It was gloomy day for all civilians, with the sun barely seen behind thick clouds and the wind blowing its dry breeze. It seemed that everyone was affected by the weather since everyone wore the same dulled expression as they did their chores. In the palace, the same aura was being felt with the servants all workly slowly and without much word. For the King however, he wore a dulled look not because of the weather outside but more because of the news he had received recently. 

The King sat at his desk with his head buried in his hands, closing his eyes in exhuastion. He had spent majority of the days working and could feel the fatigue eating him alive. A tired sigh escaped his lips as he opened his eyes to look at more papers. The words on the paper didn't even make sense to him anymore with all the inked words looking blurry and jumbled. With a massive headache, he stood up and stretched himself, opening his mouth in a large yawn. Rubbing his back, he massaged the sore spot he had gotten from sitting hunched in his chair all day, feeling the muscle lose tension. 

Glancing over, his eyes fell onto a pile of clothing, his nobleman wear, the exact same clothes he had worn when he and his attendant slept at the residence. He smiled ot himself but was still disappointed at the massive failure and grumbled lightly. All of a sudden, he remembered something important he had and quickly rushed behind his desk, pulling out a drawer so quickly that it might have flown out if it weren't for the sturdy hinges. Rumaging through the once organized drawer, he finally found the item he had been searching for, picking it up carefully and examining it with a smile. Tucking it in the pockets of his gown, he made his way outside to speak with his servants. 

Ji Hyo stood outside the King's study with her head bent, feeling her eyelids droop over her eyes as minutes passed. Every now and then she shook her head and opened them wide only for them to fall back droopily. The dull day made her less social, avoiding much conversations and simply replying with nods or one worded answers. Her mind was blanked out and was in the process of daydreaming when someone caught her attention. His presence made her heart skip a beat as he drew the study doors opened and took steps out. She glanced sideways towards him and already felt flutters in her stomach unsure wether its because of her hunger or because of the charming man, either way she couldn't help but blush and look back down at her feet. 

Not to her knowledge, it seemed everyone else also knew about her attraction to this man maybe because of someone with a large mouth. As soon as the figure exited the study, all the attendants glanced at each other with sly smirks, some even giggling with whispers. They had heard about the night the two had shared, although details weren't given but most had an idea, a wrong idea. Nonetheless, the stood with amused smiles, awaiting for the powerful King to call upon the love struck attendant. 

The King also knew that the rest of his attendants would have heard about him and the lady he admired, not like he cared anyways. They all must have heard from the only person he had told, that being his trusted guard but he should have known better than to tell the big mouth of his. Since everyone under him seemed to know, he wasn't too shy about publicly spending time with her as long as they don't speak about it but they know better than that, afterall, each and everyone of them knows his capabilites. 

With a bright smile, he stepped down the steps and stood in front the two rows of his attendants, eyeing over each one trying to spot her. When his eyes laid on the shy figure he called out in a soft voice, "Ji Hyo-ah~"

Ji Hyo felt her cheeks reddened at his call, how his voice could making her heart pound so badly. Her friends that stood around her giggled at his call for her and some nudged her with their elbows. She raised her head and looked at the Kingly figure before her and couldn't help but smile before bowing towards him. She straightened herself up and replied with the same soft voice, "Yes, Your Majesty?"

Jong Kook's smile only grew wider with her greeting, loving her soft melodic voice and the way she looked at him. What more, her smile, the smile that could brighten up his day when they were the worst. Stopping himself from going further with eyeing her, he folded his arms behind his back and asked her a question, "Care to walk with me?" 

"Oooooooohh!!!" Cried out the other girls, covering their smiling grins with their hands, even Maeri and Jung couldnt help but grin at the King being so gentle. 

Ji Hyo widened her eyes, taken aback by the question, "Pardon?" but was drowned out by the giggles and 'Ooh's' of the other girls. She suddenly felt beingpushed from the back as two pairs of hands gently pushed her through the rows, making her flick her head back to see who it was. Obviously it was Maeri and Jung who smiled when she turned around. They gave her a final shove so that she stumbled right in front of the King, almost crashing into him if it weren't for her somewhat good balance. She looked up at him with a blank expression, opposite to his smiling features. Forming a shy smile she dipped her head and spoke quietly, "Ah, Shouldn't you call someone else?" She asked, hating herself for asking but she couldn't help it. 

