chapter soundtrack:
destiny - ong sung eun

❄️

It was only a few days away from the big day.

The royal wedding, which would be held by the end of January that year.

Though the preparations were all done in such a short period of time compared to the usual weddings some couples would prepare, Sooho and Youngro along with their teams had done an amazing job for their wedding. During the final week, they only had to make sure everything was all settled for the big day without having to prepare anything else. However, it still took a lot of times and energies to do that, even with the help of their assistants.

In between the final preparations, Sooho actually had a plan he didn't share to anyone. Even to Kangmoo, who was driving him personally to the place where he would meet the person in mind.

Once their car came to a halt, Kangmoo peeked out of the car window, looking up to the tall modern building in front of them. So, this was the place Sooho wanted to visit during the last days of preparation before the wedding?

"The hospital," Kangmoo turned his head towards the younger man who was seated next to him on passenger seat. "You want to meet your future father-in-law again, don't you?"

Sooho clicked the seat belt opened and subtly tidied his shirt to make sure there would be no wrinkles visible on the fabric. "That's right," he said while putting on his jacket with its hood covering his head. "It will be quick, I'll call you to pick me up when I'm done, Hyung."

"Take your time, Your Highness."

"Your Highness!" When one of the nurses that were on shift that night caught the Crown Prince coming to the VIP inpatient rooms, he immediately placed a finger on his mouth, asking the nurse to stay silent. "I apologize, Your Highness. We didn't expect your visit tonight. The doctor is currently leading another surgery—"

"It's alright, it's okay if dr. Chae isn't available. I want to meet Mr. Eun inside if it's allowed." He stated, asking for permission. When the nurse gave him the permission, she immediately escorted the Crown Prince to the VIP room where Eun Changsu was staying.

"He's awake, Your Highness," The nurse whispered before letting the Crown Prince came into the room.

The light inside the room was dim, and it was mostly quiet since the only sounds that could be heard was the beeping sounds from the medical monitoring machines attached to the old man's body.

"Based on the latest check with the doctor, Mr. Eun Changsu has gathered his consciousness even better this last few days. He has started to speak in longer sentences too. We also had an eye reflexes test earlier today and Mr. Eun had shown a rapid progress. We can say, the latest surgery was successful." She explained as Sooho walked into the room with her.

Sooho had visited Eun Changsu a couple of times before. That evening, he was glad to see his future father-in-law in a better condition compared to the first time he met him. The old man's skin was no longer in pale colors, and his eyes were brighter then.

"Please let me know should you need anything, Your Highness." Said the nurse before excusing herself out of the room.

When the old man's eyes caught Sooho standing inside his room, he left out a faint sound. His voice sounded hoarse and Sooho couldn't clearly catch what he was saying. However, he quickly walked his way towards the bed.

"Good evening, Sir. It's me, Im Sooho." He took a polite bow to the old man who was laying down on the hospital bed. "I hope you're feeling better now." He said softly as he leaned closer to the old man.

Eun Changsu wasn't responding him at first, but slowly his eyes moved towards the empty seat next to his bed. He was asking Sooho to take a seat next to him. So, the younger man obediently did.

The chair was always placed closely next to the bed, on the left side of Eun Changsu. Whenever Sooho came, the chair position never moved at all. He could imagine his future in-laws sitting there, accompanying the old man day by day. It would be Hong Aera, Eun Youngu, or Eun Youngro.

The thoughts of Youngro being sad because of his sick father made Sooho feel more empathetic to the girl. He really hoped Eun Changsu would get healthy as he used to be really soon.

By the side of the hospital bed, there was a vase placed on top of it. Sooho had come to see Eun Changsu several times before, and he had been noticing that they usually put some simple daisies inside the vase. That evening, he decided to bring the old man's daughter's favorite flower, lily of the valley.

Sooho slowly shifted from his seat to change the daisies with the lily of the valley flowers he brought with him. Silently, Eun Changsu was watching the younger man on his side without him knowing. The old man didn't say anything, but there was something inside his eyes that gave off a pleased look.

Youngro's favorite flowers.

"I bring some flowers for you, Sir. Youngro told me you used to give her this flower, her favorite, for special occasions. It's beautiful." The young Crown Prince said. "Just like your daughter."

Sooho's words were clearly heard Eun Changsu. It made the old man slightly pulled the corners of his lips upwards. The next second, he weakly tried to open up his mouth to say some words, "Thank... you..."

When the flowers he brought with him had finally placed into the vase neatly, Sooho rubbed his palms together, looking satisfied. Then, he took his seat back next to Eun Changsu, giving the old man a comforting smile.

"I.." Sooho paused for a while, his eyes were gazing down to his hands on his laps. "I apologize for coming here unnoticed, Sir. I hope I don't bother your time."

"The wedding is coming in a few days. It's... the day after tomorrow. That's the day I'm marrying your daughter."

Sooho paused for a moment, letting the silence filling the air.

"Although... I have only known her for the past two months, I'm so glad that Eun Youngro was the woman from a good family who owns the royal engagement ring from the late King." He said, carefully. "She's such a lovely woman, Sir. I can clearly see how sweet, caring, and warm-hearted she is. Everyone loves having her around at the royal palace. She brings kindness and happiness with her everywhere she goes. Like I told you before, she even befriended most of the staff that have been working at the palace for a long time that even I don't know their names. She even made our old gardener laughed wholeheartedly the other day... Grandmother sees her as her own grand daughter. The King likes to talk to her a lot, especially about music. She also makes the best pie too, with her mother's recipe." Sooho grinned to himself as he continued, "She's such a talented musician to be reckoned with too. One day, she would be a great music composer."

A soft smile plastered on his face in the thought of the girl. "She reminds me a lot of spring time."

"However, Sir, marrying me... it means she would leave her normal life and freedom. She would get her own royal duties... there might be so many things she sacrifices. She would go through some hard times." Sooho frowned as he remembered how Youngro had to face multiple difficulties when she was with him for the last few months, and he imagined the real though life inside the royal palace that Youngro might have to face in the future. "But I'll keep her safe no matter what, Sir. I'll do my best to make her happy, just like I always told you."

Again, Sooho let the silence filled the air. He calmly watched the expression of the old man who was laying his weak body on the bed. His expression was unreadable, but he could see his eyes the glistens on the old man's eyes as his tears came out slowly. Eun Changsu clearly heard what the Crown Prince had told him, and it made him cry. Therefore, Sooho immediately stood up to took some piece of tissues and wiped a single tear that flowed from the old man's eyes.

Sooho's eyes were filled with sadness and empathy. He really wished Eun Changsu had a speed recovery so he could see his own daughter's wedding by himself, even walked her down the aisle. In some ways, Sooho could understand his feelings, and he felt sorry that time.

As the Crown Prince wiped away the falling tear from Eun Changsu's eyes, the older man parted his lips slowly, trying to say something. When Sooho noticed it, he leaned closer so that he could hear what the old man said.

He waited for a while for Eun Changsu to talk, and when he heard what he said at last, his throat moved.

"Youngro... loves you... please... love her."

It was the big day.

Every single media and channel was broadcasting the news of the South Korea's royal wedding. It was the day of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Im Sooho and Miss Eun Youngro's wedding day. The couple's pictures were exposed everywhere— headline of the morning news on TV, print