Chapter Text
The engagement took place at the North Temple. The roof was covered with brown leaves, the pillars and half walls did not block the blowing wind. Winter was coming and the leaves had left the trees.
Areum entered the temple and the marble floor was cold on her bare feet. The first person she saw was her future husband and the future king, Prince Kim Seokjin of Omela. The prince was clad in dark navy tunic with silver pattern. If Seokjin was wearing the color of the night, Areum’s gown would be the day. The light blue gown draped around her body in flowy manner. She needed to be careful not to step on it.
On the front row was Princess Joohyun, Seokjin’s older sister. Beside her was Prince Namjoon, the head of kingdom’s army. Taehyung, the youngest prince, next to Prince Namjoon, looking slightly impatient in his seat, wiggling his feet.
Areum glanced at her future husband. He didn’t look nervous. Still stoic. His jet black hair matched the dark color of his clothes. He was looking at her, but Areum wondered if his mind was elsewhere.
“We are here to celebrate beginning of the bonding between Prince Kim Seokjin of Omela,” the Priest started. “With Cho Areum.”
Areum had rehearsed this before. She knew the words the priest would say. And it felt surreal. Especially by the lack of title on her name. It was another reason of Areum’s incompatibility with the prince. Yet there she was.
“There is no easy way in one’s life, and will amplify with two. There will be storm and drought, darkness and shadows. As two become one, and the obstacle will multiply for you,”
The voice of the priest was heavy and low, it felt like a threaten to Areum.
“But together, you have two brains to solve the problem. Four hands, to work it over. Four ears, to understand each other. Let it be your strength and not the weapon.” The priest opened up his hand towards the sky and Seokjin held up his left palm facing Areum. She mirrored him.
The priest put his hands around theirs, and Areum felt the warmth of Seokjin’s skin against her palm. Heat, around her fingers. It felt tight, like their hands were tied with invisible rope. Areum looked at Seokjin and wondered if he felt it too.
The priest opened his hand and Areum saw a thin blue string around her left ring finger, suddenly appeared there, and realized Seokjin had the same one.
“May you have the Gods blessings.”
* * *
“They should’ve brought you a mantle. It’s getting colder and colder,”
Areum turned around and smiled to Joohyun. She was wearing a pink dress, covered with thick woolen cape. “It’s alright,”
The procession had finished and they were exiting the temple.
“Come here,” Joohyun opened her cape to cover both Areum and her body.
“Oh no, it’s okay. We will arrive at the palace soon,” Areum tightened the cape around Joohyun.
Being alone in a new place, with all the royalties, Areum didn’t know who she could confide to. She didn’t know who she could trust, who she should fear, but she was grateful for Joohyun’s kindness.
“I had to go to South Port. You can return to the palace by yourself?” Seokjin asked.
“Yes,”
Seokjin nodded and he opened the door of the carriage for Areum. He held her hand to assist her getting in. “You did not bring a coat?” he noticed her cold hand.
“I…” Areum didn’t know that it would be that cold.
Seokjin sighed. “I’ve said you need to have an attendant,”
Seokjin said that, and Areum refused because it felt weird to have a servant following you around. A stranger, always by her side. She was uncomfortable with someone always watching.
“I’m fine. It’s not that cold for me anyway.”
Seokjin raised one of his eyebrow, as if he could see through her lie.
“You’re not going back to the palace?” Joohyun asked as Seokjin closed the door of Areum’s carriage, seeing her brother was not boarding it.
“Shipping for winter is coming and I have to do control checking.” Seokjin gave Areum one last look, before he turned around and left.
Joohyun peeked inside Areum’s carriage. “Can I join? Taehyung said he’s riding the horse so I’ll be alone anyway…”
“Sure,” Areum opened the door.
But the step for the carriage had been removed and it was a little high. Joohyun was struggling a bit to get in.
“Be careful there, Princess,” Namjoon supported Joohyun from the back, lifted her so she could get in the carriage safely.
“Thank you, Namjoon,”
Namjoon smiled at her and looked at Areum. “Prince Seokjin asked me to give you this,” it was a green cotton scarf, probably belonged to Namjoon. “The sun is up so I hope it will be warmer. But this should help fending off the wind.”
