***

Please read my note below 🥺

**

Taejong Hall. Two months later.

Seungwan was ing her shirt when she heard hurried steps from the outside. Joohyun went to classic cleaner this morning and she told her that she would be back around dinner time, which is about time now.

A moment later, Joohyun opened their bedroom door and excitedly said, “Youngwoo’s first baby tooth has grown!”

“Huh?” Seungwan paused on her last button. “You just came back from Sunmyeong hall?”

Her wife nodded enthusiastically. “I missed baby Youngwoo so I went there first.”

“Ah I see, now I’m second in your heart, huh?” Seungwan pouted sadly as she picked a simple blue t-shirt and wore it.

“Oh, please.” The queen consort rolled her eyes. “Like you haven’t been fighting me to get her to mumble your name first!”

The royal queen raised her brows winningly. “Yeah, and she said ‘Wan’ first.”

“Are you kidding me? She said ‘Yun’ first!” Joohyun blurted with fire in her eyes. “Sunhwa unnie can testify for me.”

“Alright, alright. You win.” Seungwan raised her hands defeatedly.

Unlike her wife, she was just having fun. Seeing a fierce and competitive Joohyun is her stress reliever so sometimes she deliberately poke fun with the latter but her wife did not have to know that, and when Joohyun finally takes the win, it’s priceless, her radiant eyes will light up with happiness. Another thing that Seungwan cherished in her heart because it means that the latter was happy with her life. Once in a while, Seungwan worries over her wife, whether the latter is coping well with her new role or not. But it seems like she has nothing to worry about now.

“I always win if you play fair!” Joohyun exclaimed before gathering Seungwan’s dirty clothes to put them in the laundry basket beside the door. She never let anyone do Seungwan’s laundry after both of them were clear with their feelings toward each other. She’s territorial and dutiful to her partner, and it’s shown even in the small things like doing laundry and ironing her partner’s clothes. Seungwan knew that her wife likes to do those kinds of stuff so she let her even though there is an army of maids who are ready to help them.

“Correction, you always win if I let you to.”

“Who are you fooling, Baby?” Joohyun asked while binding her hair into a messy bun.

After a long time of staying together, the queen consort finally let a term of endearment leave her lips once in a while. She is not the biggest fan of calling each other that way as she prefers to call her wife’s name instead. It feels more intimate for her. So when Seungwan heard it for the first time a few weeks ago, the royal queen felt her heart soar.

“Myself. Let me feel a little taste of happiness, will you?”

Joohyun chuckled in her rolled wrinkled sleeves and pencil skirt. Barefooted in their room, she looks so approachable and lovely in Seungwan’s eyes.

“Fine.”

“Come here, wifey. Pat me on my head for being a good leader today.”

“Aren’t you a little too spoiled these days?” Joohyun muttered softly. “There, there, you did a good job today too.” She patted her wife’s head a few times before letting her palms rest on her wife’s back for a warm hug.

Needless to say, it’s Joohyun’s favorite time of the day.

**

The queen consort was playing with her wife’s silky hair when she suddenly halted and asked, “Want to have a baby?”

Caught off guard, Seungwan looked at her wife with questions swirling in her brown eyes. “What?”

“I think I'm ready to be a mother. Let’s try for a baby!”

The royal queen was too stunned to speak. They have talked to Dr. Moon twice now and so far they were convinced with the IVG method but still, they haven’t decided when they want to try it. She thought her wife would want to wait for another one or two more years.

“Seungwan, let’s have a baby now,” Joohyun repeated eagerly as she looked back at her wife. Her eyes lit up once again with excitement.

“Wait, wait.”

After regaining her senses back, she leads her wife to sit on the bed. One cannot randomly say wanting to have a baby without proper and thorough thinking.

“Suddenly?”

“It’s not a sudden decision.” Joohyun elaborated as if she could read the royal queen’s mind. “I've been thinking for the past weeks and I can say now that I’m ready.”

Seungwan tried to read her wife. “You sure?”

“Very sure. With you beside me, I’m always sure with everything.” Joohyun explained further, “Besides, I’m good at taking care of Youngwoo. Sunhwa unnie told me that if one day I decide to raise my own child, I’ll be fine.”

Then, the queen consort realized something. She has been talking about her own interest to have a baby, but how about Seungwan’s feelings?

