Chapter Text
Just as promised, Minji had dinner with Hanni. She donned a ruffly cream-colored button-down and navy trousers, embroidered with silver.
Hanni had sent a herald to collect Minji, stating that they would be dining somewhere quieter and more isolated. Minji followed the young man, who had introduced himself as Sir Park Sunghoon, through the palace’s labyrinthine halls. The stroll was rather long, as they traversed through secret passages and up winding stairs.
Finally, they reached the 30th floor of the Western tower. There were guards lining the hall. Prior to arriving, Sir Sunghoon had explained that all floors above the 25th were restricted to staff, members of the royal family, and their personally invited guests. Minji could see now how serious the castle policies were. The doormen opened the large oak doors, allowing Minji to enter a tall dining room.
It was smaller than where she had eaten breakfast a few days preceding with Hanni, and it had a massive, floor-to-ceiling, dome-shaped window, with a view of the Gilded Valley and the Helian River.
In the middle was a dining table, with two thrones. In one of the thrones was Hanni. She was dressed in a simple lavender dress. The sleeves were long and wide, and the skirt was slightly layered. Her locks were tied back in a bun with a matching lavender ribbon. Her amber eyes were trained on Minji.
“Hi,” she whispered softly, her voice a melody in Minji’s ear. Minji floated to her seat, but not before bowing slightly. Hanni chuckled.
“No need to be so formal,” Hanni chuckled delicately.
“This isn’t where we had breakfast,” Minji remarked.
“No, it is not. That room is more for diurnal use. This room is more personal, and it’s far from any unwanted attention. And besides, I love the view,” Hanni disclosed. Minji nodded.
They sat across from each other, with the sun setting on the horizon, painting the sky a rich vermillion and draping the landscape in a golden veil of warmth. Plates of salmon were laid out in front of them, decorated with an assortment of vegetables sourced locally. Between them stood a beautiful candelabra that covered the area in a soft glow.
“I hope you like fish,” Hanni commented, “the salmon was caught this morning from the river. If you don’t, I’m sure the chef can make something else.”
“No, it’s fine. I particularly enjoy salmon. The chef doesn’t have to be bothered,” Minji reassured. To prove her point, Minji took a bite of the fish.
The woman’s face immediately switched from neutral to astonished. “Do you like it?” Hanni asked nervously, unable to decode Minji’s sudden change in expression.
“This fish is magnificent,” Minji admits. Hanni feels a wave of warmth spread throughout her.
“It reminds me,” Minji continues, “of when my father would take me fishing. He always believed it was best to be able to survive on your own, in case you are ever in a difficult situation during deployment.”
“Hm, that’s interesting. My father is the exact same,” Hanni remarked, “He always made sure everyone knew which plants were safe to eat, how to prepare them, and how to keep them alive. My father is quite the gardener.” Hanni chuckles as she remembers how brightly her father’s face shone when he began telling her about his plants.
“Do you also enjoy gardening then?” Minji asked, curiosity blooming in her otherwise evenhanded voice.
“Oh, goodness no. I have a hard time keeping plants alive. I enjoy art and music. My father had us learn piano when we were young. My sister really enjoyed it, but I was more interested in playing the guitar,” Hanni revealed.
“You have a sister?” Minji questioned.
“Oh, yes, my younger sister is still in the Academy,” Hanni chuckled.
“My step-sister is also in the Academy,” Minji remarked.
“Oh, I didn’t know you had siblings,” Hanni responded.
“Yes, from my father’s second marriage. My mother passed away when I was 6; she was very ill.” There was a flicker of sorrow behind Minji’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced with a familiar neutrality. “My stepmother is kind, though.”
“Oh, I’m sorry about your mother. I can’t imagine how hard that must have been. I’m glad you like your stepmother,” Hanni said.
Minji hummed in response, turning her gaze over to the landscape for a moment before turning back to the dining room and the beautiful woman sitting across from her. “If you don’t mind me asking,” Minji began suddenly, “why is it that you rule alone? Surely someone as admirable as you would be surrounded by suitors.”
