Chapter Text
Today was a pivotal day for the Republic of West Corea. Its neighboring country in the east, which they had been at war with for nearly ten decades, was sending over their beloved prince as an act of benevolence—exactly one year since the armistice—to marry the Crown Princess.
Sohee had always thought it was foolish for East Corea to willingly offer up their only heir to a once hostile nation, but to his father, it was a tremendous leap towards peace. Should this arranged marriage turn out successful, the two divided nations will finally be united once again, thus putting a permanent cease to their century-long war.
“I heard that the Crown Prince of the East is quite dashing, Your Highness.”
“Our soldiers say that his hair is blacker than a raven’s feathers and his eyes are beautifully round.”
“Princess, should we put more rouge on your lips? To render the Crown Prince smitten?”
Amidst the giddy chattering of her handmaidens, the Princess stared at her somber reflection in the mirror where her eyes flickered to the boy who stood quietly at the corner of the room.
With a polite tone, she faced her handmaidens and said, “Thank you, ladies. I would like a moment alone with my brother, please.”
The gossiping maids instantly zipped their mouths shut and filed a straight line out of the quarters. No matter how close they are to the Princess, whom they have raised since birth, they are nothing but humble servants to the crown. If the Princess asks them to leave, then they will leave with no question. Sometimes, Sohee wondered what it’s like to receive such fierce loyalty from the palace people, but he knew that longing for such a thing was pointless.
Sohee was no royalty, after all. He was a child born out of wedlock. A whoreson. His father, King Lee Taejo, had said so himself countless times.
Despite being aware of this, the Princess treated Sohee no differently from how one would treat a real sibling. To Seonha, who was born three years earlier to the deceased Queen, Sohee is and will always be her precious little brother.
“You’re nervous,” Sohee stated, stepping behind the chair where his sister sat facing a large mirror.
“How could I not be?” Seonha smoothed down her silk dress with her trembling fingers and smiled. It was a tight-lipped smile she often wore at parties or meetings with the royal ministries whenever she felt too nervous. “I will soon meet the stranger I am set to marry in three months.”
Sohee gripped the chair’s intricate frame with his fingers, leaning close. “The prince is not a total stranger. You received a report about him, didn't you?”
Seonha glanced at the sealed envelope on her bedside table. “I’ve been terribly busy, so I have yet to read its contents.”
Busy. Sohee shook his head at the poor excuse and strode over to the other side of the room, taking the envelope in his hands. On its flap was the royal seal of East Corea: three gold stars circling around each other with a raven at its center.
“Should I read it for you?” he asked, waving the thin packaging in the air. Seonha nodded and watched Sohee pull out a sheet of parchment that contained basic information about the Crown Prince.
Park Wonbin, the beloved Crown Prince of East Corea, is the son of King Park Wangho and Queen Park Yidan. He is the younger brother of the elder Prince Park Sebin, who is now deceased.
The Crown Prince was born on March 2nd in the auspicious year of 904. He is currently twenty-three years of age and has successfully finished his higher studies at the Royal Academy with a specialization in Political Science. The Crown Prince’s interests include all types of physical sports, music, and horticulture. He dislikes raisins and the sound of thunder.
Hearing Seonha’s sigh, Sohee stopped reading.
“We have no mutual interests,” the Princess noted with a subtle frown. “He even hates raisins. And you know how much I love raisins.”
“It doesn’t say hate. It says he dislikes them.” Sohee quickly skimmed through the list of details but indeed found nothing in common between the two. “…At least you’re the same age?”
“What does that matter?” Seonha creased her darkened eyebrows. “Being born in the same year does not ensure a happy marriage.”
“When has this arrangement ever been for your happiness, sister?”
At Sohee’s honest words, the troubled Princess went silent. She bowed her head in thought while Sohee crouched on the floor to meet her gaze. They held hands for a few moments until another sigh escaped the Seonha’s brightly rouged lips.
“I know,” she resignedly said. “It is for the nation. For our people.”
“And for peace,” Sohee added, finally smiling when his sister tenderly patted his head.
A few minutes later, the Princess’ guard delivered three knocks to the door, indicating that the Crown Prince would soon be arriving. Hand in hand, Seonha and Sohee headed out to the entrance hall where they would meet the future ruler of a united Corea.
Sohee stood stiffly next to the Princess and the King, head lifted up high as his sharp eyes were fixed on the open doors of the palace. As they waited, Sohee took note of the vibrant blue sky and the chirping of the birds somewhere overhead.
