for asn3438

The King and I
~flow19~

“Wait up!”

“Your Highness!”

“Oh, come on, Soo! I’m sure you can run faster than that!”

“Your Highness!”

                Six year old Choi Sooyoung giggled, enjoying the rush that came with running as fast as her legs could carry her. She could feel the wind slamming against her, sending her chocolate brown hair and the edge of her gown flying around her as she ran. Out of all the places in any palace, she loved the gardens the most. She loved how everything around her was green and bright and alive. She loved the smell of flowers and the sight of butterflies and birds and as she ran down the hill after her playmate, she loved the feeling of freedom and openness it brought.

“Oppa, slow down!”

                Ten year old Lee Donghae slowed down as he reached a decades-old Oak tree, resting against its dark, study trunk as he caught his breath and watched as she ran towards him with two other much older ladies running after her. He laughed at the sight, catching Sooyoung as she skidded into a stop before she could smash face first into the tree.

Sooyoung pouted, playfully hitting him on the shoulder. “You are so mean.”

He straightened her up, helping her smooth down her unruly hair. “You should just run faster next time!”

“Your Highness!” It was his governess that reached them first, speaking in a mild scolding tone though her eyes reflected a lot of amusement and mirth. “You shouldn’t run off without warning, Your Highness. You could’ve gotten hurt.”

“Your Highness!” Sooyoung’s governess arrived next, fretting over the six year old’s unkempt appearance. “Your Highness, please remember how you’re expected to act as a princess.”

Her pout turned into a frown and Donghae couldn’t help but sigh, clearing his throat and waiting until the other governess had curtsied before he spoke. “It was my fault, not hers.”

“I apologize, Your Highness.”

“Come on, Soo.” Donghae held out a hand. “Let’s try to catch a butterfly.”

She gave him a toothy smile in replied, albeit the fact she lacked her two front teeth. “Okay.” Sooyoung leaned closer to him as they walked. “Thank you.”

He gave her a mock salute, which sent her into peals of laughter. “Your Donghae at your service.”

o-o-o-o-o

Sooyoung didn’t like being a princess.

It wasn’t that she was ungrateful for the life she had. It was just she wondered how life outside the palace walls could be like.

                As the second and youngest child, she was the second in line to the throne and third if and when her sister, Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess Soojin of Recoltare, would get married. Sooyoung couldn’t help but roll her eyes at that; her sister and the only child of the King and Queen of Parvata, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Jiho, were too conservative to hurry things up. It overwhelmed her when she thought about how her sister and the Crown Prince’s inevitable marriage would bring two of the biggest kingdoms together under one rule. It made sense, though, with the Kingdom of Recoltare being mostly composed of plains and the Kingdom of Parvata being largely mountainous. It was like bringing together the two parts that made up a whole.

Where did this leave her?

Second in everything, not just as the successor of the throne

                She never took it against anyone, especially her sister. She loved Soojin with everything she had. If her parents, the people in the court and the commoners of Recoltare saw her as the crown princess, Sooyoung saw her as her older sister, the only sibling she had. If any, sometimes she felt bad for her sister being crown princess. Sooyoung had relatively more freedom, less responsibilities, less expectations. It didn’t mean that she was completely out of the spotlight – not at all. She was still a member of the royal family. That, in itself, was a heavy weight on her shoulders.

A soft knock on the door of her chambers snapped her attention away from the fireplace. Her governess, the same one she loved to hate when she was young for being so strict but learned to love as she grew older, came in and curtsied; Sooyoung’s eyes falling on the white envelope she held in her hands.

“Your Highness.” The governess handed her the envelope. “This came for you today.”

                Sooyoung waited until the governess had left before she inspected the letter more closely. One look on the seal of the envelope had her squealing in excitement, knowing just whose family owns that seal. She had nearly ripped the letter in her haste to open the envelope and when she finally did open it, it revealed a white piece of paper. She knew the handwriting too well.

Dear My Sooyoung,

I’m sure your parents, the King and Queen, received the formal invitation from my parents by the time you read this. I just thought this would be a better way to let you know this way since, you know, it’s especially for you and you alone.

I’ll be turning twenty one soon and my parents want to throw this unnecessary (in my humble opinion) ball to celebrate. The point of the matter is…

Will you save me a dance? Or two? Or three?

I’m excited to see you, Sooyoung.

With much love and affection,
Your Donghae

                She giggled as she finished the letter, neatly folding it, putting it back into its envelope and hugging it close to her chest. He had always called her his Sooyoung and had always referred to himself as her Donghae ever since they were little. It was a secret they kept between themselves, knowing that other people wouldn’t find it appropriate, not especially since they were merely friends and he was the new crown prince of Nīru; Donghae’s older brother, Donghwa, having since formalized his decision to forfeit the throne in order to marry the commoner he had been in love with. Well, they were best friends, actually, but it wasn’t like it mattered to other people.

“I’ll see you soon, My Donghae.”

o-o-o-o-o

                The grand ballroom of the royal palace of Nīru looked like a sea of extravagantly dressed women, both well-mannered and arrogant men, the finest champagne, and polite yet at the same time excited chatter. Sooyoung heard the festivities before she saw them as she carefully came out of the car, standing dutifully behind her sister and her parents. In silence, they went up the palace steps and she took the time to smile and nod at everyone who bowed and curtsied at them as they went. She would’ve much preferred it if they didn’t bow and curtsy but as always, society thought differently.

“Your Majesties.” Crown Prince Jiho bowed before the king and queen as he approached, stopping to kiss Sooyoung’s hand before bestowing the same gesture to Soojin’s; his lips lingering much longer there.

“Where are your parents?” Queen Sohee asked in concern.

A sad smile crossed Jiho’s face. “My father is too sick to come, Your Majesty. My mother chose to stay behind with him.”

“Please send them our regards, Jiho,” King Jungnam smiled warmly before he turned towards his youngest daughter. “Sooyoung, go ahead.”

                Sooyoung curtsied before she walked over to and stood before the white double doors that led to the ballroom. She in a sharp breath, straightened her posture, and kept her head held up high and her arms comfortable at her sides. She never really enjoyed walking into a room full of people who would watch her every move with an announcement of her arriv