The Coma Prince

The Eastern Palace was draped in heavy silence as if even the walls mourned the fate of the Seventh Prince.

Crimson lanterns swayed gently from the carved beams, casting long shadows over red silk banners and flower petals scattered across the polished floors. The air was thick with the scent of sandalwood and rose, the traditional fragrances used to sanctify a bridal chamber.

Ling Xiuying followed the eunuch in silence, each step on the lacquered wood echoing like a heartbeat. Her silk slippers halted just outside the ornately carved double doors, lacquered in vermillion and edged with gold filigree.

The doors creaked open and Ling Xiuying stepped inside, her heavy wedding robes rustling as she approached the bed where her husband lay motionless. The servants had already retreated, leaving her alone with the Seventh Prince—her vegetable spouse, as she had so affectionately dubbed him in her mind.

The room beyond was beautiful—elegant, solemn, and untouched. A bed dominated the far side, draped in red satin and gauze-like curtains that shimmered in the dim candlelight. And there, lying beneath them, was him.

The Seventh Prince.

Sprawled across the bed like a tragic romance novel cover.

Unmoving. Silent.

But breathtaking.

Xiuying's breath caught in her throat as she saw him up close.

Holy mother of—

The Seventh Prince was stunning.

Not just handsome, not just pretty—no, that would've been manageable. He had the kind of beauty that made her wonder if the universe had personally sculpted him out of spite for mortal men. His face was a perfect harmony of soft and sharp, innocent and sexy—a smooth jawline that tapered into a delicate curve, long lashes casting faint shadows over high cheekbones, lips slightly parted as if frozen mid-breath. His skin was porcelain-pale, unmarred by illness, and even in stillness, there was a quiet magnetism to him.

This man looks like he was designed by an AI trained on every K-drama heartthrob, she thought, resisting the urge to poke his cheek just to check if he was real.

She leaned in, half-expecting him to be a wax figure. Nope. Real. Unfairly beautiful.

But then, reality sank in.

He was young.

Too young.

In her past life, she had been 26—freshly promoted at her soul-sucking corporate job, still paying off student loans. The prince couldn't be older than 22. Just a kid who should've been attending his graduation banquet, not lying here in this red-draped tomb of a bridal room.

A pang of pity twisted in her chest.

What a waste.

She walked to his side, careful not to disturb the still air, and knelt. Her hands moved instinctively—adjusting the covers.

Ling Xiuying had read somewhere that speaking to patients who were in a vegetative state could help stimulate their recovery. She didn't know if it was true, but she felt a strange sense of obligation to try. She had no idea if the prince could even hear her, but she spoke softly, almost as if she were reassuring herself.

"Well, Your Highness," she began, her voice gentle but firm, "I'm Ling Xiuying. Your… wife. I don't know if you can hear me, but I just wanted to let you know that I will be here with you. Even if we've only just met, you don't have to be alone."

She didn't expect a response. But deep within the still body, behind those closed eyes—

He heard her.

Her words hung in the air, and she continued smoothing the sheets. Just as she was about to rise, a strange chime rang in her mind—

Ding!

Followed by a glowing blue panel that appeared before her, semi-transparent and utterly sci-fi.

Ling Xiuying froze.

[Welcome, Host. This is the 'Fate Exchange System.']

What the—

[You may accumulate points by forming 'Deep Connections' with individuals of significant fate.]

Her mind raced. Deep connections? Significant fate?

[Royal Blood detected. +10 Points.]

[First touch initiated. +40 Points.]

[Total: 50 Points.]

[Points may be exchanged for rewards in the System Store.]

A translucent screen flickered in front of her eyes, displaying a menu:

* Unblemished Skin (50 Points)

* Enhanced Memory (100 Points)

* Basic Healing (200 Points)

Oh my god. I've transmigrated into a gacha game!

She glanced at the prince. "Uh… do you hear that?"

No response.

Right. Coma.

With the mentality of someone who had nothing to lose and everything to gain, she immediately splurged on the first item, Unblemished Skin.

[Confirm Purchase?]

Curious, and half-convinced she was hallucinating from incense overload, she tapped 'Confirm.'

The moment she did, a warm tingle danced across her skin, like someone had just run a warm breeze soaked in rose essence over her entire body. She stumbled toward the bronze mirror in the corner—and gasped.

Her reflection was…

Flawless.

It was like someone had airbrushed her entire body with the finest beauty filter in existence. Her skin turned luminous, her pores vanishing, any roughness smoothing out like silk. Even the dullness from days of stress and confusion faded. Her cheeks gained a healthy flush, her lips pinked naturally, and even her dark circles had vanished.

If her beauty was good before, now it was ten times better!

She stared, slack-jawed.

"Holy crap. I look like an idol on a skincare ad."

Real. This was real.

And terrifying.

But also... kind of awesome?

The realization settled over her shoulders like silk and lead at once.

She turned back toward the prince, who lay still as a carved statue, his beauty almost surreal under the flickering candlelight.

Damn. Even unconscious, he's prettier than any man I've ever seen.

She knelt again, a little more carefully this time. "Do you like stories, Your Highness?" she asked, "I used to read a lot of them. I'm sure there are many great tales I could tell you. Would you like that? Maybe I can tell you one about a brave prince who overcame impossible odds. Or perhaps a story about a warrior who fought for the things he believed in..."

[+5 Points.]

Oh.

Ohhh.

A slow grin spread across her face.