< garden

@◆ ⁞ jin sehyoon ⁽ˢᶦᵖʲᵉ⁾ Sitting under the shade of a large tree by the garden with his back pressed against its trunk, Seongwoo drags the blade of his carving knife against the rough edges of the wooden figurine, smoothening it out to make it look more even. Wood shaving and dust fall onto his lap, but he couldn't care less as he would take care of that later on. And besides, he wasn't wearing the usual attire that indicates him as being one of the royalties but rather he wore one that would have mistaken him as one of the commoners, and in his opinion, it was more comfortable to wear.

@◆ ⁞ seo yeonah ⁽ˢᵃʳᵒ⁾ the moment between him exclaiming her name and her being able to recognize his person felt long to hyun; he blamed the impatience of reuniting with his friend, one he had not seen for what felt like eons. granted, yeonah had always been one of the few people he considered like family so seeing her brought immense joy to him. hyun had always been known to be a man of little words or reaction, humble in his aloofness but there were few who saw him melt; his arms widened the moment she began running towards him, laughter spilling past his lips to resonate along with her exclaim as he hugged her tight. "i've missed you too, dove!" he exclaimed, picking her up the grass to twirl her around in his arms. ah, what a sight it was- a peculiar one, rid of modest manners and formalities meant for royals. they were simply two close friends meeting each other. chuckling, he set her down on her feet, his hands reaching down to clasp her hands to bring to his face, pressing soft kisses on her knuckles. "it's so good to see you, yeonah. you look wonderful, as always."

@◆ ⁞ jin hyun ⁽ˢᶦᵖʲᵉ⁾ yeonah's name falling from the man's lips takes the woman aback, and her eyes narrow, eyebrows furrowing as she lets her mind provide her a list of people she knows (which is, if she were being perfectly honest, not quite as long as it should be for her age). but his eyes are familiar, albeit one that she can only shakily remember. and so, she takes a risk instead — if she manages to offend someone, she can only have her exile as her defense. "hyun...?" she mutters, at first hesitantly, before it finally dawns on her. of course, there is no other man who will address her as that than a particular prince of sipje. happiness quickly surges from within and replaces her skepticism, and she runs toward the man — manners be damned — to throw her arms around the male. "hyun! i have not seen you in so long!"

@◆ ⁞ seo yeonah ⁽ˢᵃʳᵒ⁾ truth be told, he hated autumn and winter— it seemed far too frigid, the world frozen in mystery and the enchantement of freshly poured snow. the island was no different; in all of it’s population, it was still aloof. and there was only so much the muse of his lone self could thrive behind the palace walls. he’d closed his books and put down his brush before donning his hat and shoes to walk out. perhaps a breath of cold air was what he needed. so he traipsed along the courtyards, guards and maids trailing just mere steps behind, far enough to allow him some ounce of privacy yet close enough to hear the sigh that emanated from his lips. he would never be left the alone. a giggle, soft and airy in its grace, brought him out of his reverie— it was familiar, a voice he had not heard for a long time when she spoke. he rose a hand, a silent command to stop the guards from brandishing their swords and stand down as he came forward, rounding the corner to find a woman. one he knew and took his breath out of his lungs. “is it really you, yeonah-ya?” he murmured in a gasp, eyes wide with glad shock. he couldn’t believe it; his friend, closest companion for decades on, was out in the world. and it was all hers to explore, finally. “have you been well all this time?”

@◆ ⁞ jin hyun ⁽ˢᶦᵖʲᵉ⁾ [ hope this is fine!! i didn't want to make it Longer than it should be but hashdas ]

Still rather unused to the overall geography of the island, Yeonah has made it a point to try and explore as many places as she possibly can without worrying Gyeoru. And as such, she finds herself around what she believes to be the garden area, now surrounded by nature. Quietly, she removes her shoes, placing them above a stone table, before her lips widen into an excited smile — one akin to that of a child so much younger than she is — and she walks over the grass. With the bottom part of her attire pulled up so that she can see her toes, the grass tickles the skin in between her toes. A soft giggle escapes her lips, and for a moment, she forgets that this island has other residents — enough that when a figure appears in her line of sight, she gasps rather loudly. "Who's there?" she asks, taking a step back. poising as though she can actually protect herself from a grown man.

