eighteen

It was announced publicly that Prince Baekhyun would be leaving with their honored guests in two days’ time. Quite a shocking revelation to the Kingdom, but overalll, it was well perceivedknowing that the Prince was well on his way to a possible marriage.

I couldn’t help but to think that somehow the dates purposefully coincided with my upcoming nuptials and the worry only heightened from hearing the piece of gossip after packaging an order from Madam Min’s shop to a pair of ladies who were requesting the scented oils for an upcoming High Society Ball.

“…the moment they connected eyes, he fell for the Duchess Ara.”

“Strange. I heard that he was foolishly in love with the Duchess Binna.”

“Nevermind which Duchess, can you imagine the kinds of celebration Our Kingdom will hold in honor of a marriage! It’s been years since the last public Royal event! I heard they’re pushing Prince Baekhyun to join the Duchess Ara back home, perhaps final arrangements will take place soon?”

I wasn’t aware that his trip would be so soon. I twisted with the conflicting information that the Royal Guests were still planning to stay longer... After what felt like an eternal day at Madam Min’s, I rushed back home, hoping to get the news confirmed from my brother or even my father.

I paced back and forth in the living room ignoring the pleas of my mother to join her in a very lonely dinner but I couldn’t possibly sit still. Not when I desperately waited for anyone with news to walk through the front door. Although my mother tried to soothe me with comforting words, I kept staring out the window hoping to see a carriage pull up at the front.

When I did spot a carriage, I rushed to my feet fully expecting to see Jongdae walking up the steps to our home. When my father’s tired figure came into view, I held back my instinct to attack him with an interrogation. I knew that my mother was not entirely privy to what was going on.

“Father…” I croaked out.

“Follow me,” He instructed, glancing behind me. I could only assume he gave a knowing look to my mother as he guided me to his study room. I ignored the worried look on my mother’s face and followed my father, waiting until he closed the door of his study hoping to hear good news.

He plopped himself at his desk for a moment before his internal turmoil brought him back to his feet. He paced around his small but beautiful office. It had an entire wall dedicated to the script of warfare tactics and this history of ancient wars that plagued our past. Overall, it was a room that was left pristine due to lack of use considering my father spent that majority of his time at the palace.

Considering he was still silent, I felt my world bleak and dark.

“Father…” I began, unsure of how to place my words together elegantly.

“I’ve spent the past days studying the royal archives. Anything that I could get my hands on,” He began, “I poured over so many scrolls during the time of the incident and just to confirm, you were right. Unfortunately, there was no investigation that was carried out. How and why there were tigers on royal grounds still remains unanswered. If there was an investigation… they made no attempt in keeping a record.”

I felt myself deflate.

“However,” He began, piquing my interest once more, “I did find one description of the tigers, that I can vouch for… because they used the description I gave them years ago.”

I blinked unsure of what this meant but seeing the grave look on my father’s face I felt that something was not quite as it seems.

He gulped, “I clearly remembered they were a pair of young healthy, plump tigers, with beautiful face details, and clean sharp teeth… pristine paws. Do you remember?”

I silently shook my head. I couldn’t recall as many details like my father due to the fact that all I could visual was a monster launching in my direction, and the cries of a screaming Prince Baekhyun.

My father gave me a long look, “Each had a single floppy ear.”

I remained quiet as my father paced around, much like I was before he arrived.

“I can’t help but to think that, after scrutinizing every piece of royal text, nothing was ever mentioned of the incident other than a pathetic page on the scrolls is highly curious,” He sighed out, “To put it simply, it was recorded as if it was an ordinary day at the palace. One would think that if a Prince was attacked in such a manner and bore a legend, such as yourself Kaira, the palace scholars would have written in detail of the occurrence either to exemplify or disprove of the day.”

“Why would they want disprove?” I questioned. It made no sense.

My father gulped, “To erase of your existence.”

I paused for a moment. 

“And if they had written me in?” I continued.

“You would transcend the monarchy themselves in the grand scale of time. A story like yours can stand the test of time. Whether or not they remember exact names of the royals five hundred years from now, they will remember The Tigress. That is the power you yield.” He pressed his lips together, “The fact they did nothing, neither recount the day or disprove it, yet they allowed us the illusion of honoring us… means they don’t intend on preserving your sacrifice. Your name will be lost with generations gone and there will be no records of your existence or service to this family.”

I remained quiet. Unsure of how to use my father thoughts and place them in my life.

My father didn’t waste time for me to respond.

“The redaction is purposeful, my daughter. For years I foolishly didn’t question why you were sent away. I fully trusted you were in good hands. Grateful, almost, that you were able to get a proper education for a lady… only to realize your schooling was nearly three times the length it should have been, for reasons that were never clarified.” He narrowed his eyes at me, to make a point, “Had you been around more, it would have brough  attention at the gaping holes of the tiger story. For such a large safety breach of the palace, no proper investigations were conducted. I could assume they glorify you now, in hopes to distract that due diligence was not done to properly investigate.”

