Ecidora| Woosan

38∙sweet adieu

Ryujin pushed the door open and stepped inside.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about the wedding, Wooyoung."

He shot her an exhausted glance, a 'do I have to?' look. He was happy here, why would one willingly turn himself in?
"You must remember why we agreed to marry. There will never be peace if we do not."
"There will always be a lack of peace, are you not aware of my circumstances?" He held out his arms, palms facing the sky to showcase his surroundings.

"Yes, I am aware of this, Wooyoung. It will be very brief, you may return to San as soon as it is over."
"Return to him?" He questioned. Her expression dropped, the ends of her lips curved downwards "Wooyoung, you didn't imagine San attending our wedding did you?"

Wooyoung thought about it, and unfortunately she was right. It wasn't safe for San to return as of right now. Plus, seeing his lover be wed to a woman would be inevitably soul crushing. He flopped down on the love seat beside him, his elbows retreating to his knees to hold his head in his hands as he thought.
"Wooyoung, if we do not marry, war may be preordained."
"Very well, then. I must tell San." Though he was in hiding, he still held the title of King, a war would be in his hands.

He ventured down the hall, peaking in different rooms until he spotted San, sitting on the tile with Nari as he combed through her dampened hair.

"San." He called from the doorway. San turned with a tiny jump, placing a hand over his heart.
"Christ, my love, you scared me." He chuckled, and stood from his position. Wooyoung's face stayed stuck in the same blank expression. "San I must go."
"Go where?"
"Return to Ecidora, to marry Ryujin. For the sake of placidity. And... It is safer for you to remain here."

San's face went blank, flushing of any color. He tightens his grip around the comb in his hands, unsure how to respond. He was upset, who wouldn't be? But he understood, this was nobody's fault. "Okay.." He sighed. Since the whole village often attended royal weddings, it was sure Jongho had to be there somewhere.
"Do you suppose we should return Nari to her father then?" He turned to the oblivious little girl wrapped in a towel on the floor.

"I think that is a good idea."
"I suppose I will stay."
Wooyoung dismally nodded. All he could do was open his arms. San gratefully accepted the embrace; it wasn't sad persay, more daunting than anything else.
"I will get her ready." San spoke as he detached from the hug. Wooyoung simply nodded and trailed back toward the living room.

"Give us just one moment. Then I will be ready."
She set a hand atop his shoulder "Do not rush just for me. It's alright." Ryujin trailed her hand down his arm to his hand, interlocking it with her own,
"I understand this is abrupt, but remember we will not actually be wed. You may return to San as soon as you can." He looked down at their interlocked fingers, and gave a small reassuring headnod.

"I will be right out." He turned and started back down the hall. This time an indisposed feeling filling his stomach to the brim, like she had said this was not permanent, but for some reason he felt undeniably sick.