“Thank you,” Areum received the scarf.
“We will see you at dinner.” Namjoon said and went after Seokjin.
Joohyun closed the windows and the carriage went to the palace.
“So how was it?” Joohyun asked, her eyes curious and excited.
What was what, Areum thought confusedly.
Joohyun eyes went to Areum’s hands, rested on her lap.
“Oh,” Areum raised her left hand, the blue string did not feel foreign or weird around her finger. “It felt… hot…“
“Hot?”
“Maybe because the weather was cold..?” Areum said slowly. “I don’t know how it supposed to feel.”
“Neither do I.”
Areum noticed Joohyun’s plain fingers. She was not married yet. Didn’t want to be caught for staring, she continued, “It felt hot for a bit. And there I felt like… there was something tying us together.”
Joohyun was eyeing the blue thread. “Like magic.”
“Like magic.”
* * *
Min Yoongi was the one to tutor Areum about the kingdom, to prepare her to be the future queen. Areum arrived in the island three days prior to the engagement day, so Yoongi told her it would be better to prepare for the engagement first and they could study after. And those three days were used for the tailors to fit her dress.
“It is not a big deal. Well it is. You just have to walk, though,” Yoongi said. “The North Temple is a sacred place so you must not enter the temple wearing any footwear.”
“I understand,” Areum mentally made a note. “And, will I have to… say something? Do something?” she worried if she would make an unknown mistake.
Yoongi hummed. “Not really. Prince Seokjin will lead you. Relax.”
When Areum arrived at the palace after the engagement, Yoongi smiled at her. “How was it?”
“It was fine,” Areum did not make a mistake or embarrassing herself, so it was okay.
“Are you ready for the lesson, or do you need a rest for the day?”
“I’m going to change my clothes and we can start today.”
“Good. I will see you at the library.”
Fifteen minutes later, Areum arrived at the library. The room was located in the next building of her chamber. Areum wore sweater on top of her shirt and found Yoongi in the back corner, near the big window overlooking the garden.
“A model student, I see,” Yoongi commented on Areum’s notebook and her pencil case.
“I tend to forget things if I don’t write it down,” Areum said, sitting in front of Yoongi.
“At least you know your weakness,” Yoongi sipped his coffee. “First thing I need to tell you, you won’t need your pen today. Do not write anything down, for what I’m going to say,”
Areum closed her notebook. “What is it?” she started to feel suspicious if Yoongi would tell her a secret.
“As you would be a part of the family, you should know the history,” Yoongi put down his cup. “You have met the entire family, I assume? Can you tell me who are they?”
“Prince Seokjin, of course,” Areum started and Yoongi nodded. “And Princess Joohyun, the oldest. And Prince Namjoon, the younger brother, and the youngest, Prince Taehyung. I was introduced to them two days ago.”
Yoongi said nothing, as if he instructed Areum to speak more.
“I have a question, though,” Areum said. “Why the king and queen are not here?”
“Start from the engagement day, the king and queen will not interfere with any event in the kingdom to train the future king, in this case, Prince Seokjin. King Taeyong and Queen Yerim are currently in South Korea, attending business affair there. The engagement will take a year, before the wedding, where the king and queen would be present. The coronation for the new king and queen would be no later than a week after the wedding.”
“King Taeyong and Queen Yerim, are not here in purpose,” Areum concluded. “I just feel weird that the prince’s parents are not here during his engagement day.”
“It’s maybe a little different, but that’s how we do it in Omela.” Yoongi said. “And King Taeyong is Seokjin’s father, but Queen Yerim is not his mother.”
“…okay…” Areum said slowly, trying to process the information. Sure, divorce and second marriage should not be a new thing either in Omela.
“I have discussed with Seokjin and we agreed that you should know everything.” Yoongi said. “You have to know that it is a tradition, more than a tradition; like an unwritten law, for the current king to choose the next queen.”
Yoongi continued, “It goes back when King Byunghun was ruling, he was King Taeyong’s father, Seokjin’s grandfather. He had chosen a wife for King Taeyong, still a prince at that time. But Taeyong loved another woman. She was not from here, like you.”
Areum was listening. It was like a real life fairytale.