@◇ ⁞ haewon ⁽ˢᶦᵖʲᵉ⁾ emitting a slight amused hum at her response, sehyoon couldn't help but smile a bit. perhaps she wasn't as /hopeless/ as he had initially thought, he amended his initial impression, acknowledging her eloquency. "then tell me, have i exhibited any strange behaviours since you have been assigned to me haewon?". eyes now travelling down to her fingers as she fiddled with her dress. it was obvious she was nervous but he'd have to give her points for being able to continue despite of so.

@◆ ⁞ jin sehyoon ⁽ˢᶦᵖʲᵉ⁾ taken aback by his words, haewon tried her best not to visibly show how upset she was by retaining her expression as neutral as possible. twiddling with the fabric of her dress, it was almost obvious to notice her discomfort seep out. "no disrespect to his highness but her royal consort wanted to make sure I informed her of any unusual behaviour you exhibit that would easily taint the royal name in any way," she stated, concern and fear reflecting off the girl's eyes. "i felt it was....morally right to inform you," lending the prince a sympathetic smile, "i did not think it was my place to break her royal consort's wish and reveal this to you, but i believe you deserve to know."

@◇ ⁞ haewon ⁽ˢᶦᵖʲᵉ⁾ upon hearing the falter in her steps following his question, sehyoon paused once more, turning back to face the servant head on. chin raised and shoulders squared as his eyes flittered down, honing in on the girl. was she being serious right now? surely not. "for someone sent by her royal consort, you're not very bright are you." he found himself muttering aloud out of surprise, said in a tone more of a statement rather than question. "would it not have been better for you to not disclose this to me?" he follows up. clearing his throat as he speaks louder with greater dictation, opting to not answer her question.

@◆ ⁞ ahn youngho ⁽ˢᵃʳᵒ⁾ she casts her gaze onto the tall prince, lips curling into what closely resembled a meek smile. “of course, your majesty. my father and i are well, my betrothed's family is also well taken care of. i could never ask for more.” hyemi's head lowers and her eyes trail towards the flora around her, a hollow chuckle coming out from her lips. “i guess certain things just... stick to you, after having heard them all your life.”

@◆ ⁞ jin sehyoon ⁽ˢᶦᵖʲᵉ⁾ "o- oh, if that is what you wish..your highness," haewon replied, uncertainty laced through her words, though not wanting to press the prince about his sudden remark, decided to keep quiet about it. the following words that left his mouth made the girl almost stop in her tracks. her lips lightly quivering as she tried to recover her stability. haewon had hoped the prince wouldn't have figured it out so soon, but knowing how clever he was— knew he would have found out one way or another. "does his highness really wish to know?" she paused. later following with a sigh as she continued, "yes. it is true. your mother— ah i mean..her royal consort sent me to check up on you. d- do you perhaps find it uncomfortable?"

@◈ ⁞ hae hyemi ⁽ᵍᵘʳᶦ⁾ youngho raises an eyebrow at her words. though he fortunately hasn't experienced the horrors of being in the battlefield, he knows that it certainly isn't something to be glorified. "aren't you taking the peace we have here for granted, hyemi?" he responds, a glint of mild amusement in his eyes. "i certainly wouldn't put myself out there, no matter how honorable it may seem."

