ââââ announcing her grace, ( son âcosimaâ areum ), the ( 36 ) year old ( duchess ) of ( gyeongsang ). Â Â Â she is often confused with ( seo ji hye ). some say that she is ( arrogant and ruthless ), but she is actually ( ambitious and determined ).
grandma, itâs me .... anastasia annie ( she/her, 22, gmt+1 ). HELLO AND I MISSED U to everyone iâve already met, and HELLO IâM EXCITED TO MEET N WRITE WITH U to all the ppl i havenât !!! the link above leads to a prose ver of her backstory, and an abridged version is under the cut ^^
Son Areum is the first of Emperor Haejoâs grandchildren, and so the oldest member of her generation of the imperial family. In other countries, you might expect that to mean she would one day take the throne ; of course, the male primogeniture laws in South Korea decreed otherwise.
Her side of the family had already been subjected to the reality of these laws once when the only son had died and they were set aside in favor of a new crown prince, the son of a concubine. This happened before she was born but still had ramifications in her life, most often in the form of her motherâs resentment and her fatherâs watchful eye for power.
Areum grew up in an environment that was both malcontent at their situation and proud of their own lineage, so itâs no surprise that she gained a (un)healthy sense of self-importance. Her parents had wanted significance, and that trait did not lessen with their eldest daughter.
Still, it was fairly obvious that she wouldnât get anything by waiting around, especially while female cousin after female cousin was born and set aside in the imperial side of the family, so she decided to leave Korea and go somewhere with more ⊠equal opportunities.
She moved to England as soon as her primary schooling was finished, and began attending Oxford University that fall. Now going by the name Cosima, it was here that she discovered her knack for choosing the right times and people to make investments in.
After graduating with dual degrees (and honors) in international relations and economics, she asked her father for a sum of money to begin investing. Within three years she had repaid it in full, and by five she had nearly doubled it.
Her decision making process involved being very hands on with her decisions, and to this end she traveled around the world, living in one city for a few years and then moving on to the next. The family name and title allowed her access into the upper levels of society, and her shrewd business mind guaranteed respect among fellow professionals.
With all this this traveling, the interactions with her extended family were limited (and didnât do much to improve her opinion of them). Even when she did visit Seoul, it was more often than not for business reasons and not an extended stay. One of these visits, however, had far more lasting implications than she had intended ; she met Kwon Sangcheol, Duke of Gyeongsang.
They did not get along at first, to say the least. He didnât like her arrogance, she couldnât stand his immediate assumption of her character and general uptight-ness, and neither of them was willing to give any ground. The more they ran into each other, the more her emotions got the better of her, and the tension between them built up until the only conclusion was getting physical (and not the fighting kind). Things were Just Physical and Totally Didnât Mean Anything - until they did, and she found herself realizing that all the earlier emotions were not exactly what she had thought they were.
The two of them had been carrying on in secret this entire time, so it was quite a shock to society (and their parents) when she showed up to a party with a giant diamond on her finger. There were some people who raised their eyebrows at the couple, but she wholeheartedly ignored them. Any disagreements between the two are completely overpowered by the love and trust they now share, and the last seven years of her marriage are by far she happiest sheâs ever been. Adding to this happiness are their children! The couple has two girls, Sarang (4 years old) and Seulgi (2 years old), and anyone who knew her ten years ago would literally be in shock from how soft she gets for them.
Areum was at the program earlier this year, but decided to take her family home after the earthquake. She spent some time Networking and Other Business Thingsâą but decided to return and reconnect with the other royalty and nobility.Â
he nodded, it was as he expected. mixed reactions were better than all around bad reactions. he relaxed a little then. perhaps it wasnât all bad. perhaps he could come out of this unscathed. lixue had over reacted. smarting from his decision instead of predicting the future. âyes, i thought so too. i canât expect korea to support us if i do not start with them and their allies. san was hurt that i didnât consult him and lixue wasâŠunhappy but i know it was the right choice.â
âIndeed.â Loyalty was often currency in their world, and all that mattered was where you paid. Areum waved a hand dismissively at the mention of her cousin.  âSan is San, so what else could you expect?â  A sentiment she stood by despite their current alliance. When he referred to his sister, however, her focus narrowed.  âOh? I didnât realize Lixue was so deeply involved in this situation.â
whatâs the sexual position you dream about the most? have you done it, and why/why not?