What a beautiful day it is today, Sohee thought. It’s as if the heavens themselves are welcoming the Crown Prince.
The singing birds were eventually muted by the sound of heavy hoofbeats. Sohee’s eyes squinted over at the distance where several enclosed carriages came into view.
Customarily, members of the royal family rode in special carriages that were vastly different from ones used for luggages or by commoners. In the West, royal vehicles were pulled by six horses and designed in an ornate casing of blue and white—West Corea’s traditional colors—but this did not seem to be the case with the East.
A subtle surprise overcame Sohee’s flat expression when he noticed that the carriages nearing the palace were all identical. Each one was drawn by only two horses and plainly painted in the East’s traditional colors of red and black. No matter how hard his gaze flitted through the vehicles, Sohee couldn’t tell which one held the prince. He pondered, only for a moment, if this was a deliberate act to prevent a targeted assassination. After all, Crown Prince Wonbin is the only heir to the throne of an enemy nation; he would not fault them for taking extra precautions to ensure his safety.
Flashes of red and black sped over to the palace front, their horses galloping through the courtyard. It was the third carriage that halted directly in front of the grand double doors. Sohee held his breath as a man clad in an all-black attire stepped out, holding the carriage door open.
The Crown Prince looked exactly as the chambermaids described him to be, only much better now that Sohee was seeing him in person. Illuminated by the sunlight, the prince’s stunning features were apparent even from far away. His round eyes, which were as black as his raven hair, shone under the morning glow and perfectly complemented his red and black suit. As he went up the palace steps and smiled, the apples of his cheeks became prominent, shaping his handsome face into that of gentle beauty.
How could an enemy look this beautiful? Sohee was mystified. Then, he realized, He’s not an enemy. Not anymore. Because in three months, The Crown Prince will be my sister’s husband, and we will become family.
“Your Majesty.”
Wonbin stood in front of the King first and folded an arm over his stomach, bowing deeply. Sohee counted the seconds in his head. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. One should bow for no less than five seconds when in front of royalty, especially the King. The Crown Prince seemed to have studied their customs. Slowly, he then straightened his back and lifted his head to face Taejo.
“You have a beautiful country,” Wonbin said, his voice deep and melodic. “I am happy to be here. Thank you for your hospitality.”
“Park Wonbin. The second son of King Wangho.” Taejo nodded his head as he regarded him. “Tell me, how is your father these days?”
“Father is doing well,” Wonbin answered. His words were laced with a faint accent. “He is quite excited for the wedding.”
At the mention of the wedding, Sohee glanced to his right where Seonha was. Taejo chuckled and placed a gentle hand on his daughter’s tense shoulder, shifting Wonbin’s attention to the Princess next. Seonha bowed her head for five seconds and Wonbin did the same.
“It is a great pleasure to finally be in your presence, Princess.”
“Likewise,” Seonha replied curtly. She gestured to the side and said, “This is my brother. Sohee.”
With a mild look of surprise, it was obvious that Wonbin did not expect their conversation to end so abruptly. Nevertheless, he turned to Sohee and bowed. Sohee quickly folded his upper body in return. Since he wasn’t considered royalty, there was no need to count up to five seconds, but Wonbin retained his posture until the very fifth second.
Their eyes met as they lifted their heads up simultaneously. “It is nice to make your acquaintance, Your Grace. Let us be good friends.”
Sohee gave him a small, awkward grin. “Yes. Welcome to West Corea.”
The prince had just called him by a title of nobility rather than one of royalty. Does that mean Wonbin was aware of his status in the family? That he was a child born to the King’s mistress? If so, then why did he bother bowing to him as if he were part of the royal family? Such thoughts confused him. Maybe once they got closer, Sohee can ask him all about it.
After learning about Wonbin’s weary travels, Taejo allowed him to rest up in his room. They met again three hours later when it is time for lunch. Sohee, who always sat at his father’s left hand and across his sister, was ordered to move to the adjacent seat. From now on, Wonbin will be taking his spot.
Once everybody was seated, the plates were immediately served. The royal food tasters walked up to the table, cutting up small pieces of meat and vegetables for them to taste. Only Sohee did not have an appointed food taster.
For his father, Sohee was a waste of resources and personnel. The King refused to grant him his own food taster and personal guard, deeming it highly unnecessary for a bastard child to receive protection. Sohee has never once complained. From a very early age, he knew his place in the palace, and the shame of being treated with cruel indifference from his father has long since faded within him.