“I think she loved him too. But knowing there would be no chance for her to be with a prince, she decided to move on with her life. She married another man. Had a daughter. Their marriage lasted for two years, her husband was dead and like a fate, she met King Taeyong again, and he was still in love with her. King Byunghun was disappointed, but he wanted his son to be happy. So he allowed King Taeyong to married this woman, Shin Sohee.”
Shin Sohee? Areum thought she had heard that name before. But there must be plenty for Korean named Sohee.
“The kingdom tried to hide the fact that the queen was a widow and had a daughter. And during Queen Sohee pregnancy with King Taeyong, they announced that they have a twin. Joohyun and Seokjin.”
“So… Princess Joohyun was actually… Seokjin’s half sister?”
“Yes. She does not have the royal blood.”
Areum thought if Joohyun and Seokjin was known as twins, people would not be suspicious. They both have fair skin, straight black hair, round eyes… those must be the trait of late Queen Sohee.
“Five years later, there was a pandemic in the kingdom. It killed Queen Sohee. King Byunghoon allowed King Taeyong to mourn for his wife, but a year later King Taeyong was engaged to Park Yerim, the woman King Byunghoon chosen for him at first. The Park family is one of the noble in Omela.”
“Queen Yerim is Seokjin’s step mother, then?”
“Yes. And from Queen Yerim, we have two princes, Prince Namjoon and Prince Taehyung.” Yoongi drank what was left from his cold coffee. “I would ask you to draw a family tree but… let’s just keep it as a non written lesson today.”
Areum didn’t know if she could get used to the life in the kingdom. “Does the people like Queen Sohee or Queen Yerim better? I mean… does the queens have to be from here?”
“Are you worry people will throw eggs at you because you’re not from Omela?” Yoongi chuckled.
“What’s the point of being a leader your people won’t like? They won’t respect you.”
“You know how people are. There were pro and cons. Some people like it, some are not. But it was not a big issue, there weren’t any protest against Queen Sohee.” Yoongi lowered his voice. “The people were not the only thing you should worry about, you know. You shouldn’t forget about the family.”
“But you said King Byunghoon allowed King Taeyong to married an outsider,”
“Like I said, some people like it, some are not. Those who aim for the power would use anything against the kingdom.”
Areum sighed and looked out the window.
“Regret coming here yet?” Yoongi joked.
“Not really…” Areum mumbled. She had nothing much back in Seoul. Starting a new life in Omela shouldn’t be hard as there was nothing holding her back.
“Don’t overthink, it’s not the time. Yet.” Yoongi said. “Real lesson will start tomorrow. You can leave your book here.”
“Okay. Then… I’ll see you here tomorrow?”
Yoongi nodded. “Oh. We missed lunch. No wonder I’m so hungry.”
* * *
There was a knock to her door and Areum opened it.
“I did not see you at lunch,” Joohyun smiled at her.
Areum widened her door to let the princess in. “I was with Yoongi for- um, introduction class. Didn’t realize the time pass so fast.”
“Areum, this is Seulgi, my attendant,”
Seulgi bowed to Areum. She was a young girl with slanted eyes and bright smile.
“We brought some clothes from the tailor, there were still some that’s not finished yet. It would be brought here once they were done,” Joohyun looked at Areum from head to toe. She offered a smile.
“Am I wearing improper clothes?”
“Not at all,” Joohyun quickly said. “The women are wearing skirts and dresses in the palace.”
Areum felt super conscious of her worn pants.
“I know the pants are comfortable but… here, we wear the pants for field work. And the women very rarely wear them.” Joohyun said. She looked at Seulgi and instructed her to arrange Areum’s new clothes in the closet.
“I do not mean to offend you, but I don’t want people look down on you because you are different than them- I mean...” Joohyun said quietly.
“They know I’m not from here.” Areum stated. There was no need to hide the fact that indeed, she was different.
“People are so quick to judge. Before they know you, before you can prove yourself, their judgements are already ahead.”
Areum wondered if Joohyun was trying to warn her.
“Shall we try some clothes you can wear for dinner?” Joohyun asked. “Seulgi, could you bring that dress on the left?”
Areum decided not to inquire further as she tried the dress Joohyun picked for her.
“When Seokjin chose the color, I thought it was because his color was blue… but it looks so good on you,”
“His color?” Areum asked.