âI have better things to dream about than sexual positions, thank you very much, though the one that comes to mind does not involve a bed. And yes, I have done it. The reason being that I wanted to enjoy myself.â
aside from your husband who would you most want to have barking at your feet
âConsidering that type of behavior does not attract me at all, the only way I would want someone at my feet would be if I have subjected them into doing so. Barking is unnecessary.â
âI already fucked Jianguo and married Sangcheol, so I suppose that leaves killing Kaspar, though I would prefer to replace that with Keep talking with him.â
first name ïč utp
last name ïč son
titles ïč duke of jeolla, minister of economy
age ïč 30-35
suggested fcs ïč lee soohyuk, kim soohyun, lee minho, yoon park, utp
There are certain expectations for his future, from his parents, from his grandparents, from the nation. For some, this would be a shackle, but for him, it is a goal to strive towards, though not out of blind allegiance  ïč  with a lineage stretching back to royalty on both sides, such greatness is merely his due. Once this is understood, the pursuit of excellence begins, a trend that continues throughout his life. When his father is appointed minister, he applies himself to the study of economics, preparing for his future government position even as a teenager. As the years pass, the same zeal is set towards all his goals:  he finishes secondary school the first of his class, graduates university cum laude, serves in the military with distinction, makes connections with other nobility, and learns how to best govern the province of Jeolla. Then his father reaches the unofficial but traditional age of retirement, and he spends the entire year in anticipation only for it to pass with no more fanfare than a birthday party. The official stance is that it is the desire for public service that keeps the duke from relinquishing the position, but a thought burns ever brighter in the back of his mind  ( fueled by the courtâs whispers, by his fatherâs approving nods, by his motherâs regal bearing )  of one day being emperor. In the meantime, however, there is nothing to do but wait and observe his family, each a fire in their own right. His sister blazes with ambition and drive, his mother goes from quiet steadfastness to smoldering resentment in an instant, his father watches events like the flickering shadows of embers  â  until, just as suddenly as water poured upon coals, the old duke is snuffed out. One morning, he is a lord, heir to a title that seems as if it will never be his ïč the next, he is both duke and minister in one fell swoop. A lifetime of waiting brought to an end, everything he has worked towards suddenly within his grasp, and all he has to do is reach out and take it. The only thing that remains to be seen is if he will stay content with this role, or aim for one greater still.
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first name ïč utp
last name ïč son
title ïč lord of jeolla, heir to the dukedom
age ïč 26-29
suggested fcs ïč park jinyoung, jang kiyong, nam joohyuk, kwak dongyeon, utp
Some say the youngest child is the most privileged, and this stereotype has often proven true in the Son family. He is doted upon, the apple of his parentâs eye, and, within reason,  ( as long as he furthers the Son name, a task which he sets himself to with the same drive inherent in each of the siblings )  he is free  â  free from the obligations of a future as duke, the basic training received but none of the extensive instruction that his brother has devoured  ïč  free from the weight of his parentâs plans for a male heir, plans which even he does not know the full breadth of  ïč  free to go where he wishes, to study what he wants, to befriend whom he chooses. Quite an irony, then, that this same freedom also acts as a constraint:  after all, what can a spare truly achieve? He has graduated from a top university, impressed during his military service, and made friends nearly everywhere he goes, but the family blood still flows through his veins, a constant, possessive desire for more. His father's death is cause for mourning, the loss a devastating one, but insouciance wars with ambition. After all, a dark cloud can have a silver lining, and in every tragedy is a chance to begin anew.
