snowflake ☆ k.dy ☆ ayakashi series | ✔

doyoung [thirty-five]

The next morning you woke up feeling rested. Since Erethulia was a few hours behind your hometown, you always got to "sleep in" before having to go to breakfast. That, paired with the fact that you got to finally wake up next to the man you loved, had you in a bright mood as soon as you rolled over and laid eyes on him.

Doyoung was already awake, and already looking at you with hard features.

"Good morning!" You chirped, scooting a little closer to him. "You've got your thinking face on, what's up?

"Good morning to you, too," he had clearly tried to lighten his tone, but his face still held concern. "And uhm, I've got something to tell you."

"Wait, I want to tell you something first." You wiggled even closer, until your faces were mere inches apart.

"Hm?"

"I love you."

His tense gaze turned soft as a smile split his lips, "That's what I was going to say. I love you too."

Your mouths met halfway as you shared a short but sweet kiss, and pure happiness swelled up in your chest. His lips were cold, like always, and you were heated up from within, like always. But the sad look in Doyoung's eyes when you pulled back to gaze into them was different.

Right as that thought had registered in your mind, Doyoung gave you a short peck on your furrowing brow before switching gears in your conversation.

"Anyway, today I've got more boring meetings to do. Minhee has already agreed to take you out to see more of the natural wonders of Erethulia, though."

You decided to leave your fresh worries alone for now, "Sounds good. But I want you to know that I'd like to be included in your 'boring Prince meetings' one of these days, if you'd be comfortable with that. I love you, and I love Erethulia, and its people and I want to be able to help them. I'm getting more powerful as an Onmyoji, I want to do something for you and everyone else."

"Oh, Y/N, I love you so much," Doyoung blurted out, almost sounding pained. "But today's meeting really is boring stuff, though, it's about the economy of our upcoming harvest."

"I'm really bad at math," you admitted sheepishly. "Maybe I'll sit this one out."

"Good idea."

"But I'm serious about wanting to help and be part of the solution, snowflake."

"I know, love, thank you."

☆

"So where to, Min?" You asked as soon as you had met up with your friend by the town marketplace.

There were a few vendors out, some selling food, others functional wares, and the odd few trinkets and charms. Your eyes scanned over one display, but unfortunately it seemed like the seller was beginning to pack up for the day. That was strange, it wasn't even nearly lunchtime. In fact, many of the sellers were closing down their stands.

"Uh, there's a trail through the forest by the valley. It's safe now that you banished the Wraiths," she explained, gesturing with her head down away from the peak. "Come, Onmyoji."

As you began to follow her down the flights of stairs, your path was hindered by the surprisingly large crowd of people going in the opposite direction as you. In fact, it seemed as though most of Erethulia was headed up while you were going down.

A shoulder bumped you just a bit too hard, and you nearly lost your balance. Minhee caught you by the elbow, and you thanked her quietly.

"Where're they all going?" You asked her, as more of an off-hand curious query, expecting a casual guess or shrug.