“Meaning,” I asked softly.

 “They have something to hide and I intend to find the clues to the answers we seek.”

I blinked rapidly as my father held me out in arm’s length before placing a single kiss on my forehead. Before he flew out of his study, I stopped him right as he crossed the door.

“Is it true then?” I asked, “Baekhyun will be leaving soon”

My father bowed his head, “Come Sunday, I will be joining Prince Baekhyun on his journey to Silla.”

I had no time to be terrified if my father was implicated in my rash decision to go against the royal family. To question them was treason and although I knew the punishment, I knew I have already set in motion the fate of my family.

I couldn’t sleep that Thursday night. It was impossible when my head was flooded with too many thoughts and no possible way to stop every fear from leaking into my subconscious. I felt such a heavy burden of exhaustion come over me next morning.

When Jongdae showed up to breakfast on Friday, putting up a fake broad smile for my mother who was continually growing more concerned, he announced that my husband to be should be arriving into town right on time.

I didn’t have the energy to question who he had convinced to step in as my husband. I excused myself from breakfast in favor of a well-deserved morning nap. It was as if my thoughts had a limit to the amount of worry I was able to withstand. I had barely placed my heavy head on my pillow when the darkness of sleep came over me.

I saw nothing but a void of peaceful black. I felt suspended in a void so deep and velvety that I nearly wished it had been eternal.

It almost was until a terrifying snarl of a tiger rung in my ears and I jumped back awake. My heart was racing at the scare and in my daze I looked around my room half expecting a tiger to be looking nearby.

Once I confirmed my safety, I realized by the shade of the light from the sun it was now a late Friday afternoon. A servant came in asking if I would like to eat. I shook my head and opted to take another nap.

I was forced to wake by my mother who urged me to take a bath that was prepared for me by the time the day’s dying light gave my room it’s last orange glow. I did as instructed. I even had a servant scrub my back after soaking over an hour in the warm waters until my skin was raw. Our servant mused that a wedding night was a special time to be a delightful present for my soon-to-be husband.

I frowned, recalling that Baekhyun was not so excited about this certain detail of a wedding.

“Why must I be scrubbed down like I am a prized cattle about to be auctioned off?”

The servant blinked, “My lady, your husband-to-be will be delighted with a soft body to take heed in.”

I sputtered, “W-what?”

Confused, my servant sighed, “Really Miss Kaira, did they not teach you about the expectations of a marriage? Bearing a family?”

I nodded, thinking back to all the reading and text of the procreation education I received. Most young ladies at school giggled at the drawings depicting such sensual acts and did their best at the art of seduction when it came to our final courses.

I felt a blush creep up as I stepped out of the bath, wrapped in my thick robe. I knew the workings of creating new life but I had no idea that was expected on the wedding night. I didn’t want to think of handing myself over to a stranger. I had the strange feeling that there will be another sleepless night in distress of tomorrow’s ceremony.

I chewed on my bottom lip as another feeling creeped in, despair.

If I was growing a child with in me, by the time Baekhyun came back… I felt my breath hitch at an awful turn of events.

How could I deny the life that could sprout in me and still fight for the affections of Baekhyun?

It felt like there were a million things stack up against me and yet, I held on to the aching promise that even if I failed, if it were possible to hold him once more before we were ripped away for good.

I felt a phantom hiccup of tears bubble up inside me, causing me to anxiously regain control of my emotions. My servant sent me a concerned look. She had been brushing my hair in front of my vanity, twisting it into simple night bun. She chastised me for taking a bath at night but I couldn’t hold her words in my head as I stared at myself in the mirror.

At this time tomorrow, I will be married. To whom? It was anyone guess. I felt my stomach sick with worry. Even when my servant gently swiped oils and creams over my face, she took note of my disposition.

“Would you like a tea to settle your nerves, Miss Kaira?” She cocked her head.

I was about to shake my head when my bedroom door slammed open.

My brother charged in and observed the servant for a moment before he dismissed her. Once we were in the safety of the privacy of an empty room he pointed a finger at my wardrobe.

“Get dressed, quickly,” He ordered, “And meet me in the conservatory in ten minutes.”

I blinked, confused, “What for?”

“Your ceremony.” He announced simply and rushed back downstairs, in his hand, gripping a scroll which I could only imagine was the documents I would be signing.

“You said… you said it will be tomor-” I began to shout, which caused Jongdae to give me a pointed look.

“There has been a change of plans,” He lightly snapped, “Now hurry. I need to make sure all the servants go home. It is a private family affair after all.”

I felt my stomach drop as he winked and disappeared. I rushed back to my window nook to find three shadowy figures just walk up the final steps to the front door. Even when I crossed my room once more, flinging my doors open to look over the sturdy rails of our staircase, the three bodies had somehow disappeared as my brother directed them into our deserted sunroom.