But as Wonbin glanced at his untouched plate with a questioning look, Sohee felt the shame reignite in his heart. Wonbin leaned in, almost as if to whisper something, but the King called out his name before he could utter out the words.
“Yes, Your Majesty?” Wonbin turned his attention to the head of the dining table.
“You have an interest in horticulture, do you not?”
“I do, Your Majesty. It is an enjoyable hobby.”
“How intriguing for a man such as yourself to be interested in gardening,” Taejo noted, taking his own knife and fork in hand once his food taster stepped aside.
“It is my mother who taught me. She has a natural talent for growing all sorts of plants.” Wonbin faced Seonha and said, “Our fields are especially beautiful at this time of the year. We must see it together next spring, Princess.”
All heads turned to Seonha expectantly. Her nervous eyes darted to the doors of the dining hall, as if wanting to escape, then back at Wonbin’s gentle face.
“I would love to,” the Princess claimed in an incredibly flat tone that did not match her words.
Despite Seonha’s stiff response, Wonbin’s expression did not falter. Slowly, he leaned back on his chair and began cutting up his food. Sohee followed suit.
“Our groundskeepers have allotted land for you out by the northern gardens. Feel free to grow your greens there,” Taejo stated, taking a bite out of his venison. “Various seeds and tools are provided as well. Should you need anything else, don't be shy to tell the servants.”
Wonbin smiled in delight. “How generous of you, your Majesty. Thank you very much.”
Taejo then addressed his daughter. “After lunch, why don’t you show the Crown Prince the northern gardens?”
Seonha nodded once. “Yes, father.”
Sohee didn’t mean to peep, but since the northern gardens were located just outside his bedroom window in the northern wing, he couldn’t resist. Hiding behind his curtains, Sohee watched the Crown Prince and his sister at a distance walking side by side in the vast flower fields.
Wonbin, with an attentive eye, was admiring the fully-bloomed flowers while the Princess’ lilac dress fluttered in the breeze. The picturesque scene below him looked like it came straight out of a painting.
Following closely behind them were two men in black suits. One of the men was Seonha’s guard. He was a man not much older than Sohee himself, but he was heavily muscled and always so reserved, making it difficult for Sohee to befriend him. Right next to him was the man who held the carriage door open for Wonbin earlier that morning. That must’ve been his own personal guard.
The couple strolled leisurely under the bright afternoon sun, talking about something Sohee couldn’t quite make out until they eventually stopped in front of an empty patch of land directly under his bedroom window. If any one of them tilted their head upwards, they would probably catch Sohee peeking from behind his curtain. Thankfully, Wonbin and Seonha were engaged in discussion to notice his spying eyes.
Sohee cracked open his window to listen in, straining his ears until he managed to understand bits and pieces of their conversation.
“This is where you can plant. Plant anything you like,” Seonha said, gesturing to the ground then to the greenhouse up further north. “We have a wide variety of seeds for you to choose from. Saplings too, if you wish to plant a tree.”
Wonbin examined the earth beneath his boots. “Thank you, Princess. Do you have a favorite flower, by any chance?”
Seonha blinked. “Me?”
Who else? You’re the only princess in this country. Sohee snorted, finding the scene before him rather amusing.
When Wonbin nodded, Seonha paused to think. “Carnations. I like carnations.”
The Princess, who was born with a mild pollen allergy, has never been fond of flowers. It was Sohee who adored carnations and Seonha was well-aware of this. Every autumn, without fail, he would pluck a few flowers and put them in a vase in his room for display. However, ever since he got caught by the groundskeeper two years ago, they stopped planting carnations and replaced them with dahlias as per the King's instructions.
“Carnations,” Wonbin repeated, sounding pleased. “A lovely choice.”
Seonha put on a smile but said nothing more. The silence between them stretched until it was too uncomfortable for Sohee to bear.
Ask him what his favorite flower is! Sohee tried to relay telepathically, but his sister’s mind was impenetrable.
“Well, if there isn’t anything else, I must get going,” Seonha said instead, gathering the ends of her dress.
Wonbin cleared his throat. “Ah—yes. Thank you for your time, Princess.”
With a hurried curtsy, the Seonha bid him farewell. She called over her guard and began walking away, leaving behind a confounded prince. Wonbin turned to look at his own guard, who helplessly shrugged his shoulders, before squatting down on the ground.
Sohee poked his head out the window and observed Wonbin touch the soil with his bare hands. What is he doing?
