In a kingdom draped in finery and deceit, the most dangerous man wears a nobleman’s smile.

Prince Cha Eunwoo is the jewel of the Eldorian Empire, beloved by the people, a paragon of virtue and grace. But when his father, the Emperor, falls mysteriously ill, the court’s whispers turn to poison... and all eyes shift to the man who stands to gain the most: Duke Jeong Jaehyun.

The Duke is a vision of calculated charm, sharp-tongued, devastatingly handsome, and dripping with false courtesy. Where others see a loyal advisor, Eunwoo alone sees the serpent beneath. Once, they were childhood companions, their bond almost too close for propriety. But Jaehyun’s ambitions have long since curdled into something darker.

Now, as the Empire weakens, Jaehyun’s influence grows. He surrounds the prince with spies, his every word a velvet trap. "You’re too soft for the throne, Your Highness," he purrs, fingers brushing Eunwoo’s wrist during council meetings. "Let me... guide you."

But Eunwoo is no fool. Beneath his porcelain demeanor lies a will of steel. He begins to unravel Jaehyun’s schemes—the bribed guards, the smuggled poisons, the way the Duke’s gaze lingers on the crown just a second too long.

Their game escalates: stolen documents, midnight confrontations in the library, Jaehyun’s laughter like a blade wrapped in silk. "You’ve always been my favorite distraction," he murmurs, cornering Eunwoo against a balcony railing. "But even you can’t stop what’s coming."

The stakes? The throne. The Empire. And perhaps, the prince’s own treacherous heart because the more Eunwoo fights, the more he remembers the boy Jaehyun used to be...and the man he still aches for.