“Do you feel it too sudden? Are … are you not ready yet? Sorry, I get a little too excited for no reason. Let’s have a proper talk about this after dinn … ”

“No. I was just surprised. I thought you would want to wait for another year.” Seungwan smiled. “I’m ready as much as you are. I just don’t want you to feel burdened with what the others are saying. If you’re ready then let’s do this together, okay?”

Joohyun immediately threw herself into Seungwan’s arms, startling the latter.

“Oofh! Careful, Jagi.”

“Thank you for always thinking of me first before anything.” Seungwan heard her wife mumble softly against her clothes.

“Of course. You always come first to me.” The royal queen sighed happily and added, “I'll make an appointment with Dr. Moon for tomorrow. We’ll see when we can start the procedure.”

**

Dr. Moon greeted the royal couple in her office with a smile. The doctor was a mid-age woman with friendly eyes and smiles.

“Jungjeon-mama told me over the phone that you want to try the procedure, Wangbi.”

Joohyun nodded as she smiled back happily. “I’ve been thinking for the past few weeks since our last session and I think I have no reason anymore to delay it. My wife and I are ready to embrace a new journey as a parent.”

“That’s really great to hear! It should be the two of you who decide because the process could be exhausting mentally and physically. While the successful percentage is quite high, almost 85%, there are still a few things that hinder the process and so new parents may have to retake the process from the start. It can be frustrating at times so it’s important to start it with a good mind.”

Dr. Moon continued, “As I explained previously, we’ll have 4 stages in IVG. Pre-procedure examination, treatment if needed based on the examination result, main procedure, and then pregnancy care until baby delivery. The first 3 processes will take around three months to finish if there’s no further treatment needed but if there’s any, it can take longer than that, even a year or more.”

“I have a few patients who give up in the mid of the process because they can’t take too many failed attempts. I understand their decision and there are other ways to conceive a child other than IVG. Whichever way, I hope the best for them. I’m telling you this not to discourage you to take the process, I just want you to know what is waiting ahead of you, that’s why I always remind new parents to start the journey with a good mind and spirit.”

“We understand, Dr. Moon. We’re glad that you’re the one who will lead the process,” Seungwan said gratefully before grasping her queen consort’s hand when she felt the latter start to feel a bit nervous. Running her thumb up and down against the latter’s palm to calm her wife, she added, “Please take care of us.”

“I will give my all and hopefully I will only deliver great news to you.” Dr. Moon regarded the two royals again, “So, who will carry the baby?”

Seungwan smiled.”We have decided that my wife will carry the baby.”

“Then we’ll use Wangbi’s ovum and modify Mama’s blood cell to create . The fertilization process will be done in the lab and when the embryo is successfully created, we’ll return them to Wangbi’s womb so they can grow and develop.”

Dr. Moon looked at Joohyun gently, “When is the best time for you to start the pre-procedure, Wangbi?”

“Next month,” Joohyun answered gleefully and her eyes formed into lovely crescents. Seungwan who sat beside her couldn’t help but feels so moved. Her wife wanted this as much as her. Silently, she thanked the heavens and the stars for blessing her life with so much love.

“My schedule is free on the 23rd of April.” Dr. Moon smiled as she checked her calendar. “We’ll carry out the pre-procedure examination by then.”

**

The process is proven exhausting and nerve-wracking for both the royals. During the pre-procedure examination, it was found that Joohyun’s ovum was small in size (immature ovum) compared to the normal ovum due to her low FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) so the queen consort had to undergo intensive treatment for 3 months by injecting a certain amount of Gonadotropins to stimulate her ovaries. Dr. Moon told her that an immature ovum is not capable of fertilization by . FSH ensures the maturation of the ovum in the ovaries.

When Joohyun finally passed the 2nd pre-examination, they proceeded to create from Seungwan’s blood cells. Another problem aroused, the process failed two times so Seungwan also had to undergo therapy to fix her blood cell problem for another 3 months.

On the 3rd attempt, finally, they successfully created healthy and were ready to fertilize the ovum. Note: both and ovum should be healthy and under certain conditions to ensure successful fertilization).

After delivering the good news, Dr. Moon told the two future parents to wait for the result of the laboratory fertilization process. This process turned out to be another challenge, out of the 3 selected ovum only one was successfully fertilized but it didn’t develop well so they have to start the process again from the start and do an examination of the root cause of the problem.