My father was by the servant’s quarters makings sure our five trusty workers were dismissed for the day. They gladly took their day off, thankful for the gift of time they were able to spend with their family.

Jongdae managed to catch me and my bewildered look once again as I hung on to the rails for dear life.

He sent me a glare.

“Get ready,” He commanded, “You’re lucky that I was able to find someone suitable in such hasty notice.”

“Someone like who?” I felt my voice waiver.

He gave a simple nod, “Change, Kaira. I’d be horrified if my own sister showed up to her wedding in her bathrobes.”

I sprang into action, diving into my wardrobe with a surge of adrenaline to find something nice to wear. There had been a few garments that Lay had prepared for future royal events, but I suppose none of them were meant for a wedding.

I finally settled for a dark dusty pink hanbok that Lay procured for me. It wasn't as extravagant as the looks I wore before, but it was just a beautiful and simple. It would have to do. As I shrugged into the top, I heard I another knock at the door, only to find my father poke his head in. He gave me a sheepish smile and stepped in, just as I tied my jegori properly, and reached for jewerly box.

He stood waiting, looking rather unsure.

As I pinned some earrings on, I looked on to him hoping for a reassuring smile from him, but all I got was a twisted face of worry.

“Father?” I called out for him.

“Yes?” He gulped.

“Is there something on your mind?”

He shook his head and let out a long sigh, “You know your brother… says one thing and changes the plan at the last minute. I suppose you could say, it was very unexpected for you to be wedded tonight.”

I nodded in agreement, “I suppose he didn't tell you who he picked either... His impulsive secrecy is unmatched.”

He inhaled and bowed his head, “It is, indeed.”

I didn’t have time to think of what Jongdae had planned or who he had plan for me because, before I knew it, I was being escorted down our staircases in a terribly still and quiet home. We rounded the corner of a hall to reach our humble conservatory when a thought crossed my mind.

Perhaps I had been rather too ambitious.

Perhaps my decisions would cost me my life all while I forced my family to cover for me...

Perhaps I will meet Baekhyun in another lifetime, in better circumstances. My father seemed to know what was running through my mind and patted my hand that clutched on to his arm.

“You will see that everything will turn out just as it was meant to.” He whispered in his low scruffy voice. Struggling with the selfishness of wanting to be with Baekhyun when I placed my family under an immense pressure to commit treason and the sadness that my fate has driven me to this course when I worked so hard to avoid a marriage at all…

I’m sure the Queen was working just as hard to insure that Baekhyun had nothing to do with me. I couldn’t help but to worry about my brother and how much trouble he had to go through to find a suitable groom. Trying to keep a perfect balance of his good standing in the palace all while scheming behind the royals back seemed like a horrific circumstance to deal with.

If Jongdae had gathered information needed for father and conjured a plan for himself, he was certainly good at being very tight lipped, which put me on edge.

I felt utterly useless. I pushed a great task on the shoulders of my father who was now giving me a kind look as we neared the glass doors of the conservatory..

He need to see for himself, the menagerie of tigers, and confirm the length of its existence. My father had an unmatched knowledge when it came to tigers and would certain be of use when it came to the suspicions surrounding the incidence nearly fifteen years ago. Who else would be perfect for the job than the very people that were asked to drive the tigeres out years ago?

No matter what I felt within my heart, this was the key to figure out the collision of fates that I had been dealt with. My heart felt a dull pang of pain as I looked up the moment I was at the entrance of the conservatory, and I was greeted by a set of familiar owl-like eyes. 

My heart collapsed.

Moments later...

The sky was black and the buzz of insects filled the air of a dizzying night. My heart pounded as my new husband reach his hand out towards me and beckoned me to tiptoe into the rowboat from the small dock that was perched upon a small lake. I was told that there was a small marital home that was arranged, and it was patiently waiting to be occupied on the other side of the lake. It was well hidden, tucked away by the thick of the forest.

It felt like a dream as I clenched my pink hanbok, balling up the delicate fabric with an uncertain fist. I looked over my shoulder to find my brother standing the edge of the lake, hands behind his back. He was frowning, a direct opposite of the kind face of my new husband.

The moment I saw who I was promised to, I was certain it had been a difficult decision to make for my brother.

I appreciated the sacrifice.

“Miss Kaira,” Lord Kyungsoo blinked rapidly, “It’s best we make haste.”

I felt a knot in my throat as I reached out for his welcoming hand and boarded the boat that Lord Kyungsoo was rowing with my husband, feeling a buzz of anticipation from a warm smile on the lips of my new life.

It took me a while to figure out how I wanted to write this chapter. I wasn't sure if I wanted to drag it out or not but I figured that it would be best just to get to it without filler chapters. Anyways I want to thank a few readers that have been SUPER consistent and very encouraging!

Vintagein
Nlnz2016 
Baekkyoongja
eggsbeans

I know there were many more but I just want to give my appreciation for your excitement and thoughts. I always look forward to your reactions and its always worth while!

ANYWAYS.... She's marrrrried. >_<