The queen and her husband sat in the two tallest, iron chairs behind the long, table in the large room. They watched you both enter hand in hand, just as they had seen you do before. As the heavy door shut behind my back, Taehyung led me to a chair across from his parents. Sitting you down first, he then takes his own seat beside me. His choice of opting to sit beside me instead of his parents confused you for a moment until he took my hand in his again beneath the iron table top.
"I apologize for interrupting your morning session, dahyun," the queen softly called. Though aged from the first time i met her, she was still carrying herself with the same grace and beauty i had remembered all those years ago.
"It's alright, Majesty. My mother is finishing up the offering with the monks and I can return to the shrine to finish my devotion before midday." my voice was rigid from me trying to keep my nervousness undetected. i felt Taehyung's hand tighten in my grip as he ran his thumb over my knuckles to calm myself down. i had to strain to hear the royal family's words over the sound of my heart in my ears.
"We won't keep you long," the king announced. He looked at me and then to his son before he closed his eyes. His hands came up to rest in front of his mouth, fingers interlaced as his elbows rested on the iron table. "Would you say you enjoy my son's company, Dahyun" The king's directness made me jolt. With the smallest pink tinted cheeks, i glanced at Taehyung, seeing him only looking at his father with inquisitive eyes.
"I would. I greatly enjoy the Prince's company." i answered with a smile that spread unconsciously to the set of royal parents in front of you when i directed my gaze back to the pair.
"As you know," the queen started in place of her husband, "Taehyung is the heir to the Serpent King; however, as you may have noticed, our son has a special connection with you particularly." i lifted my eyebrow at this. Since when had the prince and i had a special connection? In truth, Taehyung never told me that he could feel what i feel when you sing and can pinpoint your location as your voice carries to the sky like a beacon. His grip in my hand falters.
"Mother," he warned. He didn't want you to know in fear that i would find it invasive. What if i found out and i hated it and locked up my voice in retaliation?
He thought his heart would shrivel up and die if she stopped singing.
"Our son is able to hear your songs from any location on the island, we believe that it's due to not only your bond you've built over the years, but also your spiritual power." i remained silent as i took in the information. i had known Taehyung could hear you, but from such a wide scope? That shocked you. "Taehyung and you share a special bond, that much we are certain, so my husband and I spoke with Lady Lily."
My back straightened as the mention of my mother. "You spoke with my mother? About what, might I ask?"
"It is our intent to have you both become engaged to marry."
i felt your heart stop at the king's declaration. Engaged to marry? You and Taehyung? At this age what? my heart began to speed up, doing somersaults in my chest as i grip on the prince's hand slacked. i turned to look at the preteen prince.
"Me, marry the-," i cut myself off, unable to speak the words. my young cheeks flushed hot when Taehyung turned to look at me, pulling my hand tighter against his under the table. Making up for the space i created when i pulled away. His golden eyes burned into mine as he then turned back to his father.
"I'm willing to go through with it," the young prince announced, shocking me and my heart. "That is," he turned his sights back to you, a soft smile on his face replacing his previous look, "if Dahyun agrees as well." The queen had to hide a smile behind the back of her hand as my face wouldn't cool down. i looked down to the hand he held out of his parents' sight before taking a breath.
It wouldn't be selfish to want this- i look back up at him with hopeful eyes- right? Smiling back after a heartbeat or two, i turned to his parents and lowered my head.