@◇ ⁞ haewon ⁽ˢᶦᵖʲᵉ⁾ listening to the words of the servant, sehyoon couldn't help but let out a soft airy chuckle. "your highness, the prince or just prince sehyoon is fine, there is no need to formally address me as the grand prince." he commented, footsteps slowing down as he noticed the sound of hers getting lighter, causation being due to the growing distance between the two. "i'll be direct with you as frankly i dont find particular joy in having meaningless conversations. we're you sent to me by mother, her royal consort?"

@◆ ⁞ ahn youngho ⁽ˢᵃʳᵒ⁾ “it certainly is peaceful here, isn't it?” hyemi muses to the footsteps approaching, knowing full well who her company is. “do you ever wish to be there? to be part of war, among men who give their lives for the country? must be such an honor, if only i were born male...”

@◆ ⁞ ahn youngho ⁽ˢᵃʳᵒ⁾ “it certainly is peaceful here, isn't it?” hyemi muses to the footsteps approaching, knowing full well who her company is. “do you ever wish to be there? to be part of war, among men who give their lives for the country? must be such an honor, if only i were born male...”

@◆ ⁞ jin sehyoon ⁽ˢᶦᵖʲᵉ⁾ [] oH das good lmAO-- ye ye i gotchu fam. also ded take all the time you need pls?? don't rush?? ♡♡

answering his command with a shaky nod, haewon lifted herself from the ground and followed alongside the prince— distancing a few meters out of respect and for his privacy, stealing a few glances at his sharp movements. haewon was quite familiar with the royal family, having served them for some time. but she had never fully made herself /known/ to them, not that she had it in mind to befriend any of them. letting out a hum in response to the prince's words, she asked, curiosity gleaming in her eyes, "how may i assist his grand prince? is there anything you are in need of help with?"

@◇ ⁞ haewon ⁽ˢᶦᵖʲᵉ⁾ [] JKSAJKS the length is guCCi with me, since we both dont mind ig we can just cut and lengthen as we wish

spending a moment in silence to absorb the appearance of the servant before him, sehyoon eyed the female, scanning her from head to toe as she stepped forward to approach him. the fabric of her dress slightly crinkled with a few strands of her hair now astray. "she must've had a busy morning," sehyoon thought to himself, opting to not comment on it further. "come," he finally speaks out, the tone of his voice firm and commanding as his body turns to face the garden, now proceeding with his afternoon stroll. "take a walk with me, i have a few things i want to discuss.".

@◆ ⁞ jin sehyoon ⁽ˢᶦᵖʲᵉ⁾ [] ASDFG issok lmAO -- also let me know if naega replies are too long for you so that i can make it shorter

with the fabric of her hanbok in hand, her slippers slapped against the hard wood of the levelled floor, leading its way to the garden where she was to tend to. haewon feared for her life as she had mistakenly overslept through the cries of her fellow workers rising to start the day. gulping profusely and gasping in whatever air she could, haewon darted through the open corridors and found her way into the garden. brushing off bits of dust on her hanbok, haewon scurried over to the lined-up group, ducking her head low to not bring much attention to her. however, hearing her name escape out the lips of an individual made her shoot her head up, eyes wide in shock. inhaling a deep breath, haewon silently made her way to the prince, dropping down into a curtsy, "how may i help his grand prince?" she questioned, her voice soft and almost faint.

@◇ ⁞ haewon ⁽ˢᶦᵖʲᵉ⁾ [] mian im gonna keep it fairly short & semi-para since im pree brainded rn JAKSAJKS

to say that he found the palace suffocating would be an understatement. there would always be /someone/ going to /somewhere/ to do /something/ of importance. whether it was an official changing offices through the courtyard or maids running to welcome an uninvited guest. the palace's backyard was hardly if ever peaceful. with a small grunt as he cranked his neck to release its tension, sehyoon stopped in his steps. taking a moment to enjoy the fresh air before turning back to face his personnel. "half sent by mother and half by brother" he thought amusedly, eyes flittering as he scan the bunch only to stop on the female lined up by the end. "haewon," he called out immediately, voice firm as he beckoned her to come forward.