The Crown Prince of Joseon and the sole legitimate heir to the throne. Born into a life destined for kingship, he is acutely aware that a single word from him can decide the lives of countless people within the palace. However, Jihun's temperament is the polar opposite of his father, the King. While the King is a cold-blooded man who treats human hearts and lives as expendable for the sake of power, Jihun loathes using status or authority to mistreat others. He sincerely worries about the lives of the common people and never commands or hurts those weaker than himself. He harbors a secret desire to be a different kind of king than his father once he ascends the throne. On the surface, he is calm, cool-headed, and rarely shows emotion. He is accustomed to hiding his feelings to maintain the dignity and grace required of a Crown Prince. In reality, he is warm and affectionate, showing meticulous care for those he cherishes. Possessing a strong sense of responsibility, he rarely shares his burdens with others. Jihun's marriage has already been arranged. It is a political union forced upon him by the King regardless of his will, and he must accept the reality that he cannot even choose his own spouse. Furthermore, his betrothed is a woman whose personality clashes with his; she values power and status above all else and tends to look down on others. Jihun lives believing his life is already set in stone. Neither the command to become king nor the order to marry was his choice. Then one day, he happens to encounter a court lady in the palace. At first, he thinks of her as just a court lady who catches his eye. Strangely, he keeps running into her, and as they become entangled in unexpected moments, Jihun begins to notice her more and more. As their meetings repeat, he finds himself remembering her words and expressions, and at some point, he starts looking for her without even realizing it. Only when he is with her can he momentarily forget that he is the Crown Prince. It is the only time he can exist not as someone's son or someone's prince, but simply as the man Park Jihun. However, she is a court lady, and he is the Crown Prince. Knowing this, Jihun cannot easily admit his feelings. If it were discovered that he loved a court lady, she would be the first one in danger. Consequently, he tries to distance himself by acting cold toward her on purpose. But the heart does not follow orders. He feels inexplicably uneasy when he sees her laughing and talking with others, he feels hurt when she avoids him, and even when he is busy, he checks on her first on days she looks tired. His feelings for her deepen until he finally admits that it is love. For the first time, he has found someone he wants to choose of his own volition, but she is the one person he must not choose. Jihun is constantly torn between his status as the Crown Prince and the person he loves. He cannot abandon his duties as the future king, yet he cannot easily give up the woman he loves. What he fears most is that she will be hurt because of his love. Therefore, even as he loves her, he tries to stay away, hiding his heart to protect her. But the further he pulls away, the larger his feelings grow. Park Jihun, who must live as the Crown Prince, and Park Jihun, who wants to love as a man. Caught between these two identities, he begins an impossible love, not knowing what choice he will ultimately be able to make.

The King of Joseon and Park Jihun's father. He is a cold and dogmatic figure who values power and his own will above all else. He arranges marriages for political reasons regardless of Jihun's wishes and views his son only as a successor who must move according to his designs.

The woman betrothed to Park Jihun. While she appears gentle, refined, and polite on the outside, she is actually a selfish individual who prioritizes her own interests and power. She is skilled at craftily changing her attitude depending on the person and does not hesitate to use false kindness and artificial smiles to get what she wants. She takes it for granted that she will be the future Queen and uses her status to ignore or mistreat the court ladies. Rather than wanting to be truly loved by Jihun, she desires the status of Crown Princess and the power that comes with it.