Come to think of their first conversation, Seokjin always had an ambivalent feeling. At that time, it felt natural but as years went by, it became a constant subject of their heart-to-heart talks and a reason why they suddenly started smiling, no matter where they went or what situation they were in. Being the Pride himself, he didn’t feel anything, only numbness. The smile that dared to creep onto his face was chemical; it was a mere trace of his usual smile.

It was the day of Myungeun’s arrival. She was sitting on the green grass, in the middle of their breath-taking garden, almost right beside the lake. The weather was lovely – the sun placed searing kisses on their pale skin, slowly caressing the fragility of their human bodies. Sometimes he wished he could still have a chance to feel the sunshine on his cracked skin or to feel the touch of her hand just one more time.

Nevertheless, he knew that it would only make things worse. She would make him feel even more miserable and cause more pain that she had already done.

First of all, little Seokjin only watched her from afar; watched as the wind played with the childish curls of her hair or as the butterflies were flying above her head, creating an invisible halo. Only after a few seconds when he had already made sure that they were alone did he actually approach her, clearing his throat as he came to a halt beside her.

Myungeun looked up from her book and averted her eyes to the boy. She was apparently taken aback by his sudden visit or his mere presence. He didn’t really know, after all it was their first proper encounter after the arranged marriage deal between their parents. Since they were still minors, they weren’t there when they came up with the conditions.

“May I sit beside you, Her Royal Highness, Princess of Hubaekje?” he bowed in respect, calling her by her proper name. He was once beaten because he couldn’t address a princess in the right way, so he made sure that he didn’t make any mistakes this time.

“It would be an honour, Your Highness,” she bobbed her head in response, closing the book in her hand. After her invitation, he hopped down beside her, stretching his hand out to touch the slightly wet grass which was watered by a sudden downpour earlier that day.

Myungeun smiled coyly, her adorable big doe eyes shining with both fondness and affection. She was quite flustered because it was her first time meeting a prince in person (and not his own brothers), not during a ball or a birthday celebration. Not to mention that she was perfectly aware of the fact that the boy who was sitting beside him, looking oh so harmless would be his husband one day. Even though she was only 12 years old, she knew that she sacrificed her safety, free-will and even her happiness for that marriage. She didn’t have a choice though, she had to do it for her kingdom. She was a princess, that was her duty.

“You have a really pretty dress,” he complimented, examining her from head to toe in that typical childish manner which was anything but rude. He looked at the world like he could still find something new, something magnificent and he could wander for long minutes without saying anything, without moving around. That was what infan