3. Dong-gung : Crown Prince's Room

@Do Kyung Soo As she continued to eat, happily chewing away the months of stress and her letting everything out in the open, she felt as light as a breeze to the point that she didn't even notice the crown prince looking at her. She only took notice of the gaze the second she felt him wipe a stray tear that somehow stopped rolling down her cheeks midway. The touch caught her off guard, but it wasn't like earlier that it startles her. Minding her actions around the prince, Joo Hyun swallowed her food first, unconscious of the bits of rice on her face as she lifts only her gaze, glancing up at Kyungsoo.

"Y-Yes, Your Majesty?" She asked, her curiosity only towards the sudden touch yet as soon as Kyungsoo spoke as well, seemingly brushing past her question, her eyes are now fixated on his face because of what she's hearing, her ears twitching at the sound of Kyungsoo's voice, her words stirring something inside her. 'He wants to expedite my move to the palace? The marriage? Us being together?' Joo Hyun thought, and she couldn't help but feel flustered, and it's not because of the prince's straightforward demeanor but how fast things are starting to unfold.

"I-I. . . are you sure about this, Your Majesty? N-Not that I'm questioning your decision b-but won't the King frown upon the decision to move quickly when we just met today? W-What about your constituents? I just. . . don't get me wrong, Your Majesty, I am honored that you'd want someone like me and that you want us to get married immediately or at the soonest that we can but I'm worried about you, Your Majesty." Joo Hyun's worries are out in the open, she knows how people are, especially those close to the royal family, and those in power, and such request for a quick matrimony might ruffle some feathers for everyone especially the prince and that's the last thing that she wants.

She's already thankful that the prince is giving her an out from her unbearable life but if their matrimony will cause such disturbance in the prince's life, she'd rather they take it slow until people get accustomed to them being together rather than rush into things. She knows that her fear and worry is irrational, Kyungsoo would probably reassure her that it'll be fine but in her own way, she also wants to help protect him and steer him away from harm's way and she'll do anything to ensure that.

@Bae Joo Hyun Kyungsoo simply smiled as he let her had her moment, letting out all the pent up feelings that she kept inside. Just from this short moment of knowing her, he had already had a gist on what's going in her family. It made him want to bring her out of that place as fast as he could possibly be. He didn't expect that he could have this line of thoughts when he first told of meeting her, the lady that was supposedly to be his queen. Now, the idea didn't sound bad at all. In fact, he would welcome her with an open arm. She easily made him feel for her, making him want to protect her.
Reaching out, he wiped the tears on her cheeks as he watched her eat. His gaze tender as he let himself get lost on the beauty that was her. It's not difficult to fall for her. her kindness and innocence were what stirred his heart the most. He let out a sigh of happiness, content in spending time with her.
"I've been thinking..." He started as his gaze remained on her. "to tell the king to fast forward with our marriage and please allow me to walk you home later." he stated as he asked for her opinion on the biggest matter of their life. He didn't want to force her with it if she wasn't ready yet. Their wedding could happen at its set up date instead of getting it fast forward just like how he wished.

@Do Kyung Soo As Joo Hyun kept her stance, on the floor, bowing so lowly that she can feel her forehead on the ground, her body trembling at the sudden flooding of memories of her childhood and life in their household. Everything she did was criticized, she was punished for it, especially whenever she messes up or falls short of their expectations when she's still lost on what to do with her life, Joo Hyun got all of the mistreatment, was conditioned to think that it's okay to be punished and because of that, as the prince tries to calm her down, reassure her that everything's going to be okay and that it's fine to be imperfect and be her own person, Joo Hyun finds it hard to accept that as well and live her life as she pleases.

She intended to stay in this position until Kyungsoo tells her to stop, well, he already did but she's still thinking that she doesn't deserve his kindness, so she ignored that and only when Kyungsoo lifted her head up by pushing her chin up with his finger underneath it, did she only look at him, but it surprised her that tears brimmed her eyes and upon feeling the tears cascade down her cheeks did she only realize that she's already crying. She was about to apologize yet again but it felt like was paralyzed and only stuttered words slipped past her lips.

"I-I. . . Your Majesty. . ." Joo Hyun muttered and looking into his gaze, feeling his warmth through his act and gestures, his kindness that encompasses everything, and his smile, Joo Hyun couldn't help but cry even more albeit very soft sobs slips past her parted lips, she finally snapped out of it and slowly pulled away. "T-Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. . ." Joo Hyun uttered softly as she sat up again, sitting in a lotus position again and continues to eat her meal, munching and not realizing how her cheeks are puffing up again, completely forgetting to wipe her tears as she still feels hungry and crying earlier amplified her hunger that at this point, or at least only this time, she's foregoing any shyness she's feeling and just kept munching and eating with gusto in front of the prince.

@Bae Joo Hyun Kyungsoo watched Joohyun's reaction with a mixture of concern and understanding, his expression softening as he reached out to gently pat her hand in reassurance. "Please, there's no need to apologize," he said, his voice gentle and reassuring.
He offered her a warm smile, hoping to ease her discomfort. "You don't need to be perfect, Joohyun. Just be yourself," he encouraged, his tone sincere. "And as for showing me everything, I understand. Everyone has their secrets, and you're entitled to your privacy."
As Joohyun bowed deeply in apology, Kyungsoo felt a pang of sadness at the sight of her distress. He wished he could erase the years of harsh treatment and expectations that had shaped her into this fearful, self-conscious young woman. But he knew that healing would take time, and he was determined to do whatever he could to help her regain her confidence and sense of self-worth.
"Please, Joohyun, there's no need to bow," Kyungsoo said softly, reaching out to gently lift her chin so that their eyes met. he found what happened was a normal thing and completely wasn't bothered by it. "You have nothing to apologize for. You're doing wonderfully, and I'm grateful for your honesty and sincerity." With a reassuring smile, he added, "Let's just enjoy our meal together, shall we? And if there's anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask. I'm here to support you in any way I can." He was happy that she could act as normally as she could around him and he hoped that she could stay that way.

