Princess Hours | SUKHOON | [✓]

Their Heartbreak

"I was thinking of a divorce."

The room went silent as the grave, the audience in the studio exchanged shocked looks on their faces while Jihoon clutched the knuckles of his fist until they turned white. There was sheer disappointment, but also an aching heartbreak. Those words were like daggers on his heart, on the little courage which he mustered up to present his raw, unplanned confession some moments ago.

The interviewer finally recovered from the silence and said, "Divorce? But-"

Hyunsuk stuttered badly as he tried to tackle the reaction to his choice of words,
"I...this wasn't...I meant.."

He was practically shaking and so, Jihoon immediately clasped their hands together, to calm him down. He stared at their fingers, intertwined, and felt some relief.

"That's true, we even thought about getting a divorce. We had decided not to mention it today, but he is too plain and honest."

"Can you elaborate, your highness."

Jihoon complied with the request, it was a live interview afterall.

"Like you know, our marriage was a result of a promise between our grandfathers, there was nothing convenient about it at first. We were total strangers and I couldn't consent it. However the choice was upon us and we decided to honour their belief in us. Now some things can't be explained in words but I'm very thankful for everything that happened."

Jihoon turned his face to look at Hyunsuk and with only affection filled in his eyes, he continued,

"And I'm even more thankful to my husband who must have made a tougher decision. The transition from a free willed commoner to a royal bound by the rules and regulations isn't easy, please consider how lonely and isolated he must've felt. He walked into the palace, into my life, he had to abandon a lot of things. He was always crying, yet he hid those tears and put on a smile while being by my side. I was the ice prince they told me, but he is like sunshine, he made me into a person, someone who can laugh and be happy. I ended up falling in love with him. Look into your heart, he is not perfect and is prone to mistakes but he is also only a human and is trying his best as my consort, as your 'crown princess'. The last thing I ask of you is to, forgive us."

The audience in the room bursted into applause and some of the reporters went busy wiping off their tears after listening to the earnest confession by the crown prince. The interview was wrapped up and the couple was rushed outside where a huge crowd of paparazzi was gathered. Hand in hand, they made it into the car safely but the moment it accelerated, Jihoon pulled his hand back with no empathy.

Hyunsuk was still processing everything, trying to judge the amount of truth in those words. In his position, the doubt even felt justifiable, because how was he to know if Jihoon had meant everything that he said or if it was just another facade put up for convenience like that fake smile of his he used to make for the pictures.

"Ji..jihoon...about what happened-"

"Don't. Don't speak." Jihoon had to shut Hyunsuk off, he knew that no conversation would do him a favour at the moment.

At the palace, the interview had wreaked a havoc, more specifically the mention of 'divorce' had sent the king in some towering rage. The couple was immediately summoned in the King's room upon their arrival at the palace.

"Are you saying you didn't know this would happen? I entrusted you into taking him and fixing everything but you only know how to create more trouble!"

Hyunsuk felt bad watching Jihoon take all the wrath and tried to intervene,

"I'm sorry your majesty.."