How to Deal with the Crown Prince (English)

Chapter XLII: The Royal Wedding of the Crown Prince and the Writer

마흔두의 왕관 (42)

“황태자와 작가의 결혼”

(The Royal Wedding of the Crown Prince and the Writer)

She could hear the instruments outside.

She could actually tell that the samulnori and buchaechum are actually happening outside. It’s a traditional pre-wedding ceremony so she knew that the guests as well as the whole South Korea were now entertained. (*There’s a samulnori, or a traditional performance that includes a percussion quartet which includes the kkwaenggwari (a small gong) which represents “thunder”, the jing (a larger gong) which represents wind, the janggu (an hourglass shaped drum) which represents rain, and the buk (a barrel drum) which represents clouds. There is also a buchaechum, or a traditional fan dance performed.)

Jae Kyung just stayed in the middle of the room, sitting in silence. She’s really uncomfortable with the Wonsam (The bride wore an elaborate topcoat with flowing sleeves over her other clothes. Similar to the costume worn by queens and noblewomen of the time, a Wonsam was made with blue silk on the inside and red silk outside. The front and back had embroidered flowers representing wealth, longevity, and nobleness. The billowing sleeves had blue, yellow, red, fabrics, with a wide strip of white at the cuffs, which also had colorful embroidery.) she’s wearing as well as she finds everything—the jokduri, yongdam and daenggi (The bride's hair was pulled back tightly and tied at the back of her neck. A yongjam (long hairpin with a dragon head at one end) was placed through her tied hair. A dot'urak daenggi (a long, wide piece of dark silk, embroidered with gold lettering. Jokduri or ceremonial coronet was fashioned after a cap used by Mongolian women when they went outside the home. The Korean version became smaller than the original size and is used mostly as an accessory. Jokduri worn by royal family members contained 7 different colors. Attached to the jokduri and hung down the bride's back. A thinner ap' daenggi hung from each side of the yongjam, resting along the front of the wonsam)—that was placed in her head uncomfortable and heavy for her head but she silently bearing for it. For the sake that she’ll get over with it.

Who would really think that she’ll get married to not just an ordinary man? She’ll get married not to an ordinary man but this man is the Crown Prince of South Korea.

It felt like yesterday when she was assigned to interview the Crown Prince—in which she got insulted by the way, caught him talking to his lover which is a K-Pop Idol, got chased by him because of the photo she got, saving him from his assassins, got hired to be his personal assistant, faked her identity as his fiancée and now, she’ll get married to him in front of millions of people—with, of course, an awkward meeting and gift-giving with her foster parents to Queen Jang Eun who, they actually got clicked the first time they all met each other as if they’re all childhood friends or something.

Well, that’s pretty awkward for Jae Kyung but at least, it went well.

It feels like a romantic novel, she’ll say.

And to be honest, she’ll be happy. Who wouldn’t, right? Getting married is one of every girl’s dreams.

But in her case, it’s not even real. Should it be worth it to celebrate?

As soon as the door of her room opened, the servants greeted her and spoke. “Are you ready, Your Highness?”

She slowly opened her eyes and with a blank expression, she responded. “I’m ready.”

To begin the ceremony that everyone anticipated, Jae Kyung’s mother along with Queen Jang Eun performed the Jum-chok Rye. They lit candles to invoke the god of heaven to be present at the ceremony by sending up candle flames. Queen Jang Eun lit a red candle and Jae Kyung’s mother lit a blue candle. They ended by bowing toward each other and then toward the guests before they went up.

Next was Crown Prince Yi Eul’s entrance or Young-seo Rye. He’s wearing a special robe named Myeonbok Gujabok. The robe is reddish black in color for the outer side and purple for the inner side. It is shorter in length compared to normal robe so that it won’t hide the embroidered patterns on the skirt. The inner garment (most of the time not visible), known as jungdan, is white in color and lined with blue fabrics on the hems. Daedae is the red and white waistband used to tie the skirt. The waist belt, hyeokdae is lined with jade. There are pair of jade plates called pae, hung from hyeokdae. The skirt is rosy pink (or nearly red) in color. A knee pad, pyeseul, was once tied to the waist behind the skirt, but nowadays it’s usually sewn to the skirt. It is rectangular in shape, made with red silk with black fabrics lining the hem.

“You may enter now, Jeonha,” Secretary Jeong said and Prince Yi Eul nodded in response. The groom enters with his attendant (the girukabi), who is carrying a goose. Jae Kyung’s father met Prince Yi Eul at the front gate and together, they went inside. (*Myeonbok (면복). There are actually two kinds of myeonbok: gujangbok (구장복) or ‘nine symbol dress’ for the king and sibijangbok (십이장복) or ‘twelve symbol dress’ for the emperor.

It is called gujangbok because of the nine kinds of symbols embroidered on the robe. For the upper part of the robe, dragons on the shoulders, mountains on the back, fire, pheasants, and tiger-designed wine barrels on the sleeve hems; called ojang, meant for yang. For the skirt, millet, rice grains, axes, and fire; called sajang, meant for ying.)

“The father of the bride will climb on the west part of the stairs,” the master of ceremonies, who officiated the wedding, instructed Jae Kyung’s dad.