@Do Kyung Soo Knowing and feeling the kindness and accommodation Kyungsoo is showcasing is already enough to make her heart swell with happiness. Back then, she used to think that she could only gain the kindness of others if she gave them all of what they wanted and became as obedient as she could be but spending almost her whole day with Kyungsoo and as they shared this meal, she felt for the first time that she's being treated fairly and kindly, and seen for who she is past her curse. It almost made her want to cry at the realization but she stopped herself and kept eating, but the second she felt Kyungsoo's soft hand reach forth and pull the rice from her cheeks, Joohyun curled in her lower lip and she couldn't help but blush profusely.

"I-I'm sorry about that, your Majesty. I've been feeling famished since this morning. . ." She muttered softly and before she could even act more cautious of her actions, her eyes blinked at the prince's request and hearing his reasoning behind it. "I promise to be as genuine as I could be, your Majesty. B-But I can't promise to show you everything because there are things that I'd still like to keep to myself. . ." She said softly and it was as if on cue, a soft burp elicited past her lips, her eyes widening and she couldn't help but stammer and panic.

"Oh my god. H-How unbecoming of me. I-I'm so sorry, your Majesty. Please forgive me. . ." She bowed deeply, almost laying on the floor as she was on her knees, hands tightly curled in a fist on her lap to the point that her knuckles had turned white. Had her stepmother been there and the trainer that she hired for a month to teach her how to act accordingly in front of royalty, they would've immediately had her standing and hit hundreds of times behind her legs and starved for days as a punishment.

Just the mere thought of those lessons had her trembling and she stayed in the same position, not wanting to further embarrass herself in front of the crown prince, knowing for sure that this might be the single reason for him to dislike her as these kinds of bodily reactions are unwelcomed to be displayed in public especially if someone is from a noble family or worse part of the royal family.

@Bae Joo Hyun Kyungsoo smiled, watching her eat silently while he ate slowly. She took his attention so easily. He saw a lot of ladies before, even shared bed with them but even then, none of them managed to get his attention. If they managed too, maybe he was already a prince with a few concubines. He shook those thoughts away, realizing that he was pretty much a bad guy before meeting her. Just one meeting with her was enough to make a resolution to be much better man, especially for her.
He listened to her favorite food, noting everything down in mind. If his attendants were listening, they better noted it down too. "Then, I'll make sure to have it on the table whenever you come visit along with another new dishes. Then, we can see what to keep and what not." he took another bite of his food, looking at her tenderly. His smile grew when he saw her eating happily. He didn't mind to see her cheeks all puffed up as she ate happily. Somehow, seeing her like this made him happy. When he's used to seeing everyone faking themselves around him, seeing such an honest expression, made him feel good.
Easily, he finished up his bowl of rice. He placed his bowl down and gulped down his tea. He then rested his cheek on his palm while looking at her. He saw the grains of rice on her cheeks but he wouldn't clean it for her just yet. There's a reason to that. He knew that once he did that, she would also start to slow down her eating and he didn't want that. he wanted to see this honest expression all the time. It felt refreshing when he was too fed up with all the pretentious behavior around him.
When he saw that her bowl was almost empty, that was when he stretched his hand out to clean up the rice on her cheeks or the stain on her lips. He gave her a smile. "Don't want to disturb you eating so deliciously." He said but he quickly continued. "But never fake yourself around me. I love that honest expression you've shown. It's rare in the palace."

@Do Kyung Soo As she continued to stand there, still stunned from the kiss, yet another gesture from the crown prince had her blushing profusely as she felt his warm hands cupping her cheeks, gently tilting her head up, and with him doing such, she was unable to hide and met his gaze properly for the first time, albeit with aid from the prince himself. Letting him do as he pleases and not that she could even say anything, Joohyun just let it happen, and to be honest, she did like that he was taking the initiative because had it been left for her to do that, she probably would prefer to stand a few feet away from the crown prince, and it's not because she dislikes him, it's actually far from that. She just couldn't explain it but her heart had started going haywire the second they met in his gazebo, even now that he's leading the way back there, she can't seem to calm down and it's confusing and scaring her at the same time as she never felt like this before.

Back and settled in the prince's gazebo, Joohyun just sat there quietly as looked down at the food in front of them. It needed to make her feel hungry but it also felt like she couldn't even eat properly with what just happened. All of the crown prince's actions, though they are all welcomed surprises, still she couldn't help but feel caught off guard by them because she never had a lone man pay attention to her, or any human for that matter other than Ling. No one's been this kind to her and though she likes it, it also scares her as it feels like a dream, something that she can only grasp for a moment and might disappear as quickly as she experienced it.

Nodding meekly at his words, she waited for him to pick up his utensils and take his first bite and soon she followed suit. Upon hearing his question, as she picked up a few grains of rice from her bowl, she glanced at the prince and then down at her bowl again as she kept eating though less heartily than she normally would when she's at home as she didn't want to prince to think of her as some glutton.

"I-I do, your Majesty. I mean, I have foods that I love and I can eat forever every single day. Uhmm. . . I like rice mixed with meat and greens in one bowl and cracked with one egg, I also like rice cakes, any kind of rice cakes, and soups. This soup that they served is lovely. It's really good~" Joohyun couldn't help but perk up because, besides flowers, she's also passionate about cooking and isn't afraid to try new cuisines. Continuing to eat, she's finally realizing how hungry she's been as she's been put on a strict diet before meeting the prince to look her best and before she realizes it, she's eating happily again, cheeks puffed up like a hungry cat, unconscious of the grains of rice on her cheeks as she kept munching.

@Bae Joo Hyun In the split seconds when their eyes locked before she shied away from him, he could see how beautiful her eyes were. He shook his head to disagree with how she thought being with him would be fun. "Others might not think so. They're mostly scared or I give them too many heart attacks." he chuckled before he cupped her cheeks to tilt her head up slightly so she could look at him eye to eye. "I couldn't wait for the time when you stop bowing your head down and keep your gaze on me."
Kyungsoo held her hand and intertwined her fingers with his, seeing her surprised look after the kiss he left to her cheek. His heart fluttered in a way, feeling extremely happy at the reaction he got from her. He gave her hand a gentle tug, didn't say a thing to let her recover from her shyness. He walked with her back to the gazebo to have lunch together. He could see the food had now prepared on the table they sat down earlier.
"Our lunch are ready. I hope you would enjoy the food. After that, you can arrange the flowers." he said, allowing her to do what she liked. He let go of her hand just so that both of them could sit down. "I wonder if you have any favorite food. So, I could make it into my meal plan." he took a seat across her and placed the bouquets on the side, so that after their meal, he could return them to her. He would make sure to turn every unused section of the palace into a flower garden just for her. He could already picture how much he would love her, the more he got to know her. She was perfect in his eyes and he couldn't find any reason to dislike her.

