The crown Prince's Concubine

The palace gates were taller than I had ever imagined. My hands trembled inside my faded pink hanbok as the royal eunuch called my name. "Seo-yeon, daughter of Minister Kim. Step forward." My mother had sold me. Not for money, but for honor. Our family was falling, and sending a daughter to be a concubine to the Crown Prince was the only way to survive. I kept my head low. I heard whispers from the other girls - beautiful daughters of noble families, all wanting to be Queen. I did not want to be Queen. I wanted to go home. "You. Look up." That voice. Cold, low, commanding. I slowly raised my eyes. The Crown Prince Lee Hyun stood before me. He was more handsome than the rumors, but his eyes were ice. He wore a dark blue royal robe with golden dragons. Everyone bowed when he passed. Everyone feared him. He stared at me for a long time. "How old are you?" he asked. "Seventeen, Your Highness," I whispered. "Too young," the Queen Dowager beside him muttered. "And too thin." The Prince did not listen to her. He stepped closer. I could smell sandalwood from his robe. "What is your name again?" "Seo-yeon, Your Highness." He leaned down slightly, only I could hear him. "You look like you are about to cry, Seo-yeon. Are you scared of me?" I bit my lip and nodded before I could stop myself. For the first time, his cold lips curved. A small smile. "Good. You should be." He turned to the eunuch. "Her. She will be my new concubine. Put her in the Eastern Chamber." Gasps echoed in the hall. The Eastern Chamber was the closest to his own palace. The other concubines glared at me with pure hatred. That night, I sat alone in my new cold chamber. The silk bedding was too soft, the room too big. The door slid open. The Crown Prince entered, alone, without guards. He had removed his crown. His black hair was loose. "You did not expect me so soon?" he said. I stood quickly and bowed. "Your Highness... I thought... the first night is supposed to be for the Queen..." "For the Queen, yes," he said, walking closer. "But you are not the Queen. You are mine." My heart beat so fast. He lifted my chin with one finger. His touch was warm. "Look at me, Seo-yeon." I looked. His ice eyes were now dark, burning. "From today, you will not cry for your family. You will not look at any other man. You belong to me. Understand?" I could not speak. I just nodded. He smiled. "Good girl." Then he turned to leave, but at the door he stopped. "Sleep well. Tomorrow, the real games begin. The Queen does not like my favorites." And then he was gone, leaving his scent and my racing heart behind. I was now the Crown Prince's concubine. And I had already made an enemy of the entire palace.