pick me, 1 0 1

12. Park Woojin | Within His Heart

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Summary: Prince Woojin is set to marry in the spring, and the idea of an arranged marriage only sours the young prince. Instead he is interested in someone he shouldn't even consider.

Characters: Park Woojin x reader

Genre: Royal!AU, romance, fluff

Word count: 1790

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It was two in the afternoon and Prince Woojin knew very well he was meant to be in the library with Master Nam, learning of the moon and stars today. Instead he had escaped the palace walls, donned inconspicuous clothing and was walking the streets of the city.

It was these times where he felt the most alive, enjoying the atmosphere of the market stalls, the laughter and the scurry of the people surrounding him.

The streets were a stark difference to the palace, where order and quiet controlled the environment.

The young prince found the pressure of maintaining his royal expectations difficult. At eighteen, he wanted to be like other boys his age, exploring the countryside, helping their family, spending time with friends, laughing and joking around and going out to play sports. Instead his schedule from dawn to dusk required the prince to learn all of the world, history, the skies, and most importantly, how to succeed at being the crowned Prince. For years now he had been separated from his younger siblings, all in training for this moment in time to arrive.

Woojin however would gladly give it all up, knowing full well what would be occurring with the first blossom of Spring.

"You will marry," his Father had announced the day previous, his stern expression giving the younger boy no option of protest. "We will begin the search for your bride through the elite immediately."

"All hail the King!" choruses of voices behind them exclaimed as the court bowed and repeated their statement several times over, Woojin wishing to have at least a say in who he took a hand in marriage to.

There had been a small amount of excitement within him a month previous, when the first sign of his impending crowning ceremony was spoken of. The idea of having a wife would surely remove some of the burdens of loneliness he felt within the palace. He had read many fantastical novels in his years, of love and life with a soulmate. He had dreamed of meeting a girl, who would make his heart sing for her, to complete his world and grow old with.

He soon learned there would be little of that. He would not be able to choose his bride himself. Although he had known this for some time, Woojin had still been hopeful to find someone who captured him within the elite circles. He had done his homework, leaving the palace on several occasions to seek out who may be chosen as his partner.

The first two girls were very pretty, but had less than desirable traits. The next three were superficial and only cared for the status of becoming a future princess and then queen. There was no thought to what their husband would be like, only on how to improve their ranking in all of Joseon.

It was on these outings that the prince found the calling he had hoped for however. It was within the Jeong household where he had first seen you, his attention falling from the head of the house and his description of the family wealth and status. You were carrying a large box across the courtyard, struggling with the weight, and yet your face showed determination to succeed with the task. He had smiled, finding the trait within you attractive.

Again as he went to leave the household, he had found you once more, scrubbing at a large bowl whilst singing a song gleefully. Your voice had imprinted in his mind then, and made him feel giddy, causing him to forget to lift his foot over the gate to the home and fall face first into the dirt.