@Do Kyung Soo Hearing the latter's words, Joohyun shook her head and for the first time, looked into Kyungsoo's eyes, which she hadn't done properly yet ever since they started talking. "Your Majesty, that'll be the last thing anyone would feel when they are with you, and that's coming from me whom you just met today. I can sense that you have such a fun personality as opposed to my awkward one and who'd be bored when they are with someone like you? No one." She smiled softly and that's enough being too bold for today, Joohyun once again looked down, only to lift her head once again upon feeling something in her ear, reaching up and gently touching it, she realized that Kyungsoo slipped a flower in her ear.

"Oh my. Thank you, your Majesty. It's beautiful." She exclaimed and as he continued to speak, she couldn't believe that someone would consider her powers a gift when all her life, she always thought of it as a curse, partly because her stepmother ingrained it in her mind that her existence was a curse. Biting her lip, she just quietly thanked the prince as she bowed.

With them being done and her standing next to the prince once again, she almost wanted to hide the second she felt him wipe her face, once again making her blush at her carelessness to look unkempt in front of the crown prince as she allowed her face to be soiled. "T-Thank you your, Majesty." She uttered immediately and took a few deep breaths to calm herself down, slipping her mind that her words of gratitude might land her in a situation wherein she'd once again retreat because of her shyness.

As Kyungsoo suggested that either a maid or she decorates his place, Joohyun smiled because finally, she was able to do something for the crown prince. "I'd love that, your Majesty. It's the least that I can do to return the grace and kindness you've shown me today." She smiled softly, which immediately turned into surprise upon feeling Kyungsoo's soft lips against her cheek, making her blush profusely and unable to hold it back, a hiccup slipped past her lips as he took the bouquet from her arms, leaving her standing there, speechless and unsure of what to do other than look down again as she fiddled with her fingers as the prince just gave her first kiss.

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@Bae Joo Hyun Kyungsoo always had a smile on his face while listening to her talking. It's a great feeling, to be basked in such a melodious voice. It's soothing and warming to his heart. He looked at her tenderly, not even trying to hide his captivation towards her. "then, I hope you won't be bored with me keep saying that I don't mind to keep doing so and you don't need to thank me every single time."
He looked around his garden before reaching out to get a white flower nearby. Carefully he broke the stem before tucking it behind her ear, smiling in content at how it complimented her beauty. "And when you're around me, I won't allow you to think that your power is a curse. It's a blessing for me and the country. So, you should stand tall and proud about it."
Watching her finishing her bouquet, he also noticed the soil on her face. He found her adorable like this. Her innocence was radiant in his eyes. He stood up when she did and his hand reached out to clean her face before taking his handkerchief out of the pocket in the lapel of his clothes to wipe her face clean. "now, you're beautiful again. And you really should stop thanking me and if you don't, I might consider to kiss you every time you say it." he mutter and leaned in to give her cheek a kiss before taking the bouquets from her. "I'll ask the maid to place it in the gazebo and in my room, unless... you plan to decorate those places yourself."

@Do Kyung Soo As she is still glued to the flowers, already carefully picking from the roots the one that she likes, arranging them in a beautiful bouquet, Joo Hyun pursed her lips at Kyungsoo's words. "I hope you don't mind me saying this, your Majesty, but just accepting me and listening to what I have to say is something that I am thankful for and I will always express that." And probably for the first time, she flashed a genuine smile at the Crown Prince, not her stiff, soft smile but her actual happy smile.

Continuing what she's doing, she thought of the invitation and nodded. "Sure. I'll stay. I don't have the heart to decline your invitation, your Majesty. Thank you so much for thinking of me in such light." She continued, about his words as he pointed out her love for the people. She always loved being able to socialize but with the curse looming over her head, she felt that she was robbed of that, so in any way possible, she'll do her best to be able to help others as much as she can.

Finally, with one bouquet that she's carrying on her left arm, she felt the latter's presence closer to her, and upon turning her head again towards the prince, her eyes blinked fast out of reflex as soon as she realized how close their proximity and faces are to one another, once again making her blush profusely. Immediately looking down to continue picking a few more flowers upon the request to make two bouquets, she felt her ears heat up as soon as she heard Kyungsoo's words.

"I-I don't think I'm anywhere near the beauty of these flowers, your Majesty b-but I truly appreciate that you think of me that way. . . and thank you for inviting me here, your Majesty. . ." She uttered shyly and once she's done, she immediately stood up, now unconscious of the faint traces of the soil across the bridge of her nose and some on her cheeks yet only noticing the one on her hands since she's not one to mind dirt whenever she's doing this as she loves gardening and would often tend to plants and flowers in the small garden right outside her room.

@Bae Joo Hyun "until when are you going to stop thanking me? I do nothing much to deserve that." He answered, looking at her pink cheeks that easily brought a smile to his face. He loved the view. She looked extremely perfect with his garden as her background. She had turned into the most beautiful and exquisite flower among all that were in his garden. "You're going to stay for lunch right? And I'm loving you for that, for your love to our people."
The people might have hated him for being such a player and unserious for most of the time. However, he never hated his people, not once. If not, all this time he wouldn't work hard to make sure that the people in this kingdom live happily and without lacking a thing.
When they're finally in the garden, he caught every single change of her expression. He was directly aware on how much she loved flowers. He had already planned to add more flowers into the garden and anywhere that she would pass by after their marriage. "All of these are not more beautiful than this one flower in front of. She's extremely beautiful and thank you for coming here." he was being honest and at the same time, showing her slightly what he felt. "sure, let's get some. You can arrange the flowers for me. maybe make it two sets, one for the gazebo and one for my room." He knelt down beside of her, just so that he could look at her, enjoying her beauty, but he decided to just sit on the neatly trimmed grassy ground.