Joohyun held the result in her hand as her head buried in Seungwan’s shoulder. A low sigh was heard so Seungwan immediately soothed her wife’s back even though she felt disappointed as well.

“It’s okay. We’ll keep trying.”

Joohyun nodded slowly, she couldn't help but feel her spirit deflated a bit by the bad news.

“How about having a hot pot for dinner? I know a place.” Seungwan wanted to cheer up her wife. She knew how Joohyun waited anxiously for the result before. The latter couldn't even eat well.

“I want Malatang.” The queen consort wanted to eat her sorrow away tonight.

“Alright. Malatang it is.”

**

Note: Malatang is named after its key ingredient, mala sauce, which is flavored with a combination of Sichuan pepper and dried chili pepper. The word málà is composed of the Chinese characters for "numbing" (麻) and "spicy hot" (辣), referring to the feeling in the mouth after eating the sauce.

**

Three months later. Another disappointing result came.

Seungwan didn’t have time to react to the result as her attention was focused on her wife who broke down beside her on the cold hospital couch.

Helping her wife to wipe the tears away, she said, “I know this is not what we hoped for but we should trust the process and keep trying, one day we’ll have the big news.”

“But we’ve been trying for almost a year now!” Joohyun said in between her sobs. “It feels like the heaven against us. What’s wrong with us?”

“There’s nothing wrong with us. Maybe it’s not our time yet. After all, even a hetero couple has difficulty conceiving a baby. It’s not as easy as it seems so we have to be patient.” Seungwan then glanced at Seulgi who accompanied the couple.

“Seul, can you go and buy a cup of warm tea for Wangbi?”

“Yes, Mama.” Seulgi quietly walked out of the laboratory’s waiting room, leaving the two royals alone. The young chief was also feeling miserable inside. She never thought that the process would be this difficult.

**

A moment of silence engulfed the two royals after Seungwan pulled Joohyun into a comforting hug.

“Jagi, I don’t want you to stress yourself. How about taking a break? We’ll try again once you’re ready.”

Joohyun’s grip on Seungwan’s hem tightened. She really didn’t want to stop until she get what she wants, but she can’t deny that all these failed attempts taking a toll on her. Mentally and physically.

Without the latter saying anything, Seungwan understands what her wife wants, more than anyone else, so she tightened her hug and said, “How about we try it one more time? If the result is still the same, we’ll take a break for a while, okay? I want to bring you for a vacation, you can choose anywhere.” She tried to coax her wife. “We never had a proper honeymoon before so I want to give you one.”

Joohyun nodded slowly but her tears still flowed due to her disappointment and Seungwan could only listen and be there for her wife.

**

Another three months later.

A cry startled Seungwan from her slumber. She looked at the clock, it was 3.45 AM. Turning on the bedside lamp, she found her wife crying while clutching her phone.

“Joohyun, what … “ Seungwan propped her hands on the bed to help her sit. The comforter pooled on her waist and she looked a little lost with her messy bed hair. Before she could say anything more, Joohyun tackled her down.

“Wh-what happened? Did you get a nightmare??”

“Did you know what date is today?”

“August 31st ...”

“The result is out today!” Joohyun was still tearing up while hugging her.

A wave of realization hit the royal queen. Right, the IVG result. But looking at her wife's state, it must be failed again, that’s why her wife was crying beside her.

Brushing her sleepiness away, she asked, “Does Caribbean sounds good? I can take a week's leave next month.”

“Why would we go to the Caribbean?” Came a muffled reply from Joohyun. “We have to visit Dr. Moon’s practice soon.”

“Oh, we can just ask her to send the result. We don’t have to go to the hospital to take-”

Joohyun lifted her head and stared at Seungwan’s eyes. “Dr. Moon will return the embryo into my womb next week, I don’t have time for a vacation.”

“E-embryo? Then …”

Joohyun nodded while bursting into tears again. “Our baby! The result is 100% success this time!” she showed the result on her phone.

A blaring ‘100% positive’ was written there.

Seungwan eyes instantly blurred with tears and she cried even harder than her wife, startling the latter.

“Uh, Seungwan … “

“Baby, our baby,“ the royal queen sobbed harder that her wife didn’t have the will to cry anymore as she was busy calming down the former.