"Eeeeeeyyy~" echoed the other attendants, shaking their heads in disagreement. It seemed that they were united in match making these two even though they fought everyday on who was going to fold the blankets. 

"Nope. I want to walk with you." Jong Kook replied without hesitation, leaning forward abit with the last sentence, gazing deeply into her dark brown eyes. Ji Hyo flushed and looked away, afraid that if she continued staring at him, she might faint. 

"Ah... of course, Your Majesty." She said in a soft voice, having a victorious ceremony playing in her mind. Her cheeks blushed a faded red, needing her to pat them with her hand. Ji hyo glanced over to Maeri and Jung who gave her two thumbs up each before resuming their giggle fit. 

"Lets go." The King said, turning away to walk down the steps and towards the path that lead to the gardens. He slowed his steps, allowing her to catch up to walk behind him, shuffling along with her head down. He stopped in his steps when they were halfway there, making her bump into his back from not watching her steps. 

"Oh! Im so sorry, Your Majesty!" She said hurriedly bowing down towards him. Truth is, she had been so caught up with her fantasies that she had forgotten about the handsome man in front of her. 

"Hmm. It seems like you don't pay attention walking behind him. Come and walk beside me." Jong Kook said, taking a step back so that he stood beside her, grinning down at her with a toothy smile. 

"Ah... Your Majesty.. I was paying attentio-" Ji Hyo began about to take a step back but was shushed by Jong Kook's words.

"Oho! You are walking by my side wether you like it or not!" Jong Kook childishly proclaimed, outstretching his hand behind her, preventing her from taking anymore steps backwards.

Defeated, Ji Hyo smiled and chuckled, dipping her head at him. "Alright, Your Majesty. I will walk by your side." She said with a giggle, looking up at him with crescent eyes. 

They carried on their walk, this time side by side, talking to each other and laughing once in a while. After a happy stroll, they arrived at the very first spot they met in the palace, the pond. Jong Kook stopped and stared at the glitstening water before looking up to the platformed rocks, remembering seeing the little girl from years ago before looking down at Ji Hyo, not believing that the young girl he met years ago was actually her. 

"Ji Hyo-ah~ Remember when I met you here..." Jong Kook stated, looking at the pond and back at her, a lopesided smile on his lips. "You were so young back then, so innocent yet you were crying, sobbing actually." Jong Kook paused and let out a sigh, the image of her back then made him sorrowed. He turned to face her, seeing her reminiscent her past with a unreadable expression. "Why were you crying that day?" He asked carefully.

Ji Hyo was standing, remembering clearly the day she met him. It seemed so vivid even though it has been years but that was a day she could never forget. She turned her head at his question and tilted her head slightly, figuring out how to explain everything. "Your Majesty... The day you found my crying was in fact my first day in the palace...You see, I do not come from a rich family, Your Majesty. We were poor and everyday was a struggle to survive but we did and lived without a worry for as long as we stayed a family, nothing would worry us. That is until I lose my mother when I was 10, on my birthday... It was tragic of course, I couldn't sleep for weeks on end but like everything else in life, we moved on. 2 years past and my father and I struggled living, he sold everything we had for us and then... He sold me." Ji Hyo finished her story with a quiet voice, feeling tears form in the corner of her eyes. She blinked away the blurry tears before wiping her eyes with her hand. 

They had sat themselves down upon some rocks while Ji Hyo was speaking and Jong Kook listened to every word. He furrowed his brows when Ji Hyo finished, feeling quite angered that her father was that cruel. "You must hate him." He said in a low voice. 

"No. Not at all, Your Majesty. I forgive and forget, his actions are his problems and I am grateful he sold me for I may not have met the amazing people here." Ji Hyo said with a calm tone, resisting the urge to say she was grateful to be sold here because if not she wouldn't have met him. "How about you, Your Majesty? If you do not mind me asking of course."