@Do Kyung Soo Today was nothing but full of surprises as Joohyun barely had time to react when Kyungsoo protested to her following him from behind and now holding her hand as they walked away from the gazebo. Feeling her cheeks warm up, she was sure that it was evident that she was blushing, and trying as she might, she could never hide it from the prince since she could feel his gaze on her from time to time, which only made her face turn redder. Biting her lip as she felt shy, she won't deny that she also felt that bit of happiness creep up her chest as her heart fluttered at the sweet and kind gesture and his words.

"T-Thank you, your Majesty. You're so gracious and kind. . ." She uttered softly and as they kept walking, another question sprung up in their conversation while they made their way to the garden in the crown prince's yard. Shaking her head at the suggestion of postponing the wedding, Joohyun smiled up at the prince. "It's okay, your Majesty. I think the reason behind it as well is that my powers might be of help just in case a war breaks out. I was informed that rebels are going on and about with taking the throne again and our military forces are trying to drive them out of the city and into the woods. I guess that's why the King also wants the wedding to happen as soon as possible. If anything, I'm focusing on being able to extend my hand to help those who will be in need and I'd love to do that."

Joohyun is already as cursed as she is but if she can draw something good from this curse and be of use to the Kingdom and also help further put Kyungsoo on a pedestal if the word gets out that it's his wife helping the wounded soldiers, Joohyun would do anything to immediately jump in and do her part of the marriage. She can't pick what to do and not that she wants to because Kyungsoo has been nothing but kind and gracious and she wants to return that kindness and she'll do anything and everything to do so.

As they finally arrived at the garden, Joohyun looked up and she was once again in awe at how beautiful his palace was. With her love for flowers, she couldn't help but immediately perk up, eyes and expression bright as she looked around. "Oh my, your Majesty. You have quite an array of beautiful succulents and flowers in your garden. I'm sure they'd look so pretty during spring as well. Thank you for bringing me here." She uttered with that tinge of excitement in her voice and pulling away from Kyungsoo, she sat on her heels to get a closer look at the daisies in his garden and the roses as well. "Your Majesty, what do you think of taking some of these flowers for your gazebo? I'm sure they'll be a nice touch and it'll make the room brighter~" Joohyun chirped as she smiled with her eyes turning into small crescents as she was genuinely enjoying her time in his garden as she looked at the flowers and plants in awe.

@Bae Joo Hyun Seeing her finally got up, he smiled softly. He thought that she wasn’t willing to do that and he was slightly worried at first. He watched over her, looking at her in concern about her feelings. He knew that she was being emotional right now and he would let her take her time to calm down.
“No, you won’t be following me.” He shook his head at what she asked him to do. “You’re not a maid. You’re my soon to be wife. You should walk with me, side by side.” He explained, not liking the idea of her trailing behind him where he couldn’t even see her. He wanted her to be by his side, for him to be able to look at her anytime he wanted. He loved this feeling where his heart fluttered whenever he caught gaze of her, just like how it was right now.
Reaching out for her hand, he took that soft hand and held it. He walked with her, away from the gazebo and brought her to the garden of his palace. There was still a lot of other places to go and visit but his place would be the first. He brought her a bit closer to him because he noticed the wind that got stronger and he wanted to keep her warm. He knew that being too close to a lady before they got married was kinda a breach of etiquette but he couldn’t care too much about it. His future wife to be warm and safe was what matter to him right now.
“I think the king would want us to be married before next year. Are you ready? Do you want me to ask the king to postpone it?” He asked for her opinion, in concern about her. He wanted her to feel as comfortable as possible and without any pressure. She had all these powers and their marriage indeed started from this, to have her powers in the hold of royal family and because of those, he would make sure she was heard. He didn’t want to treat her like some objects, some tools used to keep the kingdom protected. He wanted her to feel that she’s someone and hopefully one day she would feel that she’s someone that truly deserve everything good and loved by everyone around her.

@Do Kyung Soo “Should we have a walk? Maybe I would have a chance to walk a beautiful lady home.”

With her dealing with ghosts and demons lurking around her, nothing fazes her but this man, the prince himself, seems always to have a way to leave her speechless. As she sat on the floor, still bowing to the prince, she slowly looked up at him, eyes damp even after drying her tears. If she accepts it, people will see them. While she understands that Kyungsoo will stand up for her, she feels this hesitation to come with him because just being married to her is already enough to tarnish his reputation and that of the royal family.

But at the same time, no one had made her feel this safe and comfortable other than the prince, not even her own family and she did want to enjoy her first time with him and she knew how lovely the view was in some parts of the palace as well but most importantly, she didn't want to seem an ungrateful woman towards the kind prince.

Biting her lip and once again her lips parting, words caught in as Kyungsoo wiped some of her tears, Joohyun willed herself to get up. This is no time to make him wait. He's been nothing but so gracious and kind and she didn't want to repay that with more negativity. Gathering her composure and covering her nose and mouth as she sniffled, Joohyun patted her eyes and cheeks dry once again and stood close to the prince.

"I'll follow suit, your Majesty. Lead the way. . . please." She uttered ever so softly, already starting to feel self-conscious of the unavoidable stares they were going to get from people will see them together but thinking back to what Kyungsoo said and that feeling of reassurance, she straightened her back and decided that she'd endure everything to not further ruin the day by letting her thoughts get in the way of what should be a delightful day.

@Bae Joo Hyun “Then, I should thank you as well on the behalf of the people.” Kyungsoo said with a soft smile. He got up from his seat and offered his hand for her. “Should we have a walk? Maybe I would have a chance to walk a beautiful lady home.”
He stood there waiting for her. He felt that they should have a walk, a proper date rather than just sitting there. It would be nice to enjoy the day with the palace view or outside, depending on her choice. He sensed the gaze coming from the eunuchs and maids, they’re expectant and also curious. However, they quickly walked away once he looked at them.
He then focused on the beauty in front of him. Seeing the wetness in her eyes, his heart stirred. She must have been under such hardship at her house, and he deduced all of it from the conversation earlier and her reaction. Once again, he reached out, this time to thumb away the tears. He just hoped that she would lean on him more, now that they had decided to go on with the marriage. He wanted her to know that she’s not alone and that he would always be there for her now.

