"So you played with his heart and now he's becoming king. He WILL have you decapitated", he lightheartedly laughed and I smacked his arm.
"I hate that you're right", I stated with doe eyes.
"Hey, but maybe you can become his queen!"
"Yeah, sure thin...
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"My life is really not that interesting", Taeyang smiled before taking a sip of the water. She noticed her fingers trembling out of pure nervousness. "I just hope Taehyun thinks I have done a good job".
"You have", all the boys said at the same time. Taeyang smiled while her cheeks burned red.
"Well, thanks guys. I mean your majesties...", she looked away in pure embarrassment. She was not made to be having supper with the royal family, in front of the Queen of Korea, and having all eyes on her.
"Well, as I see Taehyun is a very nice young man. Taeyang, dear, you have worked hard to sustain your family, and that is exemplary and a thing to be proud of", the Queen replied. "I think you will make a perfect Queen".
"Mom!", Yeonjun was now the one to blush. Taeyang just smiled, her face about to explode, and she looked away from the Queen's eyes.
"What? We Chois don't just date to date", the Queen replied with a shrug. "We find the love of our lives and date to marry. To settle. To reign".
To reign.
"I mean ruling a country is a big thing", Taehyun commented. "And they're just boyfriend and girlfriend, so I don't think we should think about that just yet".
"Reign is definitely a big word", Taeyang added. The Queen looked at her silently, which was maybe worse than saying anything at all. Her silence was almost as loud as a scream.
How dare you, then, date THE KING?!
Or something similar. That's what Taeyang was assuming the Queen wanted to say. Or scream.
"I think you'll end up finding it very fulfilling. I wasn't fond of being a Queen either, and our marriage was arranged in the beginning, but I learned to love the job while falling in love with my husband. Now, you're dating, so it should make it easier".
"Mom!", Yeonjun almost whined. "I'm not going to marry Taeyang".
She'd lie if she said that didn't stink a little.
"Not until we really love each other. And I won't force her to reign next to me if she doesn't want to".
"Dearest..."
"No, mom. I'm not about to let her be unhappy just because I am not a normal guy. Taeyang, I want you to choose me for me, and not balance things like "reigning", or "being a role model" into your decision. Our relationship is and will always be about you and me. Us. And if you choose you don't want me, then I want to make sure it's me, and not all this scary kingdom stuff making the decision instead".
Taeyang could feel her heart pumping with so much joy. Yeonjun cared for her. He cared for her so much he was willing to stand up to his mother, which she knew was a scary woman, full of power and who always had the last word. Yet Yeonjun wasn't letting the Queen be a Queen in what was family matters.
His and Taeyang's relationship shouldn't even be a family matter, yet in a family like Yeonjun's Taeyang could understand everyone thought they had a said. But they didn't. And now they all knew so.
"Choi Yeonjun", was all the Queen needed to say for there to be complete silence.
"I will not backtrack on my words".
"And I wouldn't have it any other way", the woman smiled. The silence kept on as she cut her meat diligently and then tossed a small piece in her mouth. After she finished chewing, she addressed the astonished bunch. "You have proved that you are a man. Old and mature enough to step up to your mother, responsible enough to not make a decision that is supposed to be taken by two people on your own. I am so proud of you, Yeonjun. But I am your mother, and if you dare your voice get to that high volume ever again, we will certainly have an issue".
Just then Yeonjun sat down again. Taeyang could feel the air becoming softer by the second, and she reached for her water once again.
"Now, let's eat", the Queen smiled, looking amused herself by what has just transpired. "I did not have my chef cook this beef steak perfectly for it to be eaten cold", she smiled. "Please".
"Mom, did you know Soobin..."
"No!", Soobin almost launched onto his dongsaeng, and then all the tension was gone.
Taeyang smiled through the whole dinner. It had been some time since she had witnessed a loud dinner. She wondered how Kai was doing. She wondered if Taehyun missed him.
"That was a bit awkward, wasn't it?" Yeonjun came to her to the balcony that overlooked the japanese garden.
"Well, a bit", she shrugged as he atood next to her.
"I just want you to know that I meant what I said. I mean, I hope this works out, because it feels like I am falling for you so hard. But I want you to choose me for me, not for being a King. And if you reject me, I want you to reject me, not a King".
"I know", her hand went on top of his, that was holding onto the railing. "I know you feel that way", she now turned to face him, her hip holding her against the railing. He turned to face her too, his tall figure looking so perfect in the half-dark night.
"Good", he smiled.
"Good", she smiled back. "It's scary", she aaid after a while. Her hand was still holdong onto his, and he was caressing her fingers with his, making goosebumps travel all the way up her arm and down her spine.
"Yeah, I know", he sighed. "I wished it wasn't this scary".
"I think it's good that I am scared. Mom used to say we feel scared about the things we care about".
Yeonjun bit his lip yet said nothing. He just looked at her with a small smile and let out a small huff of air.