"Forgive and forget, something I can never do." Jong Kook muttered, looking away to eye the water. "Me? Well... My story is different in some ways I guess..." He began leaning back slightly. "I was born and raised as Crown Prince since im the eldest son of the King and Queen so life was easy going. I had servants, private schooling and everything I wanted yet I was unhappy. You see, Ji hyo... Unlike your family, mine were not close. My father didn't love my mother at all, seeing her as an item more or less. His love for me wasn't much either, only spending time with me when he had to teach me things. But even though he gave more slightly more attention than my mother, I pitied her. Day by day she would fake a smile and say her life is great when really all she ever wanted was to be loved. Compensating for my cold father, i showered her with my affection, talking to her daily and spending whatever time I had with her but then out of nowhere.... She became ill.... extremely ill... We called physcians, surgeons, shamans... nothing worked... They all said they tried their best but if they truly did, she would still be here. The day she died... I had passed a test and planned and showing her my results but that didnt happen. She was gone.. I cried for her, for the pitiful life she had and all the pain she went through.. blaming the reason for her pained life on my father... That bastard.." He ended, with cclenched fists and teary eyes, gritting his teeth in anger. 

A soft hand touched his shoulder, laying delicate fingers on him. He looked at her hand with a blurred vision and turned to face her, seeing her with the same teary eyes he had. He reached his hand to touch hers, taking it off his shoulder and holding it tightly, lacing their fingers together. "Ji Hyo-ah~ Thank you... For being the sunshine in my life," He sighed.

"Your Majesty..." She said softly, touched by his words. 

The king suddenly remembered something and unlaced their fingers, burying his hand in his pocket in search of something. "Here.." He said, pulling out the gift he had planned to give her many years ago. "Remember when we went for our first inspection together.. You and Maeri went looking around and you liked this Jade bracelet? I overheard and bought it after you left... I have been meaning to give it to you so I thought now would be a good time." He explained, feeling himself blush in shyness. He held out the same jade bracelet that was sold in the shops many years ago. 

"Your Majesty... " Ji Hyo said looking at the bracelet and him in disbelief. He smiled at her and held out her small hand, slipping on the bracelet that fit perfectly on her wrist. 

"It suits you..." He said leaning back to look at her fully. 

"Thank you so much, Your Majesty." She said bowing her head, lifting her wrist to her eyes and looking at the braceelt witha  bright smile, touched by the gift. 

"Also one more thing." Jong Kook said in a serious tone, making her turn her head to look at him.

Without letting her respond, he leant in quickly, feeling her breathing htich as he neared. Closing his eyes, he landed his lips against hers, taking her soft lips into his. He felt her tense up but with one hand, he moved it up to cup her cheek, pressing his lips against hers for even longer. Her muscles relaxed and he felt her arm snake around him neck, pulling him close as well. 

After long minutes they broke apart, opening their eyes ever so slowly to look at each other. No words were needed as they stared into each others eyes. It was Jong Kook who first pulled away, sitting back properly, feeling the sense of her lips tingling on his. Ji Hyo also sat back, feeling her cheeks turn hot and red. The King cleared his throat, mentally high fiving himself for being so smooth with the kiss but his genius brain didnt think about the aftermath.

With that, they sat quietly together, letting the time past as they both revaluated their lust for each other.

OMG I ACTUALLY DID A CHAPTER!!! Haha I didnt plan on writing one but I did!! Woohooo!! And it is long!! *high fives self* Hope you enjoyed the chapt. Due to reader's requests, this chapt was solely on Spartace and let them have a cute moment together before some hoe comes along to be married to Jong Kook. I may not write a chapter tomorrow because I will be busy going out with siblings but who knows! Also... I KNOW THIS WHOLE STORY IS LIKE DONG YI.  dun hate me pls, my brain isnt too creative so I may have picked up some cute little moments from the drama but other than the cute moments, the plot would not be similar. 

Next Chapter: The Wedding. (Lol i said in the previous chapt that this chapter was supposed to be the wedding but guess not :P)