@Do Kyung Soo With the sound of the breeze echoing around them, Joohyun was filled with anxiety and uncertainty because surely, the prince would be deterred by what she shared, right? That's how people in their house reacted upon learning what she sees and what she can do. Ever since word got out that she dreams about and sees ghosts, she's been avoided like the plague, so when Kyungsoo leaned forth on the table and closer to her, surprise soon etched on her face upon hearing his words.

A blessing? Her? How could this man, nevertheless the Crown Prince of his kingdom think of her this way and didn't want to back out from this impending marriage? How could someone just promise to protect her from all of the things that are haunting her and also tell her that she's beautiful all in one sentence? His acceptance was truly baffling but it did evoke this warmth deep inside her and soon enough, Joohyun found herself blushing, not just from his words but from him patting her head, which no one had done before.

Clearing , she kept her gaze down on her skirt and hands that were on her lap as she fiddled with her fingers and handkerchief. Is this okay? Wouldn't it be cruel for her to agree to this and keep him imprisoned in a marriage where he could potentially be in danger? Biting on her lip, Joohyun thought about it, getting lost in her own thoughts and thinking of finally being able to escape the prison she called home, she then moved back and bowed down to the prince.

"Thank you so much, your Majesty. I'll forever be indebted and grateful for the kindness and acceptance you've shown me today. . ." She trailed off and felt tears well in her eyes as she never thought that anyone would be able to accept her so openly yet here is Kyungsoo, whom she only met today yet so willing to take her in, protect her, and take care of her, which is something that she only thought of as something that's a figment of her imagination, a distant dream but here it is, another chance at a new life and she couldn't bring herself to just walk away from it.

@Bae Joo Hyun Kyungsoo looked at her expectantly but also not rushing her at all. He let her take her time to think about how to tell her story to him. The sound of the breeze that passed by them became the company of their silence. Watching her was interesting. He could see the change of expression and emotion on her face. he wasn't an expert but it was nice to relieve his curiosity through his own observation.
Kyungsoo nodded as a reply when she thanked him. He crossed his arms and rested it against the table, body leaning forth slightly to listen to her. After she told him everything, he nodded slightly. "I'll be the judge on whether you're cursed or not, starting from now on since you're going to be my wife. And from what I've heard, you're a blessing to this country. While I can't see spirits or demons, I would still try to protect you." He assured her, hand reaching out and gave a gentle pat on top of her head before pulling his hand back. He looked at her for a moment, seeing her bowed her head in shame, he reached out once again but this time to slide his hand on her cheek towards her nape, gently to caress her cheek. "Who said that I'm backing out? I feel that you'll be the one backing out, if you hear the truth of how much a player I am." He chuckled, wanting to cheer her up although not sure if it's the right way. "In my eyes, you're not a freak. you're too beautiful to be a freak. If others dare to say that to you, then it means I'm a freak too. We would be a freak couple. And they should also know, an offence to you means an offence to me. So they better get ready for the consequences that they need to face." It was strange for him to feel this protective of someone but he definitely welcomed this feeling. He liked her and he would subtly show it to her, taking his time because he knew that she wasn't like any other girl he approached for fun.

@Do Kyung Soo Thinking of what Kyungsoo said, Joo Hyun can only agree. In their land, anything and everything that the King wants, the King gets, that means that even their own lives, how it'll be run, and how things end was already dictated by the King himself. He was known to be a man of such high power and strong morals that even if both she and Kyungsoo wanted a different path than what was laid for them, they wouldn't be able to go against it. 'It's still better than being in your own home, right?' A nagging voice kept playing in her head and in the end, she surrendered herself to this reality of being tied to the royal family forever, or probably until she was deemed useful by the King.

Caught off guard by the Prince's words, Joo Hyun didn't know where to start. Should she start with her childhood? How loved she was by her parents, her mother's death, her curse, her ability to heal? She didn't know where to start to be honest but she has to somehow. Taking a few deep breaths, she was just about to respond when his next words stunned her. It's not in the nature of any member of the royal family to be this. . . accommodating, for lack of a better term but it did surprise her as it's something that she didn't expect, given all of the things that she heard from others and her own father when he attends royal functions as a guest.

Biting her lip, Joo Hyun bowed her head with her hand on her chest and thanked the latter. "Thank you, your Majesty. I'll always keep that in mind." With that, she cleared and went back to what he asked for earlier, for her to tell things about herself. "So, about me. I'm the only child of our family. My mother passed away a few years back when I was a child and my father remarried my stepmother. Uhmm. . . I am cursed, believe it or not. I swear I am not going crazy but I haven't been able to sleep well at night due to spirits coming in my dreams. I guess it's part of the so-called gift that I have which is being able to heal people with my blood. . . so, if you suddenly see me go pale or panicked, just let me be. I always try to keep myself and my reactions in check so that I won't scare others. I've been managing this for quite some time now so I'm used to it. It's just that these days, now that I've reached the legal age, the spirits and demons are getting stronger and meaner. . ."

Joo Hyun bowed her head in shame as she was sure that this might deter the Crown Prince but she couldn't bring herself to lie about who she really was and what she was capable of bringing into this palace and his life once this marriage went through. "I-I'll understand if you would like to back out of the wedding because of this. I mean, had I been you, I probably would do the same. No one would want to be associated with a freak like me. . ."

