The Spoiled Prince || WooSanSang

Proposals

Yeosang's meeting with the princess--Chaeryeong, his mother told him, wasn't until two days later. He was glad for it, he needed the time to accept his new reality. Meanwhile, San was still so busy that Yeosang almost regretted sharing his idea to become a knight for all their lost time together. He hadn't even gotten a chance to tell San all that had happened.

He spent the days trying to distract himself with either classes or Wooyoung, and then the moment he'd been half-dreading came. For some reason, Yeosang didn't want Wooyoung to be there for the meeting. Not because he didn't trust him, of course, but he could not imagine it to be pleasant for his guard to watch Yeosang meet with his potential bride. Wooyoung seemed reluctant but agreed to wait outside.

Yeosang got there early yet only waited for less than five minutes in one of the castle's many sitting rooms before Chaeryeong entered. Remembering to act as a prince, something he'd found himself forgetting to do with San and Wooyoung lately, Yeosang rose to greet her, taking her delicate hand and kissing the knuckles. Already, this was more effort than he'd made for any other girl. "Welcome, princess."

Chaeryeong's smile was small but not shy. "Your kingdom is lovely, Prince Yeosang."

Yeosang led her to a chair before sitting across from her, a platter of refreshments on the table between them. "You must have enjoyed our dance very much to have invited me back here," the princess said.

"You are a skilled dancer," Yeosang replied, which was not so much flattery as the truth.

The two got to talking. Small talk, for what other kind of talk was there in only their second meeting. Chaeryeong was nice enough. She was fine. Normal. Perhaps Yeosang would have wanted to be her friend if he hadn't been forced to find a bride instead.

"Do you enjoy my company, princess?" Yeosang asked.

Chaeryeong hesitated to answer just long enough that Yeosang feared she would say she did not. "I do..." she trailed off. "Though, I admit that if it were up to me, I would not be entering any courtships at all. It is my mother who wishes me to find a husband."

"It seems we are in very much the same position, then," Yeosang told her, feeling somewhat relieved that he was not the only royal his age who wasn't in a hurry to marry. He took a deep breath, not quite believing what he was about to say.

Then, to stall further, he picked a random appetizer from the assortment and popped it in his mouth. He chewed, barely tasting, considering his next words carefully. "As I am sure you are aware," he said after he swallowed. "I am the Crown Prince of Aurora." Chaeryeong nodded, so he continued. "If we were to marry, you would become the Queen. Is that...something you would be interested in?"

Chaeryeong's eyebrows knotted. "Prince, this is only our second meeting."

"Indeed." Yeosang looked between Chaeryeong and her guard, unsure whether he should confess the truth about his father. "Yet, there is something pressing that causes my need to marry very soon."

"I see. So, you are attempting to marry the very first princess you can?" She didn't seem offended, just curious.

"Truthfully, you are the only princess I have ever met twice," Yeosang confessed. "I am aware that it is impossible to fall in love in such a short amount of time, but it seems that our marriage would be mutually beneficial. You could be a Queen. I ask of you to consider this." With each word, Yeosang felt himself lose more of his pride. He was practically begging her to marry him.

Chaeryeong took a graceful sip of her water. "I have always wanted to marry for love, but what you speak is true. I shall consider."

Yeosang felt both relieved and panicked. One step closer to becoming King, yet one step closer to marrying someone he could never love.