Another update from me! Happy Holidays everyone and please leave comments as presents for me :)

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So took a moment to look at her after she revealed her secret, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration.

 

“You…are from the future?”

“Yes,” Soo said nodding slowly, still trying to gage So’s reaction.

“How far in the future?”

“Over 1000 years.”

 

So took a moment for that to sink in before nodding his head.

 

“So that explains your forward character when we first met. And your unfamiliar language, in addition to the strange amount of facts you would tell me here and there, especially about astronomy.”

“Wait, that doesn’t surprise you? That doesn’t make you think I’m going mad?”

 

He shook his head, smiling softly at her.

 

“Why would you lie to me? It would not give you any benefit from doing so.”

“So you just…believe me? That I’m from the future?”

“Everyone said you had changed after your accident…was that when it happened?”

 

Soo nodded again, still waiting to see if So would suddenly break out into hysterical laughter, before demanding she stop joking and tell him the real secret.

 

“Wait, so those words you were writing, it wasn’t really your made up language, was it? It’s a language from the future?”

“It is…it was invented by a king who will rule 500 years from now.”

“What was his name?”

“Se Jong.”

“Was he a good and wise king?”

“I believe he was. I don’t remember much of my history.”

“I will not ask anymore.”

 

Soo was surprised that he would stop at that. If it were her, she would be filled to the brim with questions. So looked at her and reached up to her cheek reassuringly.

 

“It must have been quite a burden, knowing all of this and having to live in the past.”

“I am most afraid of changing history. I don’t know what the consequences of doing so would be.”

“Is this why you rejected marrying me in the first place? It always seemed as if you knew something I didn’t, and kept pushing me away, telling me it was better if I forgot about you.”

“It was, but I decided that since I would be living here, I would follow my heart and make myself happy. Surely whatever deities who sent me here would allow me that.”

“I am glad they sent you to me. I don’t know where I would be or what I would be doing now if you weren’t here.”

 

So reached into his robes to pull out something.

 

“I was going to surprise you with this, but considering your background, I think you’ll already know what it is.”

 

He opened his hand to reveal two rings, one made with a simple band of gold, and a smaller one with a small but sparkling diamond on it. Soo gasped and touched the rings with her fingers.

 

“How did you get these rings?”

“Some merchant brought them from the west and sold them to the jeweler at the market. He had them for quite some time and no one from around here was interested. When I saw them, I couldn’t help but think you would like them.”

 

On her wedding day, Soo had thought of how it would have been if she had married in modern day, with a white dress and a matching ring with her husband. However, after she arrived in Goryeo, she knew that wouldn’t be possible anymore. Of course, she didn’t care too much about it, because the main thing was the person she was getting married to, not what she was wearing. However, with So’s present in front of her, she felt a little relieved that she could keep a bit of her modern world with her, right on her finger.

 

“Think of it as a belated wedding gift, and the second part of your birthday present.”

“Where I’m from, when a couple marries, they wear matching rings to signify the marriage, and to show they will be dedicated to each other for the rest of their lives.”

“I suppose it was a good move to get these then. I hope you like them.”

“I love them,” she said a bit tearfully. She couldn’t help it, tonight had been perfect.

“Ya, why are you crying? Did I do something wrong?”

 

Soo shook her head, still unable to control the tears that came down her face. So smiled and reached up to wipe away her tears.

 

“I’m just very happy, that’s all. They’re happy tears.”

“Soo ya, you have to stop crying. I can’t put this ring on you if you don’t.”

 

Soo chuckled breathlessly, before reaching up to wipe away the remainder of her tears. After doing so, she reached for the bigger of rings and reached for So’s left hand, sliding it onto his ring finger.

 

“We wear it on this finger, because according to the Romans, there is a vein in this finger that leads to heart.”

 

So reached for her hand and slipped on the matching ring, before holding the hand up and placing a kiss on her knuckles.

 

“I will never let you go, Soo ya. You are my one and only.”

“I won’t let you go either. You’re stuck with me now!”

 

So chuckled as he pulled her to his side, as they looked up into the night sky to see the sparkling stars overhead.

 

“Tell me more stories about the stars, Soo ya.”

“Hmm, let me think…ah! There was once a queen named Cassiopeia, who ruled over Ethiopia. Queen Cassiopeia bragged that her daughter was more beautiful than a sea fairy. As a result, she got punished by the sea gods.”