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established connections ïč  areumson  (older sister),  diannayi,  yicamilla, yijane, yiseonhyes,  yisvn,  aurcls (cousins)
further inspiration ïč  pinterest,  the south korean nobility, news of the previous dukeâs death, a masterlist of all korean characters at or mentioned in hshq.
credit ïč template base by pupseditsx.
notes ïč  there are plenty of upcoming plots & dramatic moments for the korean royal family, and Iâd love to see how their presence adds to the dynamic !!  if youâre interested or have any questions, feel free to message me @areumson.  below are a few additional wanted connections which they could fit !
andrew beaufort,  the (andrew garfield) fc would like a (best friend from university, 27-32) with (paul mescal, rahul kohli, aaron taylor johnson, dev patel, utp). the mun (doesnât require) you to contact them before applying. [ title utp ]
parker whitmore,  the (joe keery) fc would like a (mortal enemy) with (any fc). the mun (doesnât require) you to contact them before applying. [ title utp ]
aisling uĂ briĂșin ai,  the (margaret qualley) fc would like a (rival/enemy, 18+) with (sarah shahi, wakeema hollis, manny jacinto, utp). the mun (requires) you to read THIS before applying. [ title utp ]
gwendolen powys,  the (alycia debnam-carey) fc would like an (ex-boyfriend, 25+) with (dacre montgomery, herman tommeraas, henrik holm, avan jogia, any male fc). the mun (doesnât require) you to contact them before applying. [ duke or prince ]
SOUTH KOREA MOURNS LOSS OF THE DUKE OF JEOLLA
Son Hoyoung, Duke of Jeolla and Minister of Economy, dies of a heart attack at age 60.
On October 29th, the Korean public received word that His Grace Son Hoyoung had passed away in the early morning hours due to a heart attack. His wife, the Grand Princess Yi Hyeryeong, said in a statement that it was âquite a shockâ as the late Duke had âalways seemed in excellent health,â and that their family was âovercome with grief at the loss.â The statement also noted that the funeral would be a modest one, in honor of his campaign for frugality and moderation among the countryâs leaders. Â
The Duke was known for his commitment to serving the public; at 60, he had held his title five years longer than is the unofficial custom among South Korean dukes, with his efforts in this role advancing the region of Jeolla's prosperity and standing both domestically and internationally. In addition, he had spent the last two decades as the Minister of Economy, during which the nation's GDP reached several record highs.Â
As the Grand Princess is a practicing Buddhist, the family has sent a formal request that the Emperor postpone the official ceremony to confer the dukedom upon his successor until after the traditional mourning period of 49 days is complete. At that time, the Duke of Jeolla title and the Minister of Economy position will be passed on to his elder son. Son Hoyoung is also succeeded by his daughter Son Areum, Duchess of Gyeongsang, and his younger son, who will be the new heir to the title.
jianguo let himself breathe for a few minutes. it was gratifying to be told heâd done the right thing like that. to not be questioned but validated. somehow it was only gahye and areum whoâd been able to do that. he huffed out a breath, sounding pleased. âi couldnât agree more. i had let it go on too long. i will not let it happen again.â he looked at her, expression a little unsure and too open because it wasnât years ago in her dorm room at oxford. âhow did it look? when i betrayed france? did people think me weak for going against my own interests?â
âThatâs what is truly important ïč the resolution to learn from a mistake.â  His gaze brought her back to when they had been not quite in love but certainly interested in each other  â  but it also reminded her of a reason she had not pursued their relationship any further:  validation was needed after every decision, and she did not want to spend her life pandering to a manâs ego.  âThere were mixed reactions, to be sure, but many that I saw were of relief that the conflict was ended quickly and decisively, and appreciating your role in that.â  A delicate balance of truth and reassurance was necessary if she wanted to get any true answers out of Jianguo.  âI think the more negative backlash was mostly out of confusion at the choice rather than true distain for your actions. Besides, how can it be truly against your own interests to save a family member, albeit extended, over supporting a political alliance?â
Days like today didnât often come to the cold hearted princess of Turkey looked forward to dealing in any form of business; especially not with a friend. Unless, it was the alluring Cosima. A comet of a woman who streaked through the sky with such brilliance while blinding those who opposed her. It was refreshing to see what unfettered pioneer in the every changing waters of the political sphere. Despite her station and all of its restrictions, she made scorched the soil beneath her heels with positive energy and grace. Her daughters never had to worry about the world impeding on their shores because Cosima would destroy whatever drew near. Hafiz almost envied the love that blossomed within the cracks of their world. She has never felt that before. Tipping her head to the attendant who escorted her in, Hafiz bowed softly to Cosima. âFar too long for my liking,â she offered with a pout. âI am happy to know my nearest and dearest companion has returned. Now, where are the girls?â Hafiz looked around happily before sinking into the place adjacent to Cosima. âI brought presents and let them at the door,â she smirked.Â