@Bae Joo Hyun The change in color on her porcelain skin didn't escape his eyes and silently he rejoiced over it. He loved this feeling for being the cause of it. When she pulled her hand away from him, he didn't feel offended, and surprisingly he let her be. For the first time, he was following the pace set by someone and it was her. In his eyes, whatever she was doing brought this urge to protect. protect her from anyone or anything that could bring harm to her.
"I think we'll get stuck together whether we like it or not. The matchmaking sets by the king, even I can't avoid it."
Upon her question about what he heard about her, there was honestly none that he hadn't heard of. Starting from her background, some of her daily activities, and also her powers. The last part was told to him by his father. He didn't think that she was a freak or cursed. He felt that the kingdom was lucky that it was graced by her presence, someone who could help the country when it was in need.
"Then, why don't you tell me what or who you are. It would be really interesting to hear it from you."
He answered with a smile. He poured another cup of tea and had a sip while listening to her explanation. Somehow, her words encouraged him to make this whole marriage work. It's not like he simply married her and she became his wife, then he could do whatever he wanted without a care. There's something about her that made him want to listen to her.
"it might be a marriage of convenience for you. But, I still want to make it work. The king might give you an order to marry me but I don't want you to act like a puppet. you're your own person and I would respect you for it. I want you to voice out what you're thinking and not just listen to any kind of order, especially now that you're going to be my wife. Well... except for the king and queen but you should understand what I mean. Even if you don't like it, you could still tell it to me and I'll help you talk to them or at least find a solution to it. So, please promise me that you'll do that."

@Do Kyung Soo As silence looms over the gazebo of the crown prince, Joo Hyun just sat there until the latter spoke again, his words making her think of what was going on. Does he truly understand? He probably does to some extent but the circumstances are still far too different from one another. Wrapped in her own thoughts, she belatedly noticed how Kyungsoo placed his hand over hers, which immediately made her feel warmth rush to her face with how taken aback she felt at the gesture of comfort the latter's showing. In their home, she was avoided like the plague but how come it was so easy for him to touch her like this? Had he not heard of the rumors about her? Was he kept completely clueless about what it entails to marry someone like her?

Unsure of what to do and not wanting to seem rude, Joo Hyun tried to keep her composure and as he continued while her gaze kept shifting from his face down to his hand that was still on top of hers and almost jumped at the feeling of his hand now fully holding hers, somehow liking how warm his hand is but she knows that she must pace the physical interaction as well and from there, she ever so slowly pulled her hand from him, pretending to fix her clothing and kept her hands on her lap, gripping on and fiddling with the handkerchief she's holding.

"I think I'll be the judge of that, Your Majesty. I-I mean, if you allow me to get close enough to know more about you. I don't like basing my impression of people based on what's being passed on around the city. I must admit that I heard some of them but that doesn't bother me. What I'm curious about is what you've heard about me, Your Majesty. I'm unsure of what they told you but I'm not what or who I seem to be. . ." She trailed off and tried her best to keep her composure intact but with the sudden touch and his observant gaze now on her, she felt it ever so slowly crumbling right before her eyes.

"Uhmm. . . honestly, I'm not certain of what to expect. I know this is a marriage of convenience and I don't know if I am the first to tell you this, Your Majesty, but I am here for a sole purpose since the rest is already expected of me. I'm here to be used by the royal family, requested by The King himself to help in the event of a war or a health outbreak. That's all that I can say for now but I will fulfill my duties to the end, not just as someone who's needed by The King but also as your future wife, Your Majesty." Joo Hyun uttered softly yet with firmness in her voice. Everything is still a bit murky for now as they are yet to know each other on a deeper level but she's not one to turn her back on her family, and despite the mistreatments she endured, she wants to do this right and perfectly, so as to prove to her father than she's more than just her cursed daughter, that she's worthy of such tasks and she'll see to it that she finish what she starts.

@Bae Joo Hyun From her words, he believed they shared the same concern regarding this marriage, on being tied down to just one person for life. However, she had much more to lose as it would be difficult for her to go out once she stepped into the palace and he also couldn't promise her that he wouldn't get any concubines too, due to a lot of factors and political usually was the main reason for it.
He noticed how her hand trembled. He placed his hand over hers before sighing a bit. He somehow understood her burden and expectations. Although it would be two completely different ones.
"It's alright, Hyunnie. I somehow understand the pressure you're feeling. So, you don't need to hide it from me. If I could assure you, what I am feeling would be double or triple of yours."
He could feel her much colder skin against his palm and how soft it felt. He carefully ran his thumb over it to provide comfort while he kept looking at her as he listened to her telling him about what she heard from outside.
"Hmm.... somehow you make it sound like I'm a really good person. I'm definitely not though."
He still kept her hand inside of his, somehow he didn't feel like losing the feeling of her soft skin against his. He kept his gaze on hers, gauging her reaction to what he was telling her. He wanted to know what she would think of him regarding the fact, that he knew what others were saying. Mouth would definitely talk more especially when the subject of the talking wasn't there. He knew everything. In that split second, a thought passed his mind that there was a possibility for this lady to be sent to his side with the hope of dooming her life or spying on him. The spying part, he kinda doubted it because she looked way too innocent. He knew when one was faking or not, he met too many people who often hid behind their masks. Meanwhile, dooming her life sounded more possible, because he could think of tons of disadvantages just from her marrying him. So, another question came to mind and he wanted to know what her answer would be.
"So, hyunnie... what do you think of marrying me?"

@Do Kyung Soo Joo Hyun's still unsure of this whole thing; the arranged marriage, this first date, and just the thought of being tied to one person for life. She's been left alone, expected to stay quiet, and as morbid as it sounds, die in her quarters all by herself and just be buried in silence but with the possibility of her getting married, even if it was just out of convenience, she'd still have a lot to go through considering that she's been promised to marry the crown prince of their nation.

Still taking deep breaths, trying not to panic at this moment despite already feeling her hands tremble as she doesn't do well in these situations, she listened earnestly as the young prince shared more information about himself as well, not letting up that marriage comment pass. "That's good to know, I guess. I mean, uhmm, it's just normal for the king to keep tabs on you given that you're the only crown prince and his future successor. As for me, I'm just the lone daughter of a noble family. I haven't done anything significant in my life but I know my place and I know why I'm here. . ."

Joo Hyun trailed off and upon hearing the question from Kyungsoo, he took another sip from her cup and thought of all the things that she heard about the prince. "Well. . . I haven't heard much. I don't go out that often. . . b-but from what I've been told, you are accomplished and that you're a social butterfly, other than that, I'll only know more about your majesty today and only if you are comfortable sharing more about yourself." She politely answered, not wanting to step on anyone's toes today, especially not the prince as it's a known lesson for everyone in their country to always stay on the royal family's good side, despite this whole arranged marriage thing ticking her off, she really can't do much about it because, from her stepmother's words, this is the only thing that she'll ever be good at; an insignificant sacrifice.