 

Soo pointed to a certain area in the sky, and So looked in the direction she had pointed.

 

“See that over there? Doesn’t it look like an upside down chair? You should not be vain. They say the sea gods punish her during the night by hanging her upside down in the sky.”

 

Soo dropped her hand and looked at the constellation a bit more, before she realized that So was no longer looking at the sky, but staring at her instead. When she turned her head to look at him, he blinked and turned his head away, embarrassed he had been caught staring.

 

“So ya?”

 

He cleared his throat, before looking back at her and smiling sheepishly.

 

“You just looked really pretty, telling me that story. It’s like you change when you’re talking about something you’re interested in.”

 

Soo blushed at his compliment. How was it that he could still make her feel this way? She must really love him then. He had grown quiet during her contemplation, but spoke again when he felt her eyes on him.

 

“Long ago, when I was much younger, I had gone to see my mother after a very long time. She had Jung in her lap and was telling him stories. I wished to myself that Jung would disappear; I wanted that seat to be mine. Mother saw that expression on my face and quickly hid Jung.”

 

Soo wondered why he was reminded of that memory. Perhaps it was because her story was about a mother bragging about her child. So must have never had that. He grew up only with the scorn of his mother, and nothing else, much less any compliments.

 

“Eyy, that’s nothing! People who have younger siblings all say that. I was that way too. ‘I wish my younger sibling would go away. Why does that person have to be around and upset me?’”

 

He let out a wry chuckle.

 

“Still, perhaps she already knew I would be a person who’d kill my own brother.”

“So ya, don’t you dare think that way! It wasn’t your fault Yo died. You were only defending yourself from him. He was the one who tried to kill you, not the other way around. I don’t even want to think about what could have happened if you hesitated to defend yourself.”

 

So let out another chuckle, but this one seemed a lot happier and lighter than his first one.

 

“Whenever I talk to you, it feels as if my problems become lighter.”

“Isn’t that what I’m here for? You can tell me anything, and it’s my job as your wife to make you feel better!”

 

He pulled her in for a hug, and she returned the embrace.

 

“Thank you, Soo ya.”

“What for?”

“For marrying me.”

 

Soo tightened her arms around his waist, taking in his warmth.

 

“I should be the one saying that to you.”

 

His only response was to pull her in closer, tightening his arms around her.

 

The next day was Soo and So’s day off from royal duties, as granted by the King. For the first time, the both of them slept in, and once they were awake, they stayed in bed a little longer to talk about this and that, whispering sweet nothings to each other, and exchanging kisses.

 

Eventually, they both rolled out of bed and got ready for the day. So had asked Soo what she wanted to do on their day off, and she answered with the same question, before explaining futher.

 

“So ya, you’ve been stuck in the throne room day in and day out. At least I’ve been able to move around the palace. I think we should do what you want first. It’s your day off as much as it is mine, even if the King did grant it for my birthday.”

 

He continued to contemplate while she dabbed some finishing touches to his face. When she had turned away to clean the brush, he finally spoke.

 

“Let’s take my rowing boat out on the lake.”

“The one I found you on after the first rain ritual?”

 

 

He nodded as she finished putting away their make-up, and stood up. They both left their quarters and stopped by the royal kitchens for a packed breakfast before heading out to the lake. The last time they had been here, the drought was still going on and the boat was stuck in mud. Now, it bobbed gently upon the water, back and forth with the gentle breeze. So helped Soo step onto the boat, and Soo had to admit she was a bit afraid of the water. She had never been rowing before, but after drowning and waking up here, she had grown to be afraid of the water. Splashing on the shores of the beach was one thing, but being out on the water on a questionable wooden boat was another thing.

 

Once they were out on the water, So must have noticed how tightly she was gripping the sides of the boat, and playfully rocked the boat. Soo gasped and held on for dear life, glaring at him. He let out a hearty laugh after seeing her expression, and Soo couldn’t stay mad at him for long. Slowly, she relaxed after seeing how well he was able to control the boat.

 

“Can’t you go any faster? I want to feel the breeze as if I’m in a boat.”

“I thought you were afraid of going fast on the water. Do you want to row now?” He challenged her, raising an eyebrow.

 

She smiled cheekily at him, shaking her head and he grinned in response.

 

“I was always curious. Is this boat yours, So ya?”

 

He nodded affirmatively as he continued to row to the middle of the lake.

