"I can't do this anymore, Hyung Sik. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'm not enough. I'm sorry I can't give you a child. I'm sorry I can't give an heir to this kingdom. I have failed as a wife. I have failed as the queen. I am so sorry," Bo-Young fell to her knees, her heart pouring out in tears. In that moment, she found solace in the embrace of Hyung Sik, whose heart shattered as he witnessed his wife break before his eyes.
Gently holding her, Hyung Sik whispered, "Shh...don't cry, my love. You are more than enough for me. Please don't weep like this." His soothing words washed over her, offering a glimmer of comfort amidsther despair.
"Perhaps your mother is right. Maybe you should listen to her. Perhaps you should consider marrying again. The kingdom needs an heir," Bo-Young pleaded, her eyes silently begging for a different outcome. Hyung Sik knew his mother's influence had once again wounded his beloved. "Don't pay attention to her, my love. She speaks nonsense. I am still strong and young enough to rule, and if something were to happen to me, I have my younger brother," he assured her, his voice filled with determination.
He continued to rock her back and forth, uttering soothing words to halt her tears. Gradually, her sobs transformed into sniffles as she sought solace in his comforting presence.
Cupping Bo-Young's tear-streaked face with his large hands, Hyung Sik wiped away her tears gently. "We still have time. We can continue trying," he said, his voice filled with unwavering hope. His touch and words reassured her, offering a glimmer of optimism amidst the darkness of her thoughts. "Don't cry. You don't look beautiful when you cry," he teased, managing to coax a faint smile from Bo-Young's lips.
"Let's go to bed. I'm exhausted after today," Bo-Young said, her voice slightly trembling from the emotional ordeal. They both lay down, seeking solace in each other's arms, as the weight of their worries gradually dissipated, succumbing to the comforting silence that enveloped them.
As they lay together, the quietude allowed their minds to wander and hope to take root. Breaking the stillness, Hyung Sik's voice filled the room. "What shall we name our baby?" he suddenly voiced his thoughts. Startled, Bo-Young whispered in a small voice, "What?"
"What should we name our baby? We need to be prepared," the King explained, his gaze fixed on his wife's bewildered face. Overwhelmed with emotions, Bo-Young's voice quivered as she responded, "I don't think we can ever have a baby together." Her expression was filled with sorrow and a tinge of fear.
"Don't be negative, my love," Hyung Sik reassured her, his voice infused with unwavering optimism. "I am confident that we will become parents to a little version of you," he said, chuckling softly, as he cherished the possibility of their future family.
"Ji Min," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Huh?" Hyung Sik questioned, eager to understand her choice. "Park Ji Min. Regardless of the baby's gender, I want them to be named Jimin," she declared, her eyes shining with the anticipation of having a child. Her voice, though soft, carried a sense of determination and longing.
"Ambitious, gentle, and clever," Hyung Sik repeated, his smile tender and filled with love. "Then it is settled. Our beautiful star, Jimin," he proclaimed, sealing their shared vision of the future.
...........................................................................
"-r Majesty, Your Majesty," Hyung Sik snapped out of his reverie, returning to reality. He turned his attention to the Queen Mother, her presence a reminder of the responsibilities that awaited him. "What did you ask?" His voice came across colder than he intended, a reflection of the lingering pain that resided within him.
The Queen Mother rolled her eyes in annoyance, briefly exasperated by her son's distracted demeanor. "He asked if you have any ideas for the princess's name," she said, her tone carrying a touch of impatience. The King shifted his gaze towards his baby girl, wrapped in a peaceful slumber within the maid's arms.
"I was thinking about Soo Young. It would be fitting for a royal-" The Queen Mother's sentence was abruptly cut off by Hyung Sik's firm interruption. "Ji Min," he declared, his voice leaving no room for argument. His eyes locked onto the Queen Mother's, his determination evident in his unwavering stare.
The Queen Mother looked at her son in disbelief, her initial shock giving way to a hint of resistance. "What kind of name is that?" she questioned, disapproving of her son's choice. In that moment, a clash of wills filled the air, each asserting their vision for the future.
"Her name will be Park Ji Min," the King stated resolutely, his voice carrying the weight of his unwavering conviction. His gaze remained fixed, challenging anyone who dared oppose his decision. The chamber fell into an uneasy silence, the tension palpable.
Since the passing of the Queen, it had become no secret that the King had changed. His once warm demeanor had grown cold and distant, replaced by a stern and disciplined ruler. The weight of grief had left an indelible mark on his soul, and the radiance that once danced within his eyes had dimmed. Yet, amidst this change, he remained just, committed to upholding the legacy left behind by his beloved Queen.
The Queen Mother cleared her throat, breaking the silence that enveloped them. "Very well then, Ji Min," she conceded. Then, with another glance at the princess, she spun on her heels and exited the room.
"Give her to me and leave," Hyung Sik instructed the maid, his voice firm yet tinged with an undercurrent of tenderness. The maid carefully placed the princess into her father's waiting arms, offering a respectful bow before quietly exiting the chamber, leaving father and daughter in solitude.
In the intimate embrace of this sacred moment, the King held his daughter close, cherishing the fragile life entrusted to him. As he gazed upon her peaceful countenance, a wave of emotions washed over him.
"My little princess, Jimin," he whispered, his voice barely above a breath. "I promise, Appa will protect you from anything that may seek to harm you. I will never let you feel unloved or alone because your Eomma is no longer here. You are my precious cherry blossom, the guiding light that will illuminate our path forward," he murmured, his lips tenderly brushing against his daughter's forehead.
"In twilight's embrace, a love blooms anew,
Her gentle grace, a reflection so true.
A daughter's gaze, echoes of a cherished past,
In her eyes, his late love's legacy shall last"
