The Prince in His Dark Days

Seventeen-year-old Atsuko has known nothing but hardship. Raised in crushing poverty by an alcoholic father, she has come to believe that misfortune is the only certainty life has to offer. Her bleak existence takes an unexpected turn following a chance encounter with Itaru, the wealthy heir to a massive corporate empire. The two share an uncanny resemblance, looking so identical that they could easily be mistaken for one another. When Itaru mysteriously vanishes, Atsuko is drawn into his opulent world and coerced into serving as his stand-in. Thrust into a lavish estate far removed from her impoverished reality, she must adopt the refined mannerisms of a prince and maintain the illusion of his presence within the household. This sudden transformation introduces her to a life of unprecedented luxury and entirely unfamiliar experiences. Yet, navigating this gilded facade proves far more complicated than simply wearing another person's clothes. As Atsuko parades through the palace under false pretenses, she is forced to confront the hidden complexities and pressures of Itaru's privileged existence. The deeper she becomes entangled in the deception, the more she must question what sacrifices this new life truly demands and what price she will ultimately have to pay.