The Crown Prince scooped a handful of dirt, rolling it in his palms until it formed into a firm ball. A satisfied smile spread across his face as he examined it. He then dropped the clump back into the ground, patting it down until it lay flat.
“I need to wash my hands,” Wonbin muttered to his guard as he straightened his knees. He turned his head left and right, scanning the area for an outdoor faucet until his gaze shifted upwards towards Sohee’s window.
Sohee gasped and fell to the floor in an instant, pressing himself against the wall. His own heartbeat pounded in his ears as he wondered whether Wonbin had seen him or not. He managed to hide himself quickly enough, so maybe the Crown Prince didn’t notice him at all.
Well, there was only one way to find out.
With bated breath, he slowly peeked over the ledge and found the Crown Prince still standing there, rubbing his palms together to brush off the dirt. Then, as if sensing his presence, Wonbin lifted his head until his sharp eyes landed on Sohee’s startled ones.
Just as Sohee was about to hide again, Wonbin brought his soil-smeared hand in the air and waved. Sohee sheepishly waved back a beat later then pointed to the left, miming the action of washing hands. Wonbin understood him and smiled appreciatively.
“Thank you,” he mouthed, waving one last time before disappearing down the corner where Sohee had just pointed to.
After finishing his coursework, Sohee headed on out to the other end of the palace where the royal quarters were located. This is where the Princess and the King resided, far away from Sohee’s wing.
He passed through several hallways with a steady pace, taking a sharp turn by the music room to take a familiar shortcut. A few minutes later, he arrived outside his sister’s door where her guard was on standby as always.
“Good day, Your Grace,” the guard greeted him. The steel sword by his waist reflected the sunlight passing through the arched windows.
“Jung.” Sohee gave a curt nod. Royal guards were always addressed by their family names rather than their first names. “Is the Princess inside?”
“Yes. I believe she’s having tea,” Jung informed him. “I shall announce your presence.”
Jung gave the door three quick raps and declared Sohee’s arrival. Seonha’s muffled voice permitted his entry. As Jung pushed the door open, the smell of freshly brewed tea drifted through the corridor. Sohee who walked in without hesitation, finding Seonha seated on a small stool by her bedroom balcony. She was pouring tea in an empty porcelain cup which she held out to Sohee expectantly. He took it in his hands and sat across her, inhaling the familiar lemon balm scent.
“Were you expecting someone?” Sohee asked, taking a tentative sip. Unlike his sister, he had never grown to like tea and had always preferred sweeter beverages.
“No,” Seonha responded. “Why do you ask?”
“You had two cups prepared.”
“If you are implying that I invited the Crown Prince over for some tea, then you are mistaken.” Seonha brought the cup to her lips and took a long sip. Was she nervous? The Princess had made it a habit to drink lemon balm tea whenever she felt anxious. “Besides, we are not allowed to share an enclosed space together without supervision—let alone my chambers.”
“I knew that,” Sohee said. It was basic knowledge taught to him by academic scholars when he was a child. “I was merely asking.”
Seonha released a shaky breath. “…I’m sorry. I've been so tense since this morning.”
It hasn’t just been this morning. In fact, the Princess has been quite restless the past few days, and Sohee understood why.
The arranged marriage came as a great surprise to Seonha, who had only been made aware of such life-changing information two weeks prior to Wonbin’s arrival. Not only was she getting married, but she was getting married to the prince of a nation they have been at war with for over a century. Because of the year-long armistice which implemented a temporary ceasefire, the hostility between the two countries had diminished significantly, therefore allowing a political marriage to be orchestrated.
It’s a marriage that will finally seal the end of the war, so the pressure to make this a success was immensely heavy. Sohee could simply not imagine what his sister was going through.
“It's only the first day,” Sohee stated matter-of-factly, trying to be of comfort. “Maybe if you spend more time with the Crown Prince, you will come to like him.”
The expression that flashed on Seonha’s pale face relayed her dubiety.
“Is he at least good company?” Sohee questioned, his fingers dancing around the rim of his teacup. “I saw you walking with him in the gardens earlier.”
“He is pleasant to look at, I suppose.”
Sohee internally agreed. The Crown Prince was indeed good-looking.
“I cannot judge his character yet. I haven’t spent much time with him,” Seonha added, her voice trailing off at the end. “But father wants me to give him a tour of the palace tomorrow morning so that we may get to know each other.”
“That sounds exciting.“
“You will have to do it in my stead.”