@Bae Joo Hyun Being a crown prince, Kyungsoo was aware of the customs where others might not touch food or drinks before he did so, although he must admit that other royals might not notice that. He was going to tell her to just drink it without the need to wait for him. If he was being honest, personally, he didn't fuss much about such customs but at the same time, rules and customs were needed to be there because some people might cross the line if he wasn't too strict towards them.
Kyungsoo didn't talk much because he simply didn't have the chance to because she was rambling while trying not to check out on him way too much which he found really adorable. And the more he listened, the more he found her as a really interesting person. So, he ended up observing her closely. When soft breeze came running through the gazebo, bringing her sweet scent closer to him, it was faint but it was there. He loved it already. the scent of comfort.
Kyungsoo's eyebrow raised playfully didn't expect her to notice him up the tree. the corner of his lips twitched up for just a second before disappearing from his face. She was indeed an extremely interesting lady. He locked his eyes with her, finally. She was much more beautiful up close.
"Don't expect you to see me there. Pretty much a peaceful morning that I have. Thank you for asking."
Honestly, it's hard for him to hold back his smile so, he took the cup of tea to hide the smile that threatened to grow on his face. Another breeze came hitting them, and the fire in the brazier crackled in protest. Placing his cup down, he decided to share a bit of himself.
"Since you're giving all of your details for me. I should do the same. I'm 22. Still single, maybe that's why the king is kinda busy over my marriage now."
He took the pot and filled their cup with steaming tea. He then focused his gaze on hers again, silently checking out her beauty. Once again, his heart started to flutter. Suddenly, his self conscious crept on him and made him wonder if he deserved this kinda of pure innocent lady.
"So, what have you heard about me then?"
Curiously, he asked, knowing a lot of things starting from the good to the bad ones must have travelled around as rumors or gossip. Still, every gossip or rumor always stem from fact and he wondered what she had heard from outside the wall.

@Do Kyung Soo "Get some brazier there and ask the maids to prepare some warm tea. Then, leave us alone."

Joo Hyun didn't know why but she already heard the rustling of the leaves due to footsteps coming from afar, she knew that they were coming, possibly with the crown prince but the second she heard that deep voice, she still got startled, and once she's face to face with the prince himself, Joo Hyun bowed to him properly and took off her coat once the braziers had been set up just a few feet away from her and placed slightly behind her on each side. Deeming that it was warm enough, she shook her head upon hearing the question of the latter.

"Don't worry about it, your majesty. I didn't wait for too long, and even if that's the case, it's okay." She responded, softly, almost in a meek manner. Joo Hyun didn't know what to do. She never had any interaction outside of their home, let alone a conversation with a man who's not her father or one of their servants so being faced with the task of making this first meeting entertaining for them is proving to be very hard.

Clearing , she wanted badly to take a sip of tea, however, from her lessons at home prior to meeting the crown prince, she was told to never drink nor eat unless any member of the royal family takes a bite or sip first. Fidgeting a bit and fiddling with the hem of her sleeves, she looked down on her lap and glanced at the tea cup with the steaming tea in it, her gaze following the steam coming from the tea and she spared the crown prince a glance, and looked down once again.

"Uhmm, before we start with introductions, may I have a sip of tea? Because to be honest. . . I've been waiting for quite some time already and I am parched. . ." Joo Hyun exclaimed and upon realizing what she just said, a soft gasp escaped past her cherry-hued lips, just one of the things that others always take notice of when meeting her as the color's natural. Avoiding the prince's gaze and letting out a soft yet exasperated breath, she reached for the cup, finally took a sip, and dried her lips gently with the handkerchief in her hands.

"Okay. I'm ready. I'm Bae Joo Hyun, 20 years old, the only daughter of the Bae family, and uhmm. . . t-this is my first date. . ." Joo Hyun's unsure if she should've told the prince about that but in her mind, she thought it wouldn't matter anyway since she knows that this is going to be a short-lived relationship with them not even getting married since she knows for a fact that any man would find her boring and bothersome given her "curse". Sitting still, she thought of what to say since there was a long silence once again and she continued.

"How was your day, your majesty?" She asked and this time, gathered her courage to look at him and she was stunned, to say the least upon getting a proper look at him. "You. . . you're that man, atop the tree earlier. . ." Joo Hyun muttered, now wondering if that was just something that was normal for the crown prince or if was he there waiting to see who is the freak that he was going to be married to.

@Bae Joo Hyun Kyungsoo was enjoying the view, relaxing on top of the tree, and watching the bustling city. It's good that everyone was safe and far from plague, natural disasters or war. He hoped nothing like that happened because the last time it did, it was difficult for everyone.
"Your Highness is here!"
He directly sighed the moment they found where he was. He shifted slightly to get ready to come down.
"Your Highness be careful. Why are you even up there?"
Eunuch Kim was fearing for his life, afraid that Kyungsoo might hurt himself. He jumped down on the last part of steps.
"Your Highness is fine right?"
Eunuch Kim patted his body to check on him which made him shot the older guy a glare. Still, he let the older guy to check on him. once he deemed enough, he turned to walk away. Heading towards his chamber with everyone busily scurrying behind him which made him stop on his track. He turned to Eunuch Kim and the older guy dismissed some of the maids and assistants, knowing he didn't like too much people following him around. However before he turned to his chamber, a call from Eunuch Kim stopped him. So, he just gave the older guy another look that meant 'what else?'
"The lady is waiting in the gazebo."
So, he made a turn towards the gazebo. As he was approaching and caught a sight of her, his heart started to thump with anticipation. He could see her side profile from where he was standing and easily she captivated him with her beauty. He had seen and slept with a lot of beauties throughout this kingdom but no one could compare to her beauty. Easily, he realised that he had fallen for her with how fast his heart was beating right now. Noticing the wind and how she was rubbing her hands to keep warm, he directly turned to Eunuch Kim.
"get some brazier there and ask the maids to prepare some warm tea. Then, leave us alone."
Once he gave his instruction, he walked towards her and directly took a seat across her. At the same time, he was busy to think on the best way to approach her. He would just start with the most standard and classic move.
"I hope that I don't make you wait for long. I'm Do Kyungsoo. You are?"
Upon his questions, he could see the servants started to set up the braziers he requested while the maid placed a pot of tea and two cups on the table before all of them retreating themselves somewhere further, quite far from the gazebo to give them privacy.

