Chapter XIX
1416 Words
열아홉의 왕관(19)
“The reason I actually came here is not just to check up on you, jeonha,” Queen Jang Eun’s voice and face suddenly became serious after her royal servant took her flower bouquet. “I will not be going to waste my breath. I’ll just cut the chase. The reason why I came here is to tell you that you have to go to my house.”
“I will, halma-mama. I was actually planning to visit you as well.”
“I want you to go to my house because I want you to meet someone,” said Queen Jang Eun.
Prince Yi Eul slightly frowned as he spoke. “May I know who is it, halma-mama?”
Queen Jang Eun took a sip on her daechu-cha before she responded.
“Your fiancé, jeonha.”
Prince Yi Eul frowned as soon as the queen said it. “Pardon, Your Majesty? I didn’t actually follow you.”
Queen Jang Eun put her teacup down and looked at her grandson. “You’ll be going to meet your fiancé tomorrow, Your Highness.”
“I don’t want to question that, Your Majesty but… why?” Prince Yi Eul felt so anxious as soon as Queen Jang Eun talked about the matter of his love life.
“I’m getting old, jeonha. And I want to see you secured in your own family and I want to see your successor already. You’re not getting younger as well so you have to build your own family and introduce a son to me.”
“Dae-Dae-mama, that thing is…” You can’t just do this to me! You can’t just mingle in my love life! You can’t just decide and arrange me like that!
“I don’t want to leave in this world without seeing your successor, jeonha.”
“Don’t say such a thing, Daebi-mama.”
“I’m getting older, jeonha. That’s the only thing I could ask you to do. Malhaettteusi nan dangsine hugyejareul boji anko i sesangeso ttonago sipjji anayo, jeonha.” (*As I said, I don’t want to leave in this world without seeing your successor, Your Highness.)
Prince Yi Eul couldn’t speak anymore. He didn’t know how to respond to the Queen of how he’s so against the idea.
“You’ll going to meet your fiancé tomorrow,” Queen Jang Eun stood up. “Don’t worry, you’ll going to like her as well, jeonha,” she signaled one of her servants and gave the folder the latter is holding. As soon as the Crown Prince accepted and opened it, she spoke. “You’ll be going to marry that one miss in *munban yangban, in the house of Gong, Miss Gong Cho Rong. I am your Queen Grandmother and my words are absolute.” (*Yangban is divided into two groups—munban, the civil officers and muban, the military officers. Although civil officers were of higher ranks than military officers due to Joseon stressing more on literature and Confucianism than the art of war, both were considered as the nobleman and aristocrats of Joseon Dynasty.)
“Of all people…” Secretary Jeong could really feel that anytime he’ll get dizzy as he kept on following the Crown Prince walking back and forth—his left hand on his waist and his right hand pinching the bridge of his nose. “Of all people, why would be that woman!”
“She’s the State Minister’s great-great-granddaughter, jeonha. She’s the sole candidate to be your Royal Princess Consort,” Secretary Jeong said.
Prince Yi Eul glared at him. “Did I tell you to speak?”
“Joesonghamnida, jeonha.”
“She can’t be my fiancée! Do you know how the heck she stalked me in high school and made my life miserable? She’s f*****g giving me goosebumps! She’s a creep and I don’t like her because she’s a straight-up brat!” Prince Yi Eul exclaimed as he kept on complaining about the woman. “I won’t accept her as my fiancée or my Royal Princess Consort! She couldn’t even pass as my concubine!”
“But Queen Jang Eun said that her words are absolute. You have to marry her or you’ll face the consequences,” Secretary Jeong responded as he kept his head low since he spoke without the Crown Prince’s permission.
Prince Yi Eul took a deep breath as he kept on forming his hand into a fist and gritting his teeth. “Damn it. I can’t marry her.”
I just can’t. I have someone that I love and she’s the only one I love. I just can’t replace Da Hyun like that. Da Hyun is the only woman for me.
“Not unless… you’ll going to introduce a woman as your fiancée to the queen.”
Prince Yi Eul paused then he turned his head again to his secretary. “What did you just say?”
“Just a suggestion, Your Highness. I’m sorry for speaking this matter to you boldly,” Secretary Jeong said, keeping his head low. “But this is the only way I could think of and I could suggest to you. If you don’t want to marry Cho Rong-agassi, you have to introduce a woman as your fiancée to Queen Jang Eun.”
Prince Yi Eul snapped his fingers as if he lit up the light bulb inside his head. “That’s right! You’re right! That’s the solution I’ve been looking for! Thank you so much for that genius idea, Mr. Jeong!”
Secretary Jeong bowed to him. “I’m happy that you actually like the idea, Your Highness.”
“As long as I can escape in that fixed marriage matter.”
Secretary Jeong raised his head up to look at Prince Yi Eul and spoke. “Not to ask this, Your Highness but… who are you going to introduce to the Queen?”
Prince Yi Eul paused, thinking. It took him seconds to answer. “I already know who it would be.”
Jae Kyung is yawning as soon as she’s already in front of the Crown Prince’s study room door. His royal servants are about to announce her arrival but she raised her hand to stop them and knocked. “I’m here, Kim Jae Kyung, to see you, jeonha.”
“Come in,” Prince Yi Eul’s voice was muffled when he responded. Jae Kyung sighed and went inside the study room.
Even if she disliked the Crown Prince, she still showed her respect by a deep vow because after all, she’s facing the last Crown Prince of South Korea and she’s just a poor journalist who became His Highness’ personal assistant—a commoner. “Good evening, jeonha.”
Prince Yi Eul just stared at her and she just quirked her brow. “What?”
“You seemed awfully obedient tonight, Jae Kyung-ssi,” Prince Yi Eul said with a bit of sarcasm.
“I still have my manners, Your Highness. Of course, I’ll greet you.”
“You actually creeping me out a few seconds ago.”
“You’re so ungrateful,” Jae Kyung couldn’t help but roll her eyes.
“Did you just rolled your eyes to His Highness's presence?” Prince Yi Eul frowned at her.
“Because you’re being sarcastic to me earlier, Your Highness.”
“I’m just teasing you.”
“I didn’t know you have that lame humor in you, Your Highness,” Jae Kyung shrugged. “Anyway, why did you summon me?”
“Kim Jae Kyung,” Prince Yi Eul called her.
“Yes, Your Highness?”
Prince Yi Eul’s gaze settled on her. “You want to have a high salary to pay your bills, right?”
“Uh… yeah?” Jae Kyung responded.
“And you want to debut your hit novels into a book, right?” Prince Yi Eul asked again.
This arrogant of a prince is kinda sus right now. Code red. “Yes. Umm… Your Highness, why are you asking me that?”
“You want to achieve it all, right?”
“Yes.”
Prince Yi Eul kept his stare on her. “Then, be my fiancée.”
Jae Kyung snorted as she waved her hand. “Oh~ that’s an easy job—what?! What again?!”
“I want you to be my fiancée.”
“Are you kidding me?!”
- Writer
