a pause. Sook-Yi’s hand trembled slightly on the teapot handle.

Lady Myung’s eyes narrowed. “You presume much for someone with no blood ties.”

Hana stood. “And you forget—I’m the one the people now whisper about. The one who walks like destiny itself.”

And with that, she left, her robes fluttering like the wings of a phoenix reborn.

—— ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ——

That evening, Hana walked the training fields, watching the soldiers practice.

She wanted to understand war—not from books—but through motion, through instinct.

That’s when she saw him again.

King Jiwoon.

This time, he was not cloaked. He stood among warriors, sword in hand, his stance powerful and fluid.

He noticed her instantly.

“You again?” he smirked. “Are you following me, Princess?”

She folded her arms. “Hardly. You just happen to appear wherever trouble brews.”

He stepped closer, sword lowered, eyes amused. “You handle words like weapons.”

“I’m learning to handle both.”

He tossed her a wooden practice sword. “Then fight me.”

“What?” she laughed. “Here?”

“Why not? You want to rule? Show me your strength.”

🔥 And so, the duel began. 🔥

Wood clashed against wood. Her arms trembled with each blow, but she refused to back down. Jiwoon’s strikes were precise—but not cruel. He was testing her.

She dodged low and aimed at his side. He blocked, spun her around, and—

WHAM! She fell straight into his chest.

He caught her.

Too close. Too warm. Too fast.

Their eyes locked.

“You fight well… for a royal flower,” he murmured.

She stared back. “Even roses have thorns.”

He chuckled, stepping back. “Let’s see if your thorns can draw blood.”

—— ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ——

Back in her chambers, Hana collapsed onto a cushion, heart racing.

“Who is this King Jiwoon?” she whispered to Eunji.

Eunji lit the lanterns. “A ruler feared across kingdoms. Some say he has never lost a battle. But others… say he’s searching for something deeper than power.”

Hana stared at the flame.

Maybe that’s why his gaze felt like it saw through her.

He wasn’t just a king. He was a storm in human form.

And part of her… wanted to tame that storm.

—— ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ——

Meanwhile, in the shadows of the inner court, Lady Myung paced.

“She’s gaining popularity,” a spy whispered. “Even the king of the northern lands seems intrigued.”

Lady Myung’s eyes narrowed. “That girl must not sit on the throne. Prepare the nightshade. If she doesn’t fall to words… she’ll fall to poison.”

The game had begun.

And Hana was standing on the edge of a blade.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

To be continued…