âAh, yes! The secondary reason Iâve come today. I sent you a fleshed out proposal with finite numbers if you decide that youâd like to go on this journey with me.â Her hands gingerly flattened in her lap. âIâve noticed a deep decline more artistically inclined programs for children all over the world. We all know how deeply we vest value on projected usefulness and the bottom line. Although, why does that bottom line have to look so gray in a world we can fill with color. If we had forced Van Gogh to be a business man, would we know what it was like to thirsty for a something so simple as an evening beneath the stars on an unnamed terrance. Who would have thought something so mundane could have such power?âÂ
âIt certainly has.â Traveling from place to place was a double edged blade, the amount of time one could spend with people waxing and waning based on location. Still, connections were akin to currency in some situations, and cultivating them an essential aspect. Areum bowed her head in return to Hafizâs greeting, then her smile grew at the otherâs question. âThat is very generous, and will certainly be appreciated, though they donât need any more spoiling ïč both of their grandmothers are insisting on sending boxes upon boxes of Christmas presents. Far more than usual, but that is most likely because we wonât be home for the holiday.â Something she had gotten complaints about from both sides of the family. âThe girls are out for another hour or so  â  I thought it would be best if we discussed business without any distractions, and then they could come home to greet you afterwards.â
âYes, I read through your proposal.â Areum reached for the tablet on the table next to her and opened to the document in question. âItâs excellent that you have found a project you are so passionate about. Implementation is always much easier in such cases.â Hafiz was an idealist in these matters, always striving to improve and invigorate  â  not from greed, but a belief that it should be better. It was admirable, though a tempering influence to make sure her dreams could become reality would not be amiss. âYou say all over the world ïč how quickly are you hoping to implement these advancements in multiple countries? And I noticed that you included a note about potential incentives. I would advise against this being financial, as the burden upon schools would make them unlikely to want the program to reach its full potential. Did you have any further thoughts?âÂ
âyes, itâs been hard. she doesnât seem to mind though. seems to think sheâs all grown up already.â jianguo smiled at areum, âi wouldnât sell yourself short like that.â this is what makes people think heâs too soft. too willing to bolster others without any reason to. she didnât mean to talk about politics but here they were. he made sure not to sigh aloud and sat down on a nearby bench, right ankle crossed over his right knee. âyes, i can imagine it was a scary situation for all the families involved. i can only be glad that we were able to stop the violence.â instability is indeed bad for business. even his. he did not expect areum to express concern for the yis and she didnât. she also didnât ask anything else and jianguo could have left it at that but he found himself saying, âit was time i stepped up and handled the situation.â
âMy girls are much the same ïč it is remarkable how mature one believes they are as a child, only to look back and realize it was just the opposite.â A smile appeared at his words, though she waved away the compliment. âThatâs kind of you to say.â Areumâs gaze was studiously detached as she joined him on the bench, legs tucked underneath, and waited for his reaction to her probing. âAs am I,â a murmured agreement to his statement about bringing an end to the violence. Then he continued speaking  â  her expression, however, remained neutral, years of practice helping to hide the satisfaction she felt. âThe correct decision, in my opinion. A firm hand is needed in such situations. Back and forth between leadership styles only shows weakness, and you are the emperor, after all.â