Sohee choked on his tea. “W-what?”
“I don't want to do it,” Seonha admitted, her eyes downcast. “I’m not ready. Will you do it for me, Sohee?”
Hearing the tinge of hope in Seonha’s words, it was impossible for Sohee to refuse. He would do anything for his sister just as she would do anything for him, so he was ready to accept her request until a thought crossed his mind.
“But what about father?”
“I’ll tell him that I am feeling feverish. He will understand.”
Of course he would. King Taejo loved Seonha greatly as if she were his only child, leaving no ounce of affection for Sohee himself.
“Alright,” Sohee sighed, making the Princess clutch his hands in gratitude. “But you owe me, sister.”
Seonha nodded fervently. “Anything you ask for, I will give it to you.”
Sohee’s eyes wandered to the center of the room where a gold-tinted crystal jar lay atop a coffee table.
“I want that.”
It wasn’t really the crystal jar he wanted, but more so what was inside it.
While Sohee made his way back to the northern wing, he lifted the jar’s lid and beamed at the sight of colorful hard candies and the brown squares of toffee fudge. He looked around himself, making sure no one was around before unwrapping a piece of fudge and popping it in his mouth. The sweet, rich flavor of toffee exploded in his tastebuds, making his eyelids flutter shut in delight.
In that short moment of bliss, Sohee turned a corner and collided straight into a broad chest. The jar slipped from his hands, its contents flying everywhere.
“Ah—my candy!” Sohee bent down, gathering the scattered pieces of sweets on the floor.
“Your Grace,“ a startled voice gasped. “I didn’t see you.”
Sohee’s head snapped upwards, realizing who he had just bumped into. His legs sprang up immediately, feeling utterly flustered as he leveled with Wonbin’s blinking eyes.
“Y-Your Highness, I apologize. I wasn’t looking where I was going.“
Wonbin shook his head. “Let me help.”
As the prince's guard attempted to pick up a bar of fudge near his shoe, Wonbin raised a hand to stop him. Then he knelt down on the floor himself, collecting the sweets in his palm. Sohee hurriedly crouched down across from the prince and scooped up a few pieces of candy too, dropping it into the now-empty crystal jar.
When they both reached for the last piece of candy at the same time, their fingers brushed. Sohee drew his hand back and apologized as it was forbidden to touch a royal so carelessly.
Wonbin retrieved the lone candy, holding it up to Sohee’s eye level. Its deep red wrapper was the same shade of his crimson-black suit.
“Can I have this?”
Stunned, Sohee was at a loss for words. Of course he could have it. He could even have the entire jar should he demand it. Wonbin was the future King of a unified Corea, and Sohee was the son of a lowly chambermaid—so why bother asking at all?
Taking Sohee’s silence as a rejection, Wonbin quickly said, “I will put it back—”
“No, no! You can have it.” Sohee rose to his feet just as Wonbin did, holding out the candy jar. “You can even have all of it, Your Highness.”
“Really?” Wonbin’s eyes sparkled as he glanced at the hill of sweets. “You will give me all of it?”
Sohee’s outstretched arms faltered slightly, his hesitation creeping up on him. “W-Well…”
No matter how happy he was with his treasured sweets, who was he to deny the Crown Prince? It was his fault for offering in the first place, anyway. Even though he only said that to be polite, who knew that the prince would actually accept his offer?
“Your Highness, you need not ask,” Sohee straightened his arms once again; the hard candies clinked against the crystal casing. “Please take them and enjoy.”
“If you insist.”
Wonbin removed the jar from Sohee’s grip and held it carefully in his arms. When he noticed the subtle look of dismay on the boy’s features, the corner of the prince’s lip twitched into a grin, stretching wide across his handsome face until he finally bursted into a hearty laughter.
Sohee was stunned again. Was the Prince that excited to receive a jar full of candy? Do they not have such a thing in East Corea?
Finally composing himself, Wonbin gently placed the crystal jar back in Sohee’s hands, still smiling. “Your Grace, I was only joking. I do not wish to take them from you.”
With his cherished sweets back in his grasp, Sohee’s face bloomed in relief. He cradled the jar in his chest and said, “Thank you, Your Highness.”
“What is there to thank me for?” Wonbin asked softly. “They are yours to begin with.”
Then the Crown Prince bowed his head, bidding Sohee goodbye as he walked down the long hall with his guard trailing behind. Hidden in his hand was a single piece of candy in red wrapping.