“Ah, Yoongi will explain later. Seokjin’s color is blue. Namjoon is green. Taehyung is maroon. Their attributes would have their color.”
“And what about you, Unnie?”
“Unnie?”
“Oh,” Areum closed her mouth, wondered if she was being impolite. “I’m sorry. We- I mean, from where I came, we call older sister as Unnie.”
Joohyun smiled widely. “I like that. You can call me unnie,”
“Really?”
“Sure. I am older with no doubt, and… I’ll try to be a good sister.”
Areum was relieved. “I’ll try to be a good sister too…”
“And… about my color, well…” she stood up to show the peach colored dress she wore.
“Pastels?” Areum asked.
“I like whatever color that looks good on me.”
Areum laughed. “Any color would look good on you,”
Joohyun laughed as well. “We don’t have to try that many dresses, then. This one is already perfect, I think. And oh, this is a gift from me,” she tapped a white box with pink ribbon on the bed.
Areum took the seat next to Joohyun on the bed and took the box. “Can I open it now?”
Joohyun nodded.
Areum untied the ribbon and opened the box. It was a blue silk scarf with silver stars as its pattern. “It is very beautiful,”
“You should wear something thicker during this weather, keep the scarf for the next season,”
“Thank you very much,”
“You are welcome,” Joohyun smiled. “Shall we walk a bit before dinner? I thought I haven’t show you around.”
“Sure.”
There were four buildings in the palace complex. Dining hall was in the main building. The West Wing was where Joohyun’s and Areum’s rooms were. Across it, the East Wing, was Namjoon’s and Taehyung’s room. Opposite the main building was the ballrooms; a big hall on the first floor, and library on the second floor. The four buildings were surrounding a garden. The flowers would change according to the season, Joohyun said. “Yoongi would tell you later. And oh, his room is next to the library, anytime you need to knock on his door.”
Joohyun turned around, as if noticing something. Areum looked at her direction, and Namjoon was coming.
“How was your day?” he smiled at them.
“How was the shipping?” Joohyun asked back.
“All according to plan. The port would be more crowded tomorrow onwards.”
They walked together towards the dining hall as Joohyun talked with Namjoon and Areum listened.
“Seokjin is not coming?” Namjoon asked.
“He moved already,” Joohyun said. “Seokjin used to be with me in the west building. But he moved yesterday,”
“To the King’s Chamber?” Namjoon asked and Joohyun nodded. “It’s over there, behind the main building,” Namjoon showed Areum. “And you’re staying in the King’s Chamber too?”
“No,” Areum shook her head.
Namjoon widened his eyes.
“Am I… supposed to?”
“Is the dinner ready yet? Areum, should we head to the dining hall?”
“You two go ahead. I should fetch Yoongi.”
“Is it a special occasion?” Joohyun asked.
“The Parks are coming,” Namjoon whispered to Joohyun.
“Alright.” Joohyun cleared her throat. “Areum, shall we?”
* * *
The long table in the dining hall was surrounded by velvet chairs. There was a chandelier hanging from the ceiling, illuminating warm light in the large room. Their steps were muffled by the thick carpet and Areum could hear people talking from inside the hall.
“Good evening,” Joohyun greeted.
Taehyung was laughing loudly with a man his age with slicked back hair, showing earrings on his left ear. They were joking closely near the fireplace. On the edge of the table, Seokjin was talking with an older man, and began to relax once he saw the two ladies came closer to him.
“Ah, so this is your fiancée,” a man in his fifties came closer to Areum. He wore a dark brown suit, with woolen scarf around his neck, a burnt cigar on his left hand. He kissed Areum’s hand and smiled to her.
Areum was lost. Her eyes glanced at Seokjin, and he was eyeing their interaction stiffly.
“Nice to meet you,” the man said. “I am Park Jisung, the queen’s younger brother.”
“Nice to meet you,” Areum bowed to the man.
“Are you sure you’re not staying for dinner, uncle?” Seokjin asked.
“I already have the pleasure of meeting our future king and queen, what else do I need?” Jisung had not lost his smile towards Areum.
“I’m staying with Taehyung,”
“Introduce yourself properly first, kids,” Jisung said. “This is my son, Park Jimin, and my daughter, Park Jieun.”
