promise ↜ ljn

♕ fourteen

The week went by and without they realised it, the King and Queen decided it was time for them to leave as well. Of course, before they decided to do so they had to go through another ceremony.

"Stay courageous and be kind, my dear."

Yoon Oh's mother said as she put on the crown on Haneul's head. It felt foreign, the crown felt a little more weight than her tiara. She had to get used to this but nonetheless, the former princess smiled at her in law.

The ceremony ended with a parade, beginning with the new King and Queen followed by another carriage of the former one. She felt a hand slipped into hers and find its way to Yoon Oh's. Though she felt uneasy around him, but the lady had to keep it to herself. The people didn't need to know.

Haneul caught herself staring at him when he turned from his scenery outside the carriage and towards her instead. The momentarily eye contact made her nervous again and she thought of looking away. However, Yoon Oh brought a hand to her head and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. His actions made her froze in her spot.

The new queen regained consciousness and quickly looked away. Still, she couldn't help but to wonder about her heart which was about to burst and their joint hands. "They seem to really love you." She commented, glancing at the people outside waving to them.

"