After three weeks, the King had sent notice to Jongin that he was needed back at the palace for military matters and that meant that their honeymoon was cut a week short. Over that time she had grown very fond of Heiryung and the two of them were inseparable except for the few moments when Jongin demanded her attention like a stubborn child. When it was finally time for them to part, the beautiful princess that Jinhee had looked up to for so many years, shed a tear for her new sister that she wouldn't see for a long time.

 

They loaded up their carriage and the newly wed couple was back on their way to the main palace. It was surprising how on the way there they felt like two complete strangers who were forced into a box together and now they were close friends that had inside jokes with each other and laughed. When they told Jongin that they were close he had to focus on the letters he received about the growing trouble in the North. Jinhee asked him about it but he didn't want to talk about it because it was nothing that she could concern herself with and that he would take care of it all. Once they arrived back at the palace they were greeted by a huge group of servants who descended upon them like the plague. They weren't used to all of these people from their visit at Heiryung's home which had a much lower number of staff. Jinhee looked out as the two were escorted up the main stairs and she saw her mother with Suho's wife, clinging onto her for support. Even in just a few weeks the woman looked much more frail than before which was extremely worrying.

 

"Hey sis." A voice called out and Baekhyun walked up to Jinhee's side, giving his brother a cautious head nod. "How was the vacation?"

 

"Fine, thank you for asking." Jinhee hadn't had a lot of contact with the princes so she was still getting used to it.

 

"Have you had a proper tour of the palace? I know you got swept away right after the wedding and was wondering if you've seen everything." Baekhyun had a mischievous smile on his face and when he saw Jongin glaring at his he instantly forced it away.

 

"I haven't, not yet." Jinhee looked to Jongin who didn't look too happy but he nodded in approval. Baekhyun was shocked but didn't miss his chance. He grabbed his sister-in-laws wrist and happily dragged her off and Jongin wanted to call out after them but he figured that Jinhee had to learn that lesson for herself. Once they were around the corner and away from his sour-puss older brother, Baekhyun let go of her wrist and they casually walked around the palace.

 

"That was where Suho chased me as a kid and I fell and hurt my knee."

 

"This was my childhood bedroom."

 

"I learned to fight here."

 

Baekhyun pointed every spot out in the palace and related it to a memory of his with little to no mention of his brothers except for Suho who he said was the best sibling. "Don't tell Sehun that, he'll get jealous." Baekhyun chuckled and skipped around, glad that he had a new play mate.

 

"What was Jongin like as a child?" Jinhee's question caught the prince off guard and he hummed in response.

 

"I don't think he was ever a kid, I think he was born a depressing adult." Baekhyun scowled and then refused to answer anymore questions about Jongin. "Kyungsoo pushed my into the stream when I was bugging him the other week...good memories." He sighed merrily and looked off into the distance. It was odd how everyone else seemed to dread this place but Baekhyun loved every square inch of the palace grounds and the power he was given with none of the responsibility of Suho of Jongin.

 

"Did you know there is going to be a party tonight to celebrate your return?" He pointed out how the servants were scurrying around carrying large trays and pots everywhere and Jinhee was ashamed to admit that she hadn't noticed the hard work they were putting in. Baekhyun snapped his fingers and waved two young servant women over. "The princess needs to get ready for the party." Without another work Jinhee was swept away and they spent a few hours doing her hair up in lavish braids and hanging gold ornaments from them and her gown was large and unmanageable which had Jinhee begging for another but they insisted that it was appropriate for the party. As the sun was setting, Jinhee was escorted out of her room and brought out to the back courtyard where they had musicians and dancers performing.

 

The drums were so loud it felt like it was vibrating through her chest and brain and was making her a bit flustered as she looked around for a familiar face. There were many well dressed elderly people that were bowing to her and congratulating her on her marriage and she politely thanked them all while hiding her panic that there was no one there. She felt a hand rest on her lower back and she looked over and saw Jongin standing there with his usual cold expression. Once he was near by, suddenly no one wanted to talk to her about the wedding and what it must be like to be part of the royal family now. It was then that she realized that he did it to put a shield around himself as all of this worthless chatter was meant for nothing more than kissing up to them.