After so many failed attempts, finally, their effort paid off today.

**

The Royal Institute. Main office.

Seungwan stamped a few documents before handing them back to her secretary with a smile. She felt high-spirited today while thinking about what to bring home later after her work. It’s been a month and a half since her visit to Dr. Moon with Joohyun. The embryo, their baby, is growing in her wife’s womb and she has been diligently taking notes on how to assist a pregnant wife.

Nobody has known about the big news yet and with her wife's approval, she’s thinking to ask the secretary department to prepare for a royal announcement today.

Pulling the phone handle with one hand, she pushed the dial and called the secretary's office by herself. Completely ignoring the fact that she can just send a text to the young chief.

[ Good morning. The Royal Public Relations and Secretary Office. May I help you? ]

“Good morning. Can you connect me with Chief Kim Taeyeon? Is she in her office?”

[ May I know who Am I speaking with? ]

“Oh my bad. It’s Son Seungwan.”

[ Ms. Son … *gasps* YOUR MAJESTY QUEEN SEUNGWAN?! ]

Seungwan pushed aside the phone handle for a moment. Maybe it's not a good thing to call the sub-office by herself. Should've asked her secretary to connect her with Taeyeon.

“Yes, that Seungwan *chuckles* Can you connect me to her?” The royal queen asked again in a much lighter voice. Not wanting to further give the poor receptionist a heart attack.

[ A-apologize for my ignorance. Please wait a moment, Your Majesty. ]

A fumble and nervous sigh were heard before her call is transferred.

[ Your Majesty. Kim Taeyeon speaking. ] Taeyeon’s pleasant voice was heard through the phone. She should be a singer instead of an official.

“Taeyeon, I want to tell you something. This is very important and I want you to prepare a royal announcement today.”

[ H-huh announcement? Please wait. I’ll prepare a paper and a pen- ]

“No need. Just listen.”

[ Yes. Yes, Your Majesty. ]

“After preparing the announcement, come with me to the charity event in Jeonju.”

[ Yes? If I’m not mistaken, Queen Consort Joohyun will accompany you to today’s event. ]

“About that, my wife is 6 weeks pregnant today. I want you to clear all of her out-of-city schedules.”

[ *clang* ]

“Taeyeon?”

[ I apologize, I dropped my pen on the floor. S-six weeks pregnant? Your Majesty! You should have let me known earlier… ] Taeyeon cried in her office. She could adjust the queen consort’s schedules way earlier if she was told. Looking at the latter’s schedules, it was packed until the end of the month. It gave her slight stress but she would do what was needed. Queen consort’s and the baby’s health should be everyone’s top priority now!

[ I will clear her schedule now! And prepare for the royal announcement and … and congratulations, Your Majesty! ]

“Thank you, Taeyeon. I heard from Dr. Moon that you’re trying for a second child?”

[ Oh? Yes, but we’re still in the pre-examination stage right now. ]

“Well, I hope everything will be going smoothly for you and your wife.

[ T-thank you, Your Majesty. ] A little sniff could be heard from the other side of the phone.

“Wait … Are you crying?”

[ Yes. Yes! I’m so happy to hear the big news. I’m certain that the public would cry along with me! ]

Seungwan laughed. “Alright. Not gonna hold you from your job and uh, your crying session. Meet me at the parking lot by 3 PM later.”

[ I understand, Your Majesty. ]

**

The news was out right before Seungwan and Taeyeon’s departure to Jeonju. Right now, the royal queen is dealing with so many congratulatory calls and texts. Including a series of complaints from Seulgi because once again, she knew the big news from the news portal.

Taeyeon was also busy handling some requests from the ministers and other important figures. They wanted to send congratulatory flowers to The Palace.

In short, both of them are glued to their phone, along the way to Jeonju.

**

Classic Cleaner.

Meanwhile, Joohyun who was sitting in her office got startled by Joy who barged in with Jaemin behind her.

“You’re pregnant?!!” the young woman exclaimed in disbelief.

“Oh, the news is out?” Joohyun asked back after calming herself.

Joy put her hands on Joohyun’s table. “Oh my God, why didn’t you tell me? I wouldn’t ask your help to review our financial statements! Just let it be, take a rest now, do you want me to pull the sleeping bag for you??”

