The Seven Wives of Jeon Jungkook

Sudden

The dining hall is surprisingly welcoming, despite the unsavory stories she had heard about its gloomy nature.

Large, glass-stained windows line the walls that extend up to a high ceiling, where a golden chandelier hangs glittering in her eyes.

It's beautiful.

She wanders around the room, running her fingers against the soft petals of flowers decorating each corner of the room.

The sound of a door opening causes her to spin around in panic. Hiding her hands behind her back, playing with her fingers nervously.

A guard walks in, facial expression stiff as he makes no eye contact with her.

"The King has arrived" is all he says before bowing deeply to her and sliding out of the door quickly.

Her heartbeat increases rapidly as she anticipates the man.

She finds her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him.

Clad in a black tunic with gold embroidery and black trousers, he's breathtaking.

His hair is styled up, exposing his forehead.

He walks with an air of confidence as he approaches her now frozen figure.

He smiles, devilishly Areum's words echo in her head as he takes her left hand in his, kissing it ever so softly.

"Beautiful." his velvet voice hums through her.

"Shall we?"

She nods, voice caught in her throat.

Not letting go of her hand, he tugs her gently along with him as they walk. They walk past the dining table towards a pair of doors that open as they approach it.

She's confused, eyeing the table as they leave the dining hall. He notices smiling to himself.

"Dining halls always make things awkward. I'd prefer the garden." he winks at her.

The garden is marvelous.

An array of flowers splays out before them. Different colors and types decorate the vast space. Huge patches of rose bushes hug the sides of the castle walls as vines climbed their way up, butterflies flit about their wings painted beautifully. A large, white, three-tier marble fountain stood in the center of it all. Water flowed from the shell of a sculpted mermaid sitting atop it.

Fluffy, white tree seeds fly around them, swaying with the warm breeze. It was like walking into a fairy tale. They walk along a cobblestone path.

Forgetting about him momentarily, she reaches out and runs her fingertips across a vibrant, yellow lily.

He chuckles, drawing her attention back.

Realization dawns upon her and she tugs her hand from his grasp, hiding it behind her back as a blush creeps up to her cheeks.

"you don't have to be so coy around me Ji Eun"

Her head snaps up at her name, tilting it confused.

"How do you know my name?"

A smile plays upon his lips.

"I know the names of my people".

"Do you now?" she feels a little braver, "What's the name of the guy who owns the fruit stall I was buying from yesterday?"

He pauses, caught off guard.

She grins playfully.

"Fine, you got me." he lifts his hands jokingly in surrender.