@Do Kyung Soo "My lady, are you sure you'd want to walk going to the palace?" With that question and voice distracting her once again from her deep thoughts, Joo Hyun smiled softly and nodded once she was done putting on her special clothing and winter cape atop her hanbok to keep her from catching a cold as the weather most certainly is on the colder side now that the year is almost ending and about to turn a new leaf.

Taking a deep breath, she proceeded to step outside her quarters, walked along the hallways of their home, and stopped by the gazebo connected to her father's residence as she wanted to bid him goodbye before she left. "Yes, Ling. I'll walk with you. You know how much I despise being carried inside the palanquin and besides, I'm not even worthy of being carried in one, I'm just a lowly member of this household." Joo Hyun insisted, which once again was met with Ling's kind words, making her smile fondly.

"My lady, please don't speak ill of yourself. You still are the only daughter of this household. You are still the beloved daughter." Dropping the conversation with a mere nod, Joo Hyun slowly bowed upon seeing her father in the gazebo with her stepmother. Greeting both of them, Joo Hyun said her goodbyes to them yet picked up on the reaction of the other woman upon hearing that she's off on her first date with the crown prince, and from the fading conversation as she starts walking away, her father's mistress started asking him a barrage of questions as to why she's being wed off to the crown prince and if Joo Hyun will be crowned a queen in the future if the marriage goes through.

'Still her jealous and greedy self.' Joo Hyun thought and heed no mind as she further walked with Ling along the streets of the city, eventually making it to the bridge leading to the main gate of the palace and the large courtyard that has witnessed all sorts of events, from joyous ones to executions, this place has seen everything. Heaving out a deep breath, as she walked along the bridge, listening to the rustling leaves remaining on some trees, she looked up with a smile as leaves of varying colors from orange to red fell upon their path. She noticed a luscious tree not too far from the southside wall of the palace and took notice of the man sitting on the highest branch, back leaning against the trunk.

"What is he doing there?"
"Yes, my lady?"

Before she could even point to the man, Joo Hyun only turned away for a split second but he was gone. Letting out a deep breath and chalking it up to one of her many delusions, she shook her head and continued her journey, which ended after 20 minutes, once they were inside the palace, she was led to the gazebo connected to the Crown Prince's room and Ling was told to wait or wander around on her own at the moment as Joo Hyun was told to wait for the prince, making her rub her palms and press them against her cheeks as she felt too cold as soft winds continue to blow past the gazebo, prompting her to further wrap her cape around her petite body in hopes that it'll help warm her up.

@Bae Joo Hyun "Your Highness!"
Shouts echoed throughout the crown prince's palace as eunuchs, maids, and guards searched for the prince who was notoriously known for his mischief and craze for beautiful ladies. Eunuch Kim, the personal eunuch of the crown prince, was starting to panic because today was not just some random day. Today was an important day, set by the king himself to 'matchmake' the prince with a lady of a noble.
"Find the crown prince quickly, before the lady comes."
Some guards had already been sent to a few of the prince's favorite places, starting from the most common and normal ones like his study to the red-light districts like famous brothels for the rich. However, what they didn't think of was that the crown prince might not go anywhere. Why would he when a lady was going to come towards him by herself? Besides, he was also curious on who she was and how she looked. It's a day that he wouldn't ever miss.
Now, the question would be where he was. Well, he was up the tallest tree in his compound. Why? He was curious and impatient so he was up there with the hope of catching a glimpse of her the moment she stepped into the palace. the chance is extremely low but being up there was nice too. A good change of scenery from the fussy people in his quarter. Somehow they were busier than him when it came to his marriage. So, he rested his back against the big and steady trunk, legs over one another, elegantly sitting while watching over the huge expanse of the palace and tiny bits of the city outside the palace wall.

@Do Kyung Soo "Miss, your father has summoned you to the gazebo." Lifting her head up with her nose buried in a book, Joo Hyun didn't expect an invitation from her own father at this hour or any time for that matter. It's been more than a decade since her father got married to another woman from then on, Joo Hyun went from being the lady of the household to being reduced to nothing but a curse, the black sheep of an otherwise high-ranking noble family in this city. Gathering her composure and letting out a deep breath, her thoughts wandered to other things that she could think of for distraction but it always went back to the time of when everything started to fall apart.

Back then, Joo Hyun was the adored daughter of the Bae household. She's the only daughter of her once-loving father and was always being doted on. It was on her 7th birthday that everything changed for her. She remembers being able to heal animals with her blood and soon enough, when her mother took notice of her special ability, her father did everything to protect her, keeping her abilities a secret that is only known within the walls of their residence, however, the moment her stepmother was hired as her nanny, things changed for the worse.

Her mother suddenly passed away from an unknown illness and that didn't escape her as well as she has quite a frail body herself but for her, the reason she was shunned, was her ability not just to heal any kind of species but also see, hear, and feel those who are six feet under and beyond. Apparition of ghosts and demons infested her life as she could see them come nightfall. It had her screaming for help as a kid, almost pushing her to insanity had it not been for one of her servants, Ling, a kind elderly woman, who cradled her at night to be able to sleep.

"Miss, we have arrived." Snapping from her thoughts, Joo Hyun entered the gazebo, greeted her father, and kept quiet as he commanded her to go to the palace, particularly the Crown Prince's residence as an invitation was sent for her to see the latter to start off the building of their relationship as she's been promised to the palace because of her ability to heal. Without putting up any fight and with the same blank expression on her face, she excused herself and only requested for Ling to be with her and wait at the palace until the end of the day, and off she went to the Crown Prince's residence, unsure of how this day will unfold but she's left with no choice but to obey her father or she'll be imprisoned for declining as it's a sign of disrespecting the royal family.

[] Irene's clothes: https://64.media.tumblr.com/a3098c4db278077b3ba1045d43dc5fd6/81216d991f5b7128-28/s1280x1920/a52ec3523d03454ebdbe9966c72be1f31c08b0d2.jpg