“Joy, I’m just pregnant, not sick.” Joohyun rolled her eyes over her friend's extra treatment. “I can do the review.”

“No, no, you can take a maternity leave now!”

“Joy, calm down … I’m not even nearing my due. I’ll take leave 3 months before my due, okay?” Joohyun huffed then she looked at her guard. “Did you buy me some oranges, Jaemin?”

“Oranges?! Do you feel nauseous?”

After receiving the fruit from Jaemin, she said, “No. I'm just craving. You want some?”

Joy shook her head, still in a shocking state as she saw the queen consort peeling an orange eagerly.

Meanwhile, Jaemin straightened his back. “Your Majesty, from now on you have to let me know if you have any discomfort,” he told the queen consort. “I will also drive carefully.”

“Yes, don't worry.” Joohyun smiled happily before enjoying the fruit.

Hmm, sweet and sour. Just the way I want it.

..

..

Four oranges later.

“Won’t your stomach get upset with all those oranges?” Joy asked with concern in her eyes. “Maybe I should ask my mom. You know she was a nurse.”

“I’m done. I’m done.” Joohyun her lips before fishing out her phone and dialing her speed dial number.

Two rings later. The call was connected.

“Seungwan, what time you’ll be home?” Joohyun asked with a cheery voice before a frown etched on her forehead. “You’ll be late? No dinner with me tonight?”

“Hmph. Okay. I’ll be having dinner with Joy then. Take care and ask Taeil to drive safely.”

Joohyun disconnected her call and then crossed her hands. She was a bit disappointed that Seungwan would be missing another dinner at home. Tonight remarked as the fourth time in a week, but she tried to understand her wife’s schedule.

Sighing, she asked her friend, “Want to eat malatang?”

Joy widened her eyes. “No! You just ate those oranges, there’s no way I’ll let you eat malatang! I’ll order galbitang for us.”

“Joy, I want malatang!” Joohyun cried but the other woman already went out.

**

They end up having dinner with Seulgi and Jaemin at the classic cleaner. Seulgi fired her complaints to Joohyun since she came and it was already half an hour now.

“I can’t believe that you two kept this big news from me!”

Joohyun picked up her chopsticks. “Blame it on me. I asked Seungwan to wait until I’m six weeks pregnant before telling everyone.”

“Why?”

“We had many failed attempts before so I want to make sure this time,” Joohyun replied quietly, remembering all those painful experiences.

Seulgi sighed. “I understand, Wangbi. I’m sorry, I was pressuring you with my complaints.”

“If you’re sorry, then buy me hotteok for dessert.”

“I’ll buy anything you want, Wangbi! Call me anytime,” Seulgi declared as she put a slice of beef on Joy’s plate who was busy filling Joohyun’s bowl with soup.

The two of them acted like Joohyun’s parents. Overly caring and very protective.

“Should we go to Jeonju after dinner to follow Mama?” Joohyun tried to voice what she wanted to do.

“No.” Seulgi scrutinized her eyes. “You’ve been cleared from out-of-city schedules, Wangbi. Just spend time with us here. You’ll see Jungjeon-mama soon at home.”

“Alright,” Joohyun answered dejectedly while picking a slice of meat.

Oh, she’s really craving malatang tonight.

**

Seungwan received a bouquet from Jeonju’s Governor and had her photos taken by the reporters who occasionally shout congratulatory words in between the shots.

“Make sure to eat warm food after this,” Seungwan shouted back.

After the launching event was done, Taeyeon walked to the royal queen’s side and whispered, “Your Majesty, if you’re gonna head back now, you’ll arrive at The Palace by 10 PM.”

Seungwan eyed Ms. Ahn who quickly flipped open her scheduler. “Your Majesty, after the ceremony is dinner banquet with the Governor.”

Seungwan sighed. “I can’t go back now. I rarely visit this city so I’ll join the banquet. Moreover, Governor Shin wants to give a congratulatory toast to me.”

“I understand. I’ll accompany you, Your Majesty.” Taeyeon straightened her body and showed the way inside. “This way.”

**

Gojong Hall.

Taejong Hall was still under construction so Seungwan and Joohyun have been staying in Gojong Hall for 3 weeks now.

Since Seungwan has an out-of-city schedule today, Joohyun asked Chaeyoung to accompany her until her wife is