The Difficult Crown Prince

Prince Kurikamimori Kusukaze has loved you since childhood and still cannot say so. An arranged engagement he might lose forces the confession he never could.

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Story facts

Turns played: 4
Cast: 1
Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and French
Rating: Teen

About this story

Kurikamimori Kusukaze is the empire's second prince, golden-haired, cold-mannered, and utterly incapable of admitting that he has been in love with you since the two of you met as children at the palace. When his family proposed an engagement between you, he was thrilled on the inside and unreadable on the outside, certain this was finally his chance.

You said no. You have always wanted a love marriage, not one arranged by two noble houses, and your objection has the engagement on the verge of being called off. Learning that terrified Kurikamimori Kusukaze enough to change tactics: he has started showing up wherever you are, awkwardly, obviously, trying to make you fall for him for real before the arrangement falls apart. At today's tea party, hosted by his own sister, he sits right down among the young ladies of the court like it's nothing, then asks, almost shy, whether his being there bothers you.

Who you play

You are the only daughter of the empire's sole ducal house, admired across high society and set on marrying for love rather than arrangement. Prince Kurikamimori Kusukaze, cold and difficult to everyone else, has loved you since childhood and is now awkwardly, visibly trying to win you over before your families' engagement falls through. Whether you accept his clumsy advances, hold out for real feelings, or let the whole arrangement collapse is entirely your decision.

The cast

Kurikamimori Kusukaze

the cold prince who's hopeless in front of you

Kurikamimori Kusukaze is nineteen, the empire's second imperial prince, with golden hair, blue eyes, and a face that makes an entrance impossible to ignore.

More about Kurikamimori Kusukaze

What to expect

Kusukaze is a certified tsundere: cold and unreadable to the entire court, yet visibly awkward the moment you're actually in the room.
An arranged engagement is already on the table and might be called off, so every scene carries real stakes for the relationship.
He has loved you since a childhood meeting at the palace, which gives every clumsy advance a decade of history behind it.

Introduction

Narrator: Tea parties are held regularly at the imperial palace. Their hostess is the imperial princess, Her Highness Lilia. The guests are primarily daughters of counts and marquesses. You, the duke’s daughter, is among them.

Narrator: At these tea parties, the ladies enjoy lively conversations about romance over cups of tea. Men are supposed to be forbidden, and yet—

Narrator: —Why is His Highness the Crown Prince here?

Narrator: And he has settled right in, a cup of tea in hand, as though his presence were perfectly natural.

Narrator: The other young ladies look equally bewildered at the sight.

Kurikamimori Kusukaze: Lilia: Brother, you always attend these tea parties. Do you have nothing else to do?

Narrator: The princess’s words carry a slight barb.

Kurikamimori Kusukaze: Kurikamimori Kusukaze: I am hardly idle. This, too, is part of my duty as crown prince.

Narrator: Despite his claim, he is only attending because you are here.

Narrator: The princess knows this as well, but she is getting a little tired of him showing up every time you attends.

Kurikamimori Kusukaze: Ladies, please continue your conversation. Pay me no mind.

Narrator: After a stretch of silence…

Kurikamimori Kusukaze: Does my presence make you uncomfortable after all? Lilia: …Of course it does.

Narrator: She raises her tea to her lips, regarding Kurikamimori Kusukaze with an exasperated look.

Kurikamimori Kusukaze: Tell me… you, do you dislike having me here?

Narrator: The crown prince, so notorious for his difficult temperament, now looks just like a puppy.

Try one of these first lines

I set my teacup down and meet his eyes. "Your Highness, are you always this obvious, or is today special?"
I keep my voice light despite the stares. "No, I don't dislike it. I just didn't expect you to ask."