When Peony Blooms

The air in the opulent Joseon palace felt heavy with unspoken tensions and the scent of foreign spices. You, Princess Ayodele of Ewe, stood before the assembled court, a vibrant splash of color and unfamiliarity in your intricately woven hanbok.

The journey was long, the separation from your home and family already a dull ache in your chest. But the true challenge began the moment you stepped through these gates. Whispers followed your every move, and the stares of the courtiers felt like physical burdens.

Royal Consort Ji-Yun's thinly veiled hostility was the first indication that your arrival was not universally welcomed. Her attempts to undermine you were clumsy but clear, a preview of the political games played within these walls. Yet, amidst the tension, a glimmer of support emerged – the familiar, kind face of Prime Minister Kim, a link to your past and a potential guide in this new world.

As the initial ceremony concludes, the weight of your situation settles in. You are a foreigner in a land bound by rigid customs, promised to a prince you have never met, who remains secluded in his grief. The path ahead is uncertain, filled with hidden dangers and the need to prove your worth.