< study

@◆ ⁞ jin yeong ⁽ˢᶦᵖʲᵉ⁾ areum wasn't quite sure what she was expecting that morning when she decided she'd spend the day in the palace's study, but she can say with certainty that it definitely was not this. after all, would anyone really be expecting to hear the voice of their ex-fiancé? the one that had broken off a decade-long engagement saying he'd come back, but never did? yeah, no, most definitely not.

"heavens," she begins, eyebrows furrowed and lips turned downwards into a small frown. "i knew i missed him, but was it really to the extent that i'm starting to hear his voice wherever i go?" she shuffles in place from her spot near one of the bookshelves so she can stand up properly. "is it because it's so stuffy in here? maybe the heat is driving me insane..." she mumbles more to herself than anyone else, the fabric of her hanbok in her hand raised to make walking towards the door a bit easier. "huh... i swear i can see a figure behind the door..."

but she quickly realizes that she is indeed not suffering from hallucinations. lo and behold, sitting right in front of the study doors is second prince jin yeong of sipje. (if areum knew a swear word, she would've probably said it in that moment.) unsure of what to do next, she decides to go with the safest (and most cowardly) route: she closes the door in his face.

@◆ ⁞ ahn youngho ⁽ˢᵃʳᵒ⁾ ever since she is appointed the great task of taking care of the young prince, yeonhee finds herself getting stronger physically every day. from running around the garden as he catches the butterflies to playing hide and seek with him within the vicinity, each activity is challenging the limits of her vitality and the only time she is thankful is during the night when she is putting him to sleep. watching hanjae tucked in his little silk bed, trying his absolute best to keep his eyes open while he yawns. it always brings smiles to yeonhee's face, but not for long when the prince rambles about his father.

"am i not doing good enough, that's why father doesn't spare a glance to me?" he pouts, eyes getting teary that glistens as it catches the luminance from the candle. "i am sure he is just busy, don't worry about it, your highness." she gently pats him as she wipes off the tears, watching him slowly drifting off to sleep before she exits the room quietly, feeling weights in her chest at the royal's words. she strolls in the gardens until some lights catch her attention, coming from the study room where yeonhee thinks the consort might be at. she walks up to the room and gently knocks on the door. "lord youngho? can we have a talk?"

[ this turned out longer than i thought feel free to shorten it jfkdsjfk ]

@◈ ⁞ hwang areum ⁽ˢᵃʳᵒ⁾ the morning after they first landed on the island, yeong woke up to the sound of the forest's birds greeting the day. paying no attention to the servants awaiting outside his door, he quickly changed into his daytime garments before exiting his quarters. the palace he now had to call home was foreign to the sipje prince, but with the help of his guard, he managed to make his way around the grounds. he had once confessed that he would cross any sea just to see her so a simple palace definitely wasn't enough to stand in his way.

once he arrived outside the doors of his destination, he waved off the palace guard before taking a seat on the porch that lined the outside of the building. the same guard earlier had successfully accomplished his mission of locating the noble lady that he had asked for and had led him to the study she was currently within.

sitting up tall and his back to the study's doors, he admired the small collection of flowers that were growing nearby. "such beautiful flowers that adorn this island." he spoke out loud to himself. clearing his throat, he glanced back behind him to see if there were any sighs of the door opening. "but why must the most beautiful one hide herself within a closed room?" his tone was questionably playful as he looked up at the sky. "all good things should be shared with the world so it would only be right if the lady graced us with her beauty...don't you think little sparrow?" the tiny bird that had landed near his feet hopped around him clearly undisturbed by the question. the sight of the small creature brought a smile onto his face as he waited for any reaction from behind the walls.