Her dad, who’s wearing a traditional yet royally hanbok as well, climbed awkwardly on the stairs. As he finally climbed on the house, he looked at his wife who’s also wearing a royally designed dangui. He cleared his throat and made way for the royal family’s attendant, who’s holding a scroll, to speak.

Everyone is really anticipating Jae Kyung’s appearance—especially her friends and former co-workers from The Seoul Times who were the ones who officially covered the wedding as well as the KBC, one of the biggest broadcast companies in South Korea.

Prince Yi Eul silently walked towards the traditional house where Jae Kyung and her parents were inside, holding the alive wild goose in both his hands. He silently faced the stairs and the master of the ceremonies spoke that he’ll be going to climb the east stairs which he did.

As soon as he went inside the house, he stood beside Jae Kyung’s father. He faced Jae Kyung’s mother and attendant and bowed.

“The princess will now arrive.”

Jae Kyung, along with the royal servants assisting her, came out to her room and carefully walked towards Prince Yi Eul and her parents. Both Jae Kyung’s mom and dad were trying to suppress their smiles and tears as soon as they saw their daughter—their lovely daughter—walked towards them. She stood up next to her mother, facing her father. She, then, glimpse Prince Yi Eul who’s now staring at her before averting her gaze to her father.

Her father was trembling, trying to suppress his tears. She couldn’t stand seeing it because she felt sad as well so she looked at Prince Yi Eul once again who’s now trying to suppress a laugh.

She slightly pouted. She really had the urge to kick him right now.

“Now,” Prince Yi Eul mouthed at her.

Prsh. So demanding.

“The Crown Prince will offer the wild goose to the parents of the bride.”

Prince Yi Eul walked towards the small round table and he silently kneeled on the cushion. He silently put the wild goose to the table and bowed in silence.

“The bride’s father will say something to the Crown Prince.”

Jae Kyung looked at her dad again. He was trembling as he tried to suppress his tears when he spoke. “T-Trust, love, and respect for each other… *sniff* you should share those not just for the both of you *sniff* but for your future family as well.”

She couldn’t help but smile at how precious her dad’s reaction right now. "Appa..."

“The bride’s mother will say something to the new princess.”

Both Jae Kyung and her mother face each other. Compared to her father, her mother can stay composed at any cost? But right now, she’s trying so hard to suppress her tears as well.

“Trust, love, and respect for each other. You should share those not just for both of you but for your future family as well.”

“Trust, love, and respect for each other. You should share those not just for both of you but for your future family as well,” both Jae Kyung’s parents repeated.

Jae Kyung’s eyes settled on her younger brother who wore the same outfit as her dad. He looked so amazed at what he’s seeing right now. When he saw Jae Kyung’s eyes were on him, he grinned and waved at his sister.

Jae Kyung couldn’t help but smile at how precious her family is. Albeit she’s neither their child nor their sibling, they’re here, all-out support for her.

She’s happy… but somehow, she felt guilty.

She felt guilty because none of this was true… every single one of it.

For the next ceremony, Jae Kyung walked down the aisle, along with the royal servants who were holding a huge fancy red umbrella for her during the Chin-young Rye. Prince Yi Eul, who’s already standing on the east was waiting for her. As soon as she finally arrived from where the Crown Prince was standing, they both stared at each other.

“So, we’re a married couple now, huh?”

“Seems like it.”

They both took each separate carriage and roamed the huge rode of South Korea which was full of people anticipating their appearances, waving both South Korea’s flag and the Palace’s flag as well. Both of them were already tired but they have to do the parade before going to their own house the queen had set for them to have.

Prince Yi Eul, with all smiles, waved at the people—and even to his fangirls—and kept on greeting them with his gentle, handsome smile.

Jae Kyung couldn’t help but snort inside her head. Her carriage is just following the Crown Prince’s that’s why she could really see his expression. If they really knew how opposite his attitude to what he’s projecting to them right now.

“Princess Jae Kyung!!!” she could hear the familiar voices that she turned her head to the owner of those voices and saw her friends way back college, her friends and co-workers as well. “Princess, you’re so beautiful!!!”

She couldn’t help but shake her head and laugh in silence. Not today, man. Can’t offer you drinks right now. Maybe next time. “Code Red!”

“Aw, man~!” strings of disappointed voices could be heard from her friends that she couldn’t help but laugh at. Since she’s holding something, she can’t wave at them.

The surroundings are very loud but Jae Kyung needs to bear with it. She just needed to smile at everyone even if she’s already tired as f**k that she can’t even feel her face anymore. Prince Yi Eul turned his head on her and he just kept his smiling façade at her. She didn’t have a choice but to do the same thing to him as well. They need to... until they’ll get over with it.

Every girl’s dream is to have a fairytale-like wedding. It’s once in a lifetime for every girl so it must be beautiful and memorable.

But in Jin Hee’s case, it’s not.

To be honest, she’ll be happy. Who wouldn’t, right? Getting married is one of every girl’s dreams. Especially that she’s married to an actual prince.

It feels like a romantic novel scenery, she’ll say.

But in her case, it’s not even real. It’s not really worth it to be called a fairytale-like happily ever after.

It’s not worth it to be a happy story to be told because they didn’t just deceive people nor their family nor their friends…

…They’re deceiving their selves as well.

— Dealing Prince Arrogant, Chapter 30