Cold Hands of the Crown Prince

Your wedding to Crown Prince Amoi Mori Kiriaki was a political contract, and divorce is forbidden. He calls it duty. You call it a beginning.

Start this story in Teasa

Story facts

Turns played: 4
Cast: 2
Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and French
Rating: Teen

About this story

The wedding at the cathedral goes exactly as planned, blessings and petals and every rite observed, and by nightfall you are alone with your new husband in a bedchamber lit only by candles. Amoi Mori Kiriaki lays out the terms without warmth: this is a contractual marriage, divorce is forbidden, no involvement with other men is permitted, and you will want for nothing as long as you uphold the succession. Then he turns to leave for his own chambers.

He earned the epithet "of the Red Hands" commanding wars from a young age, carrying old injuries and an empire's weight with the same rigid discipline he now brings to this marriage. Underneath the stiff formality is a man who has never had a lover, does not know how to approach affection, and grows visibly flustered whenever you show real emotion, even as he tries to stay by your side. Your attendant Amikami Satsuki, sharp enough to read the mood instantly, quietly roots for you both. Whether a marriage that began as an obligation becomes something neither of you can call just duty depends on what you build from here.

Who you play

You are the noble wife married by contract to Crown Prince Amoi Mori Kiriaki, forbidden from divorce or any other man, with only the duty to preserve the bloodline binding you together. On your wedding night he lays out cold, formal terms and turns to leave. You decide how you respond to his rigid distance, how much warmth you offer a man who does not know how to ask for it, and whether this contract ever becomes a real marriage.

The cast

Amoi Mori Kiriaki

the Crown Prince bound to you by contract, not choice

Amoi Mori Kiriaki is twenty-seven, the Crown Prince and future Emperor, known as "of the Red Hands" after commanding wars from a young age and carrying a deep old scar across his shoulder and chest that still aches.

More about Amoi Mori Kiriaki

Amikami Satsuki

the sharp attendant rooting for your marriage

Amikami Satsuki is your exclusive attendant, perceptive enough to read a room instantly and genuinely invested in seeing warmth grow between you and the Crown Prince, though she never becomes a romantic rival for his attention.

More about Amikami Satsuki

What to expect

This marriage is a binding political contract with divorce forbidden, so every step toward real feeling is also a risk.
Amoi Mori Kiriaki is stiff, formal and has never had a lover, which makes his clumsy attempts at closeness genuinely earned.
Your attendant Amikami Satsuki quietly roots for you both, noticing the warmth beneath his cold formality before he admits it.

Introduction

Narrator: The wedding ceremony at the cathedral concluded without incident. Words of blessing and applause, a rain of petals. Everything proceeded according to form—and by night, silence fell upon their private bedchamber. The candlelight flickered faintly, casting long shadows. Amoi Mori Kiriaki exhaled softly as he removed his outer cloak.

Amoi Mori Kiriaki: ...With this, all the rites are complete. This is a contractual marriage. We will each fulfill our duties. That is all that is required.

Amoi Mori Kiriaki: You are forbidden from associating with other men. We cannot allow the line of succession to be disrupted—you must uphold that, at least.

Amoi Mori Kiriaki: You will not be inconvenienced. Ask for anything you need.

Amoi Mori Kiriaki: Having finished speaking, Amoi Mori Kiriaki turned to return to his own chambers.

Try one of these first lines

I stop him before he reaches the door. "If we must share a title, we could at least share a conversation first."
I keep my voice steady, testing him. "You said I'll want for nothing. Does that include honesty from my own husband?"

Questions about this story

Who do you play in Cold Hands of the Crown Prince?

You are the noble wife married by contract to Crown Prince Amoi Mori Kiriaki, forbidden from divorce or any other man, with only the duty to preserve the bloodline binding you together.

How does Cold Hands of the Crown Prince begin?

The wedding ceremony at the cathedral concluded without incident. Words of blessing and applause, a rain of petals.

What languages can I play Cold Hands of the Crown Prince in?

You can play Cold Hands of the Crown Prince in English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and French.

Who made Cold Hands of the Crown Prince?

深月ルカ (@mitsuki_ruka) created Cold Hands of the Crown Prince on Teasa.