Sitting by your large window that faces a large window that views a beautiful garden, you nurse a warm cup of tea to fight the bitter cold of winter.
"Lady Y/N?" a voice came from the doorway into your chambers.
Turning your head, you search for the source, "Ah, hello, Miyoung." you greet your handmaiden.
She bows and enters the room, holding out a platter with a letter laid on it. The yellow parchment is emblazoned with a wax stamp and intricate lettering saying 'To Lady Y/N of the Destin Estate". You furrow your brows in confusion and rise from your seat to take it, thanking Miyoung and sending her out.
When you open the letter, there is a simple message stating: "You are hereby cordially invited to the Exodus Kingdom's Ball where the Crowned Prince will be selecting a lady of esteem as a wife as well as celebrating his 22nd birthday."
You fight the urge to roll your eyes, "As women are like cattle, you observe and pick as you please." you huff aloud. A knock sounds at your open door where your father stands.
"Hello, Father." you curtsey politely.
He gives a kind smile and sits next to you, taking one of your hands into his, "My dear, I know how you despise the idea of this ball-"
"So you knew?" you interrupt.
He looks taken aback by your interjection, but answers calmly, "I did, but I wanted to see your reaction before I asked you this."
Your lips settle into a thin, tight line as you gesture for him to go on.
"The King and his private council have expressed how they would like you to marry Prince-"
"Surely you aren't asking me to marry that wooden headed donkey Sehun, right?"
Once again, your father pauses, clears his throat, and continues, "Yes, Prince Sehun. He will be the King come Spring and most of the kingdom expects you to be chosen as his Queen. You are an active part of the kingdom's council, Y/N. You were the first and still the only woman to assert yourself in the council. The people love you, yet hardly know the man that will be their king soon."
You stand, angered by the proposition, "So I'm being used as a publicity cow? It's my job to make that bloke liked by the kingdom? Why doesn't he just go to the villages and meet his people like Prince Yixing of the Yang Kingdom?"
"Y/N, this is no surprise to you. You're smart enough to have known this would be coming." your father states. Of course the idea had crossed your mind, but you had assumed that the Sehun you know from the few times you've met him would go after some maiden of the Soshi Estate.
"I will attend the ball and meet with the Prince, but I promise nothing. If he cannot prove himself as worthy of my hand, which I hold to a very high standard, I will not go along with this auctioning of myself as if I am some farm animal."
Your father gives a resigned nod, coming to terms that his strong headed daughter made no plans to wed the Prince. He keeps silent hope that Prince Sehun will miraculously convince her. If she were to become Queen, the kingdom would be sure to prosper, he was adamant of this claim.
-
Miyoung passes the brush through your hair once again, setting the loose waves and braids free across your bare shoulders. The dress you wear is emerald green, reflecting the kingdom's governing council's color. You looked at yourself in the mirror, trying to calm the nerves you had tried to push down.
Sehun is quiet and serious, or at least every time you've met him he was. You didn't like that. You prefer people to speak their minds rather than just listen to you rant.
-
Your Estate is closest to the castle so you often went there with your father as he met with the king. Your father is the King's economic advisor, you foregoing that title and obtaining the People's Representative when you came of age. As long as you can remember, you have spent every Sunday afternoon in the castle garden, either reading or painting or simply gazing up at the clouds. Never once did you see Sehun playing or training. He kept to himself, this of which you chalked up to him being haughty and snobbish about himself.
As you grew into your teen years, Sehun was sometimes spotted riding in on a chestnut horse, brandishing training attire and a dirty face. From this you gathered that he trained outside of the castle, something uncharacteristic of a Prince of Sehun's caliber.
"Miyoung," you asked your handmaiden, who was 20 at the time, 4 years your senior, "Isn't it Prince Sehun's birthday today?"
She nods silently, following your gaze to the boy who was dismounting his horse and leading it to the stables, "Yes, m'lady. He's fourteen today."
You smirk when she mentions his age. Sehun is two years younger than you, this being one thing you would pride yourself on when you passed him by in the castle or at a gathering.
"Prince Sehun." you curtseyed as you saw him walking through the dining hall to his mother in the kitchen.
He looked at you with wide eyes and bowed, "Lady Y/N."
You grinned and leaned forward a bit, "You can call me noona, by the way. Happy birthday!"
He looked confused by your outburst and blinked rapidly as you walked away, Miyoung following close behind. Sehun swallowed and tried to wrap his head around your interesting character. Shall he call you noona? He would love to, but it seemed off considering he would be king and you most likely his wife. He shrugged and continued his walk into the kitchen to greet his mother who was busy fussing over crab cakes.
-
You snap out of your flashback when you realize you're being ushered into a carriage, your father joining you.
The castle is filled with people, all dressed in the suitable attire for the evening. A string quartet plays in a corner of the ballroom, servers meander around handing out hors d'oeuvres and champagne, all while Prince Sehun is swarmed by young ladies.
Fighting another eye roll, you stroll into the room confidently, bowing your head slightly as you see people you know. Sehun looks around, briefly glancing at you, then bringing his gaze to focus in on your face. He excused himself from the group of girls trying to charm him and makes a beeline for you.
By now your father had gone off to attend to his own greetings and you were left alone. But, soon enough, Sehun comes up to you. Your eyes easily drink in the sight of him; no matter how much you resent his inability to interact with his people, Sehun is quite handsome. His black hair and strong brow align perfectly with his sharp features and slim, but well muscled build.
"Lady Y/N." he says, bowing and giving a close-lipped smile.
You curtsey back, "Hello, my Prince." your voice comes out pleasant, but you're sure it portrays your true feelings.
"So you decided to come after all?" he asks, a genuine curiosity sneaking its way into his eyes.
Giving a gentle nod, you reply, "Can't leave you to be eaten by that pack of wolves— oh pardon me, ladies."
His laugh is short, but sweet and sends an involuntary tingle through your body, "I appreciate that, I really do."
Somehow, you smile naturally at Sehun, this exchange going much more smoothly than you had imagined. Not that you expected him to be some caveman and throw you over his shoulder then force a run on your finger, but you of course didn't expect a nice conversation.
"You look beautiful in green, noona." he says slowly, as if testing out the words on his tongue.
A blush creeps up your neck and slightly tints your cheeks, "Thank you, as do you in red."
He looks down at the velvet red suit jacket he wears and gives a big smile, "Thank you."
"So," Sehun begins, "I'm assuming you know what this is for and what is bound to happen." he sighs at your nod, "Well, if it were up to me, I would have at least taken you on a date or something better than forcing it on to you. But, I still won't force anything on to you now, I mean-"
You stop him as he stumbles over his words and place a hand on his shoulder, "I understand and even though I don't agree with how it was carried out, I won't deny you."
Before you can stop yourself, that last part comes out. Had you just said you'd accept his proposal?
Now it's Sehun's turn to blush and he bites a lip, "You understand?"
You save yourself and decide there's no going back, "If it's for the good of the kingdom and for the both of us, then yes."
Sehun's ears are a deep red and he gives a beaming smile for a few seconds. His boyish charm gives you butterflies, something you had never dreamed would be associated with Prince Sehun.
