The Unknown History

46

Yeonseo sat still in front of Yeongwon's cot. Sunoo had gone out of the palace early for Heejin's funeral. And Jungwon was nowhere to be seen. After the accident of her son being shot in the head, she and Jungwon haven't spoken to each other ever since.

She stood up and approached the cot slowly, suppressing her tears. Her hand reached to touch the wooden carvings. Her heart started to sink little by little.

She closed her eyes and imagined how Yeongwon would run around the palace with the workers chasing after him. And how Sunoo and Heejin would adore him and let him do whatever he wants. She dreamt of how Jungwon would read stories to him every night with her watching secretly from the doorway.

The door to her bedroom opened, revealing Mr Bae with a tray of medicine. "Your Highness, it's time for you to eat your herb medicine."

She ignored him and sighed, still facing the cot. Mr Bae gulped down his saliva and stood next to her hesitantly, "I am so sorry for your loss, Your Highness."

He saw her tears start trickling down. She wiped them and finally glanced at him, "Where's Jungwon?"

"He's at Yang Yeongwon's grave, Your Highness."

She scoffed and fiddled with her fingers, "He's going to sleep there for the night if we don't tell him to come home."

"Perhaps you would like to see him there? I know you both haven't spoken to each other."

The princess thought for a while as she took a bowl of medicine drink that was handed by him.

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"I just want you to know that your mother and I love you very much, Yeongwon-ah," Jungwon read the last page of his son's memoir before closing it. He sighed and stared at the tomb made for his son.

A wooden sign that had 'Yang Yeongwon, loved by all' carved into it. He wiped the tear that escaped and let the wind brush against his skin.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching him and turned around, seeing his wife walking next to Mr Bae. The servant bowed and stood at the back, letting the couple have their privacy.

Yeonseo sat next to him and took the memoir, "I always imagine Yeongwon reading this and laughing with us."

"I'm a bad father. If I had stopped Sunghoon, Yeongwon would've been safe and we both could watch him grow up into a decent man."

She scooted closer towards him and rested her head against his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her head, "I didn't even get to spend time with him for that long."

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Sunoo put a bouquet of tulips next to Heejin's tomb sign. Her tomb was placed next to his beloved father. He sat near the tomb and sighed, "You protected my dearest sister and even helped me handle the kingdom. How can I find someone else as great and lovable as you? You are irreplaceable, Hwang Heejin."

The thoughts of how her eyes sparkle whenever he visits her office out of the blue, the time he surprises her with her favourite meals and the time he gave her surprise hugs crossed his mind. How happy she looked at that time. It still amazed him.

It amazed him how in love he was with his wife. Heejin was his first love and she will be his last.

"I should've been the one who took the arrow instead of you."

"When I first met you, there were flowers around you. Or was it just my imagination?"

"Still, even if you stood in a garden filled with beautiful flowers, you are still the prettiest flower I've ever found."

"You are the best queen and the best wife I could ever have. And it still feels wrong to have you as my wife because I keep thinking you deserve better."

"I love you, Hwang Heejin. Always and forever."