Chapter XXI
1395 Words
스물한번째 왕관(21)
“Eomma, why is the Crown Prince still not here?” Gong Cho Rong, Prince Yi Eul’s fiancée candidate asked her mom who’s just beside her. She’s wearing a sophisticated bright-colored hanbok that can only be worn by the nobles and her hanbok was obviously personally made for her. They’re currently having tea with Queen Jang Eun while waiting for her grandson, the Crown Prince’s Yi Eul. “You know that I just came here for Prince Yi Eul, right?”
“I know. Me too. But maybe he just got stuck in traffic so just bear with this and wait,” Cho Rong’s mother said in a low voice. She’s also wearing the same sophisticated bright-colored hanbok that can only be worn by the nobles and her hanbok was also personally made for her.
Queen Jang Eun side-eyed them secretly. Their conversation, albeit they’re just whispering in low voices, it’s already enough for the Queen to hear.
Queen Jang Eun lowkey cleared her throat and thankfully, the two women fell silent.
“Your Majesty, Crown Prince Yi Eul is here to see you.”
Queen Jang Eun smiled and raised her hand as a signal for the royal servants to open the door. Queen Jang Eun stood up and the other two women stood up with full of excitement on their faces that they even disregarded that they’re with the Queen.
As soon as the door opened up, Crown Prince Yi Eul came in. When he’s already in front of the queen, he bowed on his knees and head low to the queen and stood up. “Thank you for inviting me to your humble place, Your Majesty.”
“Finally, you’re already here,” Queen Jang Eun smiled at him as he gestured him to sit. “Come, sit with us. Your fiancée is already here.”
“Jeonha,” Cho Rong slightly pushed her mom away so her mom could move to another sit. Cho Rong also moved to her mother’s recent seat, leaving her recent seat for the Crown Prince to sit. “You already met me, right? I’m your lowerclassman in high school. And since we already knew each other, I want to introduce myself as your fiancée from now on. Come, seat beside me. I already saved a chair for you.”
Wow. Jae Kyung couldn’t help but mutter on her mind. Prince Yi Eul ain’t lying about this Cho Rong girl’s attitude. She screams a spoiled-brat attitude.
Cho Rong, Mrs. Gong, and Queen Jang Eun are already sitting in their respective seats when Queen Jang Eun noticed that her grandson was still standing.
“Jeonha, why are you still standing? Come, seat besides Cho Rong.”
Prince Yi Eul side-eyed Cho Rong who’s now smiling at him widely, more like flirting at him as well. He remained his serious face on her then averted his gaze to the Queen. “I’m actually here to tell you something, halma-mama.”
“What is it, jeonha?” the Queen asked in a soft voice like a loving grandma she is.
“Miss Gong Cho Rong, the daughter of the house of Gong, is not my fiancée anymore and will never be,” Prince Yi Eul said, authority dripping in his voice.
Queen Jang Eun looked at him in surprise but who’s more surprised is Cho Rong. “What did you said, Your Highness? Me? Not your fiancée anymore? Are you kidding me? Her Majesty said that I am your fiancée!”
“Calm down, Cho Rong.”
“No, I can’t, mom! I’m his fiancée! His Highness can’t say something disrespectful like that in my presence!”
“Calm down, agassi,” Queen Jang Eun sighed as Cho Rong finally fell silent. She, then, looked at Prince Yi Eul. “Can you tell me why did you decide like that, Your Highness?”
“The reason why I also came here halma-mama is to also introduce my fiancée to you,” Prince Yi Eul answered.
Cho Rong frowned. “W-What?!”
Queen Jang Eun looked at him in surprise. “What did you just say, Your Highness?”
Prince Yi Eul turned his head to the side and side-eyed Jae Kyung who’s fidgeting behind him. Jae Kyung took a deep breath and from the Prince’s back, she moved to his right side. She, then, bowed once again to Queen Jang Eun. “Annyeong haseyo, daebi-mama.”
Queen Jang Eun stared at Jae Kyung for a second before averting her gaze to his grandson. “She’s…”
“You already met her, Your Majesty. She’s the one who gave you the bouquet full of your favorite pink roses,” Prince Yi Eul held Jae Kyung’s hand as if she’s a princess. “I’d like you to meet my fiancée, Kim Jae Kyung.”
Queen Jang Eun couldn’t help but stare at them in surprise. Before she could utter a word. Cho Rong stood up from her seat, obviously angry. “This can’t be! This can’t be, Your Highness! I am your fiancée! Her Majesty already chose me to be your fiancée!”
“Her Majesty may choose you to be my fiancée, but the only fiancée I recognized and I love is this woman beside me,” Prince Yi Eul’s eyes settled on Jae Kyung. The latter met his gaze.
She didn’t know why but Jae Kyung felt her cheeks hot and her heart beating fast because of the Crown Prince’s intense gaze on her.
She felt like she’s drowning in the depths of his gaze.
“Your Highness, I was chosen by the queen to be your fiancée and to be your wife, your Royal Princess Consort and not just some random woman who you didn’t even know where she came from!” Cho Rong appealed. “You know that the queen’s words are absolute! You can’t disobey it—”
“Halma-mama. I’ve been in love with this woman beside me,” Jae Kyung couldn’t help but turn her head on Prince Yi Eul who’s now looking seriously at the queen. “Ever since the day she saved me from the assassins hunting me, I fell in love with this brave, hardworking, kind, beautiful and loving woman beside me. I love her more than anything in this world and she’s the only one that I want to marry and spend the rest of my life with. I want her to be the woman who will bear my son, my future successor. I want her to be my wife.”
We’re just acting… he’s just saying this to convince the queen…
Queen Jang Eun stared at Prince Yi Eul in the same intensity as he did. She then spoke. “Are you willing to defy my order? Are you that willing to marry this woman and give up everything that you have, even your position as the Crown Prince?”
“Daebi-mama!” Cho Rong couldn’t help but exclaim. “You don’t mean it, right?”
“Ma-Mama…” Jae Kyung looked at Queen Jang Eun then averted her gaze to Prince Yi Eul who’s still staring at the queen. “D-Daebi-mama, jungyohan goseun…” (*Your Majesty, the thing is…)
God, we’re just acting! Why did we have to go to such lengths like this?!
Worried about Prince Yi Eul (even if she didn’t want to feel this way), she was about to speak when Prince Yi Eul interrupted. “I will.”
Eh? Jae Kyung stared at him in utter astonishment. What the heck, is he nuts?!
“I will, Your Majesty,” Prince Yi Eul settled his gaze on Jae Kyung who’s now staring at him as if she’s telling him that ‘he’s crazy’. “I want to spend the rest of my life with Jae Kyung. I love her.”
And before Jae Kyung could argue, Prince Yi Eul kissed her in front of everyone, in front of Queen Jang Eun.
---------
We’re just acting… he’s just saying this to convince the queen…
But why did I feel butterflies in my stomach?
— Dealing Prince Arrogant Chapter 15, written by Snow Moon
---------
“Why the freaking Grimm’s name is he kissing me in front of the queen?!”
- Writer
