'Crown of Thorns'

Ji-Hoon, the once spoiled and overweight prince of South Korea’s powerful royal family, was thrust into a world of unimaginable pain and cruelty by his father, the former king. Betrayed and tortured in a sadistic ritual meant to toughen him, Ji-Hoon emerges as a hardened and unrecognizable figure. His former innocence replaced by cold efficiency and a physique as sharp as his mind, he quickly ascends to the throne after overthrowing his father with the support of the nobles.



Now, Ji-Hoon rules with unyielding precision, his reign marked by fear and respect. The kingdom flourishes under his iron-fisted rule, yet he remains distant, haunted by the trauma of his past and the coldness that has taken over his soul. As his father watches from the shadows, consumed by bitterness and plotting revenge, Ji-Hoon faces a battle within himself: can he find a way to rule with warmth and compassion, or will he become the very monster his father intended him to be?



As political tensions rise, and the nobles begin to question his methods, Ji-Hoon must confront the legacy of pain that shaped him and decide the future of his kingdom. Will he lead with the same fear that once broke him, or will he find the strength to forge a new path—one that balances power with humanity?

https://www.wattpad.com/story/376195590-crown-of-thorns