 

“I brought it to the palace when I was younger and first arrived. I wouldn’t have to care about what others thought of me if I came out on the boat.”

 

He stopped rowing as they reached the middle of the lake, and he set the oars down, looking around the boat.

 

“This boat is my favorite thing in the palace. At least, it was my favorite anyway.”

 

He looked at her meaningfully and she blushed.

 

“That’s strange though. If it was your favorite, why have I never seen you out on it?”

“Because I liked it too much. If I kept riding it, I was afraid I might not want to leave the palace. I didn’t take it out on purpose. Of course, now that you’re here, I don’t have to leave the palace.”

 

She stayed silent and looked at him as he observed the scenery. When he noticed that she hadn’t said anything and was instead looking at him, he grew curious.

 

“Why are you staring at me?”

“I was thinking about what it must feel like to turn away from something you like. I was also thinking what a relief it is that you don’t have to do that anymore.”

“Of course. I have my two favorite things with me, what more could I want?”

 

He smiled at her and she returned the gesture.

 

Soo was suddenly reminded of So’s confession last night, when he told her the day he first liked her. How long had she made him wait, and how hard it must have been for him to leave her behind for an entire year, while he traveled, not knowing what she was doing or whether not she was happy? He had been turning away from things or people he liked his entire life, ever since he was a child. Soo couldn’t help but be relieved that he didn’t have to do that anymore, and vowed to stay by his side to support him as much as she could.

 

After they finished their breakfast on the tranquil lake, So rowed them back to the shore, and the two of them headed out to the market. Soo missed walking amongst the people, without any care of keeping pretenses. Out here, she was just another lady, taking a stroll with her husband.

 

That was what she thought anyway, but she didn’t realize how many people knew about the arrival of the 4^th prince and his wife to visit the village market. Gossip was all around, but Soo and So were too absorbed in each other to notice. Everyone noticed how much love shined in the 4^th prince’s eyes as he looked at his beautiful wife, and they could see the same amount of love in the eyes of his wife for him.

 

No one knew much about the 4^th prince’s wife, other than that she was a distant relative of the 8^th prince’s late wife, and somehow she became acquainted with the 4^th prince. Everyone knew about the 4^th prince of course, and how he was before he met his wife. A few people remembered the day he had sped through the roads of the market, and rescued his future wife from falling into the river, but then shoved her off his horse like a sack of potatoes. They didn’t know what changed between the two royals, but something must have happened for them to be so in love with each other.

 

They were particularly amused to see his wife running here and there, looking at the different wares offered by various merchants. Although his wife was quite excited to be in the market, the 4^th prince kept his calm and followed her, nodding to her words and answering her questions with a low voice. Sometimes after she bought something, he would reach over to carry the parcel before she could, and refused to let her hold anything. Each time she protested, he would murmur something quietly and the frown disappeared from her face, replaced with a grin.

 

For the people who had the chance to interact with the royal couple, they realized how much being married had changed the 4^th prince, and they were no longer afraid of looking in his eyes or speaking to him. His wife was even more amiable, and the merchants or shopkeepers were treated as equals by the royal couple. They would share later that the couple were just as generous as they were in love, and found that they refused to accept any change after paying for their purchases, instead telling the men or women to save it for their families.

 

As the couple finished their rounds about the market, and left towards the palace again, they didn’t noticed the number of people pointing and smiling at them, glad to see that at least two members of the royal family were down-to-earth and not at all pretentious as rumors said.

 

After a day well spent, Soo was refreshed and ready to return back to her duties. The next day, after getting ready and bidding So a good day (not without a kiss), she made her way to Damiwon. As she entered her room, she was surprised to see Arang and Eun Bi already there waiting for her. Both stiffened as she entered and gave her a bow to greet her.

 

“Good morning, your highness,” they both chorused.

 

Soo didn’t notice their nervousness and smiled, nodding at their greetings. She took a seat before opening her record books.

 

“Good morning! I see that you two are here early. I suppose you want to report to me yesterday’s happenings, since I was gone.”

 

She saw the look they both exchanged, and the way they stood rigidly. Sensing something was wrong, her smile faltered.

 

“Something is wrong.”

“Yes, your highness. We were wondering how we would tell you,” Arang said softly as she clutched at her skirts nervously.

“What happened?” Soo asked directly.

 

Arang looked over at Eun Bi, who steeled herself before answering Soo’s question.

 

“We believe the King has been poisoned.”