Reluctant Hearts | Jeong Yunho

Simplicity is Best

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.

The first rays of sunlight filter in through the gauzy curtains, painting the room in a soft, warm glow. The sounds of the castle coming to life reach your ears, from the muffled voices of the servants to the distant clattering of pots and pans in the kitchens.

A gentle knock at your door rouses you from your sleep, and the familiar voice of Jongho drifts through the wood. "Your Highness, it's time to rise. Breakfast will be served shortly," he calls out politely.

"I'll be out soon." You say softly.

"Take your time," Jongho replies through the door, his voice still carrying a hint of his typical courtesy. "Breakfast will be ready when you are."

You freshen up and make your way to the dining room, guided by the soft morning light and the familiar scent of breakfast. As you enter the room, you're greeted by the sight of a grand dining table, already set for the morning meal.

You spot Yunho and greet him. "Good morning."

"Good morning," Yunho responds with a polite nod. His eyes flit over you briefly, taking in your refreshed appearance. "I trust you slept well?" he asks, gesturing for you to take a seat at the table.

"I did, thank you for asking." You smile at him.

Yunho nods in acknowledgment, a small smile curling the corners of his mouth. "That's good to hear," he replies, his demeanor still restrained and polite. "I hope you find breakfast to your liking this morning." He gestures towards the spread on the table, which includes an assortment of fresh fruits, pastries, and other morning delicacies.

Yunho takes a seat at the table and begins to enjoy his breakfast. He seems to be in a somewhat better mood this morning, his expression less guarded and his demeanor more relaxed. As he eats, he glances up at you occasionally, his gaze inquisitive, as if he's trying to analyze your mannerisms and expressions.

You could feel Yunho staring so you decided to speak up. "Is there something on my face?" You raise your eyebrow.

Yunho clears his throat, his demeanor still a bit flustered. He takes a moment to collect his thoughts, his eyes darting to his plate before settling back on you. "I was just... contemplating some matters of the kingdom," he replies evasively, his tone somewhat vague as he tries to save his dignity.

"I believe best to share seeing as I will be the future queen alongside you." You say at an attempt to see how he would divert the conversation.

Yunho looks at you for a moment before nodding, his expression thoughtful. "I suppose you're right," he concedes. "As my future queen, it is your right to be informed about the kingdom's affairs."

You sighed as you realized he found a way out of it. "So then what were you thinking about?"

Yunho takes a deep breath and composes himself. He seems to be contemplating how much to share, weighing the information against the importance of your involvement. "I was thinking about the state of the kingdom's defenses," he says after a moment. "We've had some reports of potential threats from neighboring lands, and I'm considering how to strengthen our borders."

The topic at hand was always something you despised because in your opinion, it was too complex for absolutely no reason. "You know, you could always make peace with out neighboring kingdoms."

Yunho lets out a short sigh, a hint of resignation in his expression. "If only it were that simple," he says, a touch of cynicism in his voice. "Many of our neighbors are not as... agreeable as others. Some have had territorial disputes or ancient rivalries that make peaceful relations difficult, if not impossible, to achieve."

You take a moment to think. You thought back to all the history books you had read before speaking on the topic. "If i remember correctly it all started because the first king wanted all the land to himself. So is it really their fault?"

Yunho pauses, his expression turning thoughtful again. He seems impressed by your knowledge of history, a flicker of respect in his eyes. "You're correct," he admits, a hint of reluctance in his tone. "The conflicts do originate from the ambitions of the first king. But many years have passed, and grudges and grievances have been passed down through the generations, making forgiveness... difficult."

Hearing this you thought back to Jeno. "With all due respect, how could they forgive us if we're constantly calling for war and endangering the lives of not only our people but theirs as well."

Yunho's expression hardens a bit at the directness of your words. He seems somewhat taken aback by your bluntness but also sees the truth in what you're saying. "You're not wrong," he concedes, his tone a mixture of resignation and chagrin. "We have not always been blameless in our relations with our neighbors, and our calls for war have exacerbated the tensions."

"How about we start with a peace offering? You know slowly build their trust." 

Yunho raises his eyebrow at your suggestion, surprised by your practical thinking. After a moment of contemplation, he nods slightly. "You make a good point," he admits, his tone a touch more open. "I suppose a gesture of goodwill, however small, could help break the ice. Do you have any ideas in mind?"

You brainstorm ideas for a moment when you suddenly thought of one. "We could throw a ball, as well as give a speech and talk to the other Monarchs."

Yunho considers this for a moment, the wheels in his mind turning. "Hosting a ball... it's certainly not something we've done in a while," he muses, his mind racing with possibilities. "It could provide a platform for communication, perhaps. A neutral space where we can discuss the matters that have divided us."

"Correct me if I'm wrong but the neighboring kingdoms are supposed to be invited to the roya; wedding no?"

Yunho's face suddenly brightens as he recalls this fact. "You're right," he says, a hint of wonder in his voice. "The neighboring kingdoms do traditionally send gifts and representatives to royal weddings. It's a long-standing tradition that could be used to our advantage."

"Right so we'll start with the ball as a peace offering and slowly extend out friendship through the wedding." You smiled slightly satisfied with your idea.

Yunho nods in agreement, your plan starting to form a framework in his mind. "A ball followed by a wedding," he repeats, mulling over the idea. "It could work. The ball would serve as an opportunity to extend an olive branch, and the wedding would further solidify our peaceful intentions."

"Now that wasn't too hard was it?" You ask rather smug.

Yunho gives a slight, reluctant smile, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "No, I suppose not," he concedes, a touch of amusement in his voice. "You do have a way of simplifying things, don't you?"

You shrug your shoulders as you already knew this. "It's just that you overcomplicate things."

Yunho huffs a small laugh, a hint of good humor in his response. "Perhaps you're right," he admits, his tone a mixture of resignation and mirth. "I do have a tendency to get a bit caught up in the details, and lose sight of the bigger picture."

With that the days goes on with You and Yunho coming up with a solid plan on how to invite over the other kingdoms without causing a racket. Slowly but surely, the two of you were starting to get along.

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.

Authors note:

This is a rather short chapter but I hope you enjoy <3.

Like I said this story is pretty fast paced and well I personally hate stories that take forever to get to the point.