 â  this part of the world, there are many rituals, everyone has no shortage of grace, everything is made with care, i find that very interesting. after all it is more than souvenirs we should bring home eh ?   â  watching her chuckle grows a slight, but genuine smile, gaze darting over the wine list.  â  the brunello ? italian, aged. i like the sangiovese variety i donât have it very often â only thrice actually, each time it was very pleasant,  â  she had said italian vintages, hadnât she ? he holds up two fingers, with a nod, and then a shallow bow of his head in silent thanks.  â  whiskey production in germany is quite new compared to elsewhere, barley and rye mostly. the approach is different to say⊠scotch. mostly we favour single malt. it is quite prized, especially further north, it used to be an outlaw spirit !  â  the duchess speaks so grimly, as their drinks arrive, but her admissions draw a hearty, careless laugh. â  can i confess ? we were both so stoic and reasonable, but before we saw that it was barker, my first thought was, my bag doesnât have enough weapons, i foolishly loaded up on rope and water, i do not have the skill fight a snake with my bare hands nor are these pants fang-proof, best chance, grab you and run, and get sued later !  â   he raises his glass to her, other hand poised to make a comically vehement gesture,  â  the first thing i did after settling in here and attending all the drills, was to arrange for that establishment to have a good supply of flares. so to new bonds forged and hopefully never having to battle a snake or go on rescue missions again !  âÂ
âThere are indeed. Your perspective towards the differences is admirable  â  I would agree that it is far more profitable to appreciate variation rather than distain it.â Areum nods in agreement at his wine choice.  âThat sounds lovely.â  Her purse is set to the side as she settles into her seat, listening to him speak as she does so.  âYou know quite a bit of history behind drink making ïč is it a hobby, or merely an interest? We shall have to exchange drinks  â  I will procure some of the finest soju, and you can provide whisky. Or beer, if you feel it gives a better representation of your countryâs beverages.â  Learning the intricacies of foreign cultures is always an enjoyable past-time, and adding alcohol to the mix certainly wonât hurt. As the waiter returns, she accepts her drink, rotating her glass gently to let the wine aerate. A smile grows as the other speaks, chasing away her formerly solemn air, until she too is laughing lightly as her glass is lifted to mirror his own. âTo new friendships and a lack of dangerous situations, both physical and reptile.â She sips the drink, savoring the flavors, before speaking again. âYes, I much prefer this more relaxed environment. Speaking of which:  have you been at the program long? I find it a pity that we had not interacted before the earthquake, though I was relatively new at the time.â
Head nods in agreement with a soft chuckle fall through, rather than responding, the nonverbal response should suffice. Otherwise, MaitĂȘâd go on for a few more minutes which potentially happens not too often, but when in the company of someone she finds equally interesting. âIt is, and also a relief. I enjoy their company and bring me a sense of home.â As it isnât an over-exaggeration, but the utter truth. It was hard to keep a close eye on them if they were halfway across the world. âIâll take your word on it, honestly, I havenât had the time to explore the city, which is a shame. This is the longest I have been in Tokyo.â MaitĂȘ follows as they were led to their private location, away from the curious eyes and perhaps, ears.
â
"Iâm glad to hear that.â The importance of family had been impressed upon her from a very young age ( though it had only applied to her immediate kin, not extended relatives )  and continued to play a large role in her decision-making process. âThat is indeed a pity ïč although I am not the type to meander aimlessly throughout a city, learning about oneâs surroundings is always beneficial.â Once they arrive at their table, Areum sits, murmuring a thanks to the waiter as he gently pushes her chair in and sets a menu in front of her, then returns her focus to her companion. âYou have been at the program for a few months now, but if I remember correctly, you previously focused most of your time on Brazil rather than international tours. Do you mind me asking what changed your mind?â
â but desperate enough to conspire something with your cousin? â she frowns, this was supposed to be her interrogating areum, not the other way around!  â we are not discussing anything. i looked through his email while his laptop was left unattended when he came to visit jinny. â why did she over explain herself just now? first aditya and now her? this is all too much.  â and what about you? arriving without your husband? dahye says she heard affair rumors, but i told her thatâs just silly! who in their right mind would want to be involved with your husband! â
âConspire is quite the word to be throwing around  â Iâd say collaborate is a more apt term.â Thatâs not to say they arenât conspiring, but everything sounds much more above-board with the right terminology. âAnd yet you accuse me of intrigue? I would have thought snooping far too plebeian for you.â  Areumâs mother looked down on sneaking in general and raised her daughter to delegate as many menial tasks as possible, so such prying is left to employees.  âIn this, you are correct,â for once, âas it is, to use your words, silly ïč neither of us are having an affair. Iâm rather disappointed the two of you have been reduced to spreading rumors in your free time. Is there nothing else to occupy your time here?â
