Chapter LXXIII
1540 Words
칠십 삼위 왕관 (73)
“We’re going to meet the Shins. My mom’s family. They wanted to meet you.”
“Uh, Your Highness…”
“What?” Prince Yi Eul asked, turning his head after his private artists put his coat for him. He’s wearing a caramel-colored suit with a black overcoat hanging over his shoulder. He looked at Jae Kyung who is now wearing a blossom dress with a ruffled lace collar on it. Her long black hair was curled and pinned on both sides just above her ears with shiny hair clips with legit diamonds on them.
Jae Kyung was about to speak but she noticed some servants and Prince Yi Eul’s makeup artists around them so she waited for them to finish. Seems like Prince Yi Eul noticed it so he signaled the servants to leave them so they could talk privately.
“So, what do you want to talk about?”
She couldn’t help but bit her lower lip as she responded to the Crown Prince. “Is it really necessary to let me meet them? I mean… it’s already three months. I don’t think it’s really necessary for me to meet your mother’s side of the family since we’ll not be going to stay longer as a couple… I will not stay longer as your wife.”
Prince Yi Eul paused for a second. He fixed the wrist cuffs of his sleeves before responding to Jae Kyung. “I thought about that too. But as you can see, it’ll be more suspicious if we’ll not show up to the dinner appointment, don’t you think? And it’ll be strange for them not to introduce my wife. Jae Kyung, don’t stress or worry yourself about this matter. It’s not like divorce is not a thing, in fact, it is the best way to get out of these troubles anyway.”
“Right…” Jae Kyung muttered and nodded. “You’re right, Your Highness.”
“Just do your job as a wife. You should act what a wife should act and do in front of them. Don’t cause any trouble,” Prince Yi Eul told her as he walked ahead of her. “Let’s go now.”
As soon as Prince Yi Eul went out of his own room, Jae Kyung tapped her chest and sighed. “I’m such an idiot.”
Why did I even say those things if I am just gonna feel myself hurting?
The travel was awfully silent, Jae Kyung observed. This is the fourth or the fifth time that they traveled like this in silence. Most of the time Prince Yi Eul will tease her or it’ll be the other way around and they’ll just going to bicker until they arrived at their destination.
But right now, it’s not the case.
Prince Yi Eul seemed uninterested to talk about anything as of this moment. As for Jae Kyung, after their conversation earlier, she just didn’t have the guts to talk to the Crown Prince right now.
She couldn’t help but sigh and just looked at the window, looking at the city lights starting to lit up around Seoul.
Haaah… this is the first time that I felt extremely tired…
“We’re here, Your Highnesses.”
As soon as the car stopped at their destination, the bodyguards immediately went out of their cars and stood beside the limousine where the Crown Prince and Jae Kyung were riding. Do Wan and the other bodyguard opened the limousine’s door and let Prince Yi Eul and Jae Kyung get out.
When Jae Kyung got out, her eyes immediately settled on a huge house in front of them. It may not be as large as the Crown Prince’s house but she could already tell how comfortable to live in the said house. It’s much, much larger than her house in Jeju and it is much fancier as well.
“Your Highness, I thought it’s a dinner appointment in a restaurant?” Jae Kyung immediately asked Prince Yi Eul as soon as she felt that he’s already standing on her side.
“Yeah but great-grandma changed her mind,” he responded and offered his arm to her. “Let’s go, they’re already waiting for us.”
“O-Okay…” she muttered nervously then she clung onto Prince Yi Eul’s arm. He glanced at her for a second then the two of them finally went inside the residence.
Even if they haven’t announced their arrival, the door suddenly opened and a beautiful lady around her early-50s showed up.
“Oh my gosh, my nephew! Finally, you arrived!” the lady said, greeting them as well.
Prince Yi Eul smiled and bowed at her. “It’s been a long time, auntie.”
The lady grinned at him and tiptoed to hug him. “Aigoo, this kid. You’ve grown up so fast! You have grown up so tall and gorgeous just like your auntie!” she let go of Prince Yi Eul and faced Jae Kyung who suddenly flinched when she met her eyes. “And you even brought a beautiful wife home! My, my, my baby Yi Eul-ie is already growing up~ I’m crying in happiness~”
Jae Kyung couldn’t help but snort after hearing what his aunt called him. Prince Yi Eul immediately glared at her which made her purse her lips into a thin line.
“Yeobo, let the kids come inside the house. They might be tired from the trip,” they heard a man’s voice inside the house in which Jae Kyung presumed that it’s Prince Yi Eul’s uncle.
“Right, right. Come in you two. Come in.”
“Thank you so much for having us here…” Jae Kyung said to them as a greeting.
“Wow! It’s Prince-hyung and his wife!” one of the kids said and immediately rushed to them to face them.
“Oh, say hello to your uncle and auntie, kids.”
The three kids—two boys and one girl bowed gracefully at the two of them. “Welcome to our humble home, Your Highnesses.”
Surprised, Jae Kyung immediately looked at Prince Yi Eul who actually looked proudly at his niece and nephews-in-law in front of them.
“Very good, kids,” a man just around his early-30s went to the kids and hugged them. “It’s been a long time since we saw each other, Yi Eul-ah.”
“Yeah, I finally managed to visit all of you, Chang Min-hyung,” Prince Yi Eul said, smiling at him. “And the kids were all grown up.”
“Yes, yes,” Chang Min’s eyes settled on Jae Kyung who’s now bowing at him. “I couldn’t imagine that you’re already married. I’m so happy for you.”
“Yeah, thanks, hyung.”
“Oh, halmeoni is here. You should greet her too then we proceed to the dining area. Ji Ah and Kwang Min were almost finished preparing the meal.”
“I never imagined that Kwang Min will really get interested in cooking,” he commented about his younger cousin. “That kid loves soccer more than anything else.”
“Me too. I’m really shocked that he became interested in cooking as well. I guess it’s good to see him like that.”
Prince Yi Eul and Jae Kyung’s gaze settled on the very old woman sitting in a rocking chair, silently watching them with her wrinkling smile on her face.
“Long time no see, halmeoni,” Prince Yi Eul said as he bowed in front of his great-grandmother. “I’m finally able to visit you.”
His great-grandmother only responded with a nod and smile and Prince Yi Eul understood that she’s happy to see him. Prince Yi Eul held Jae Kyung’s hand. “Halmeoni, I want to introduce to you my wife, Kim Jae Kyung.”
“Annyeong haseyo, halmeoni,” Jae Kyung bowed at the old lady in a much lower manner to give more respect. His great-grandmother even responded with a nod and smile and she didn’t know if she’s imagining or not but she obviously saw how the old lady’s eyes sparkle.
“Everyone, the food is ready!”
“Oh, we should eat first because we really have so many things to catch on to.”
“Right, right.”
Prince Yi Eul let go of Jae Kyung’s hand because one of his cousin’s kids wanted him to carry one of them so he did. Jae Kyung was about to follow suit when she felt someone holding her right hand. When she turned, it turns out it was Prince Yi Eul’s great-grandmother.
“You found him…” the great-grandmother muttered which actually made Jae Kyung stare at her in surprise. “You found your soulmate… and the one who will love you and be with you forever. But they are two different people so I hope you’ll choose wisely between the two of them because the two of them love you more than you do to one of them.”
That made Jae Kyung turn her head to Prince Yi Eul who’s now staring at him in confusion.
Could it be…
- Writer