“Is this your way of making sure I’m available?” Hanni smirked. Minji’s face erupted. Before she even began to attempt to preserve her image, Hanni spoke. “No, I’m only joking. That’s a valid question. The truth is, there may very well be people looking for my hand in marriage. In fact, I have already received many betrothal offers and whatnot, but I’m not interested. All those men were looking for was money, power, or status. I know eventually I will settle down, find someone who loves me for me, and not just the crown, but until that person comes, I will continue to rule Aurelia on my own.”
By this point, Minji had recovered from her previous state of fluster and was listening attentively to the monarch. She knew in her heart that Hanni was right, and it pained her that the woman’s only views of love were of power-hungry men. She wished Hanni could fully and truly experience the love where you stay up late just to talk, or you fold laundry together. Not that Minji herself had ever experienced any of that, just that she thought Hanni deserved it.
~
The two women dined as the sun set on the horizon, deeper until it was hidden behind hills and forests. Once they were finished, Hanni suggested they go on their previously determined walk in the garden. Minji immediately accepted.
On their way to the garden, they spoke about everything and nothing, anything to fill the silence. It was comfortable. Hanni learned that Minji used to collect rocks as a kid, and Minji discovered Hanni’s secret love for bunnies. The queen had lit up completely when the animal was mentioned, going on a rant about how adorable and sweet they were. Minji listened patiently, nodding along to the woman’s random trivia.
Once they arrived, Minji assessed the temperature, realizing it was much colder than she had anticipated for early March. However, when she looked at Hanni, the queen wasn’t even shivering. In fact, she looked perfectly comfortable. That’s when she remembered the history of their families, how her ancestor was blessed by the moon and the queen’s ancestor was blessed by the sun.
They traveled through the garden until they reached a golden gate that emitted a golden glow. Hanni waved her hand in front of the lock, and miraculously, the door opened, impressing Minji. She had not seen anything like it before.
The two stepped in, and the gate shut behind them. “This is the oldest part of the garden,” Hanni revealed, as she guided Minji through, “It is known as the Garden of the Sun. It is where King Aurelius, my ancestor, began building Aurelia 200 years ago. All of the Kings since then have come to this garden in times of war or unrest to breathe. It is protected by an ancient enchantment, placed by the mother of King Aurelius, Queen Estelle, right after her husband, King Alastor, passed. My father comes every week to meditate. I began coming in after my coronation.” Hanni looked down, blushing. Minji noticed but said nothing.
She noticed something else in the way Hanni stood. It was clear that she was carrying some kind of furtive burden. It stood hauntingly behind her amber eyes, uncovered under the moonlight. When Hanni stepped into the garden, it was almost as if all of her armor came down out of habit. In here, she was just a small human who loved bunnies and who needed to process emotions just like everyone else.
“Hanni,” she whispered. Hanni met her worried eyes, “Hanni, are you ok?” Hanni softened.
“Minji, I-,” she paused, grimacing slightly, “It’s nothing,” Her eyebrows furrowed together, like she was trying really hard not to think about something. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to regain her composure and reapply the mask of optimism.
Minji did the unexpected. She reached for Hanni’s hands, holding them gently. Hanni opened her eyes, and Minii smiled softly. Then, she began to remove Hanni’s gloves. A wave of panic washed over the queen. “Min-,” she began, but was quelled by Minji’s lack of concern. Minji remained concentrated on removing the gloves.
Hanni’s breath hitched. Once Minji had removed the gloves, she removed her silver rings. Then she put the bewitched adornments in her pocket. Once she was sure they were secured, she held Hanni’s hands again. “I’m going to burn you,” Hanni’s voice trembled, barely beyond a whisper.
“No, you won’t,” Minji promised, “And I won’t freeze you.”
“I-,” Minji had rendered Hanni speechless. All her life, she had lived in fear of touching people, especially since she had once burned her mother’s arm with merely her fingertip. But Minji seemed completely unaffected. In fact, Hanni began to notice that she wasn’t hurting Minji at all.
All Hanni could focus on was the cool softness of Minji’s hands. She had never felt anything like it before. A soft gasp escaped her lips as Minj twirled her under the moonlight.
It was beyond anything either of them had ever imagined. It was almost as if there was a soft halo around them, making them glow in the darkness of the night. They didn’t talk at all after that, but everything was being said through their eyes.