The girl, Areum had not noticed before. Jieun was a young girl with long hair reaching her waist, small face with button nose. Her big eyes made her looked like doll. She seemed more feeble than her free spirited brother, Jimin.
“Hello,”
Areum bowed to both of them.
Seokjin walked his uncle to the door and once his father was gone, Jimin went back to Taehyung side, continuing his story.
“Where’s Namjoon?” Seokjin asked.
“He’ll be here soon,” Joohyun answered. “Areum, you should sit right here,” she patted the seat right in front of Seokjin.
Joohyun took the seat on her left. “He’s coming,” she looked at the door.
At that time, Areum watched as Jieun take the seat beside Seokjin, and the prince smiled looking at her.
“Seokjin, can you help tying my hair? It always come loose whenever I do it,”
Seokjin took the white lace ribbon from her hand and tied Jieun’s hair.
Areum looked away and saw Namjoon was coming with Yoongi, and another man.
“I met Hoseok and he wanted to come along,” Namjoon said, took a seat next to Joohyun.
“The more the merrier,” Hoseok smiled widely. “Oh. I don’t know if this is an intimate family dinner?”
“It is not,” Joohyun answered.
“Oh! You must be Cho Areum! I am Jung Hoseok,” Hoseok came over to Areum and she stood up to bow to her. “Congratulations on your engagement!” Hoseok said cheerfully.
“Thank you,” Areum wasn’t used to Hoseok’s kind of character once she arrived in the kingdom.
“Congratulations for you too, Prince Seokjin!” Hoseok sent a wink towards Seokjin.
“Get seated, Hoseok. Dinner’s needed to be served.” Yoongi said.
“Okay, okay…”
“I will take that seat,” Yoongi said, before Hoseok sat down next to Park Jimin. “Park,”
“Aish, you should’ve said so… I need to walk around the table once more…” Hoseok mumbled as he took the space next to Namjoon.
Jimin curtly nodded towards Yoongi’s direction. “Min,”
“Mr Choi, can I have the meat, please? Anyone else want the chicken?”
“Pass me the red wine,”
“Oh, this one need more salt, don’t you think?”
Areum tried to concentrate more on her food instead of her surroundings.
“How is it?” Joohyun asked.
“It’s good,” Areum nodded, covered her full mouth.
Joohyun nodded as Mr Choi offered more wine to her glass.
“It’s alright for me, thanks,” Areum declined the additional wine.
“Pack the bread for me,” Taehyung said to Mr Choi.
“Where are you going, Taehyung?” Seokjin asked as Mr Choi took the bread basket from the table.
“Jimin and I are going to the river for a night horse ride.” Taehyung said.
“It’s already late.” Seokjin said, slightly opposed to the idea.
Taehyung groaned. “It’s the last full moon before winter,”
“You can watch the moon from your room,”
“And what, have picnic on the floor?” Taehyung gulped his wine.
“And it’s not all about the moon. Riding at night is more exciting,” Jimin added.
“I believe the forecast for the full moon is tomorrow,” Yoongi said. “It is quite cloudy today,”
“Then I’m asking permission for tomorrow’s night ride,” Taehyung said.
Seokjin sighed. “Fine.”
“Because king’s word is an order,” Taehyung faked a bow.
“You have to go home early today, ” Yoongi turned to Jimin. “Have a long day tomorrow,”
“My stamina still allowed me to have extra late hour, Yoongi,” Jimin smirked. “You may forget I’m younger than you.”
“And Jimin will sleep with me tonight,” Taehyung added.
“What about Jieun?”
Jieun looked at Seokjin. “I can stay-“
“The guest room is occupied,” Joohyun cut her words.
“I will accompany her home after dinner,” Seokjin answered.
“I am done, thanks Mr Choi,” Namjoon stood up. “I will ask the carriage to be prepared for Jimin and Jieun,” he excused himself.
Not long after, Taehyung and Jimin followed, kept chatting as they walked out the dining hall.
“I will be going, then,” Seokjin said to Areum, Jieun standing beside him.
Areum just nodded.
“Goodnight,” the prince said again.
“Night.” Areum quietly whispered to his back, the prince already went away with his hand on the small of Jieun’s back.