My Rival, My Love

Chapter X: The Ascendancy Of His Majesty

CHAE ESTATE

HYUNGWON'S POV

"APPA!"

I shouted as I kicked the doors of our front entrance open!

"Hyungwon! You don't have to shout like that!" Hyunwoo said as he rushed behind me.

"NOT SHOUT LIKE THAT?! AS IF! YAH! APPA! WHERE ARE YOU OLD MAN?!"

"What's the meaning of this?! Why are you shouting?!"

FINALLY!

HE'S HERE!

"YAH! WHAT THE HECK?! NAM HAYOON! SHE'S MY FIANCEE?! AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE?! HAVE YOU FINALLY GONE INSANE?!"

"Ah! The two of you have finally met! How was she?"

"HOW WAS SHE?! HOW WAS SHE?!"

I couldn't help myself!

I was about to flung myself towards my crazy father when Hyunwoo stopped me by hugging me from behind!

"GET OFF! YAH! SON HYUNWOO! I SAID GET OFF ME! THIS OLD MAN OF MINE NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT A LESSON!"

"Yah! Calm down!" replied Hyunwoo.

"Hyungwon-ah!" It was my mother!

"EOMMA! DID YOU KNOW THIS ARRANGED MARRIAGE THING?!"

"Um well... calm down first... ah... let's all talk in your father's study room, okay? Come on now... Dear, let's go up."

Hyunwoo finally let go of me as we all went up and entered my father's study room.

"Don't shout too much, okay?" Hyunwoo told me.

"I can't promise that AT ALL." I replied.

"Hyunwoo dear, can you make us some tea please?" My mom told him.

"Sure ma'am." Hyunwoo turned around and went back to go downstairs.

As soon as the three of us were inside, I closed the door behind me.

"Explain. NOW."

"I'm sure Hayoon explained it to you already, right?" my dad asked me.

"Yes she did but I want to hear it from you guys."

"Okay. Remember that surprise I was talking about last time?"

"Yes and this was it? An arranged marriage?!"

"Precisely. You should be happy! The Nam Group is among the top conglomerates of this country! Having their support with us is an immense asset! What more once their allies rally to our cause! That blasted royal family won't stand a chance!"

"This is all just stupid! An arranged marriage in this century?! COME ON DAD!"

"That kind of thing is perfectly normal for families like us. What do you call the crown princess' engagement to the prime minister's son then? Well? Anyways, her dad has stated to me that the King looks as if he wants to be an absolute monarch again. He'll just plunge this nation to chaos if he does so! He has a bill in the National Assembly right now and tomorrow, it'll be voted on; once it passes, it'll restore to the King the power and decision making on foreign affairs and defense. Do you have any idea how serious the consequences of that will be?! That's why your engagement to Hayoon and the binding of our two families into one will be seen by the people as their hope in countering the King and whatever megalomania policies he's thinking of! Do you understand now?"

"The only thing I understood was you're using me as a pawn for your stupid rivalry with the King! I can't stand it anymore dad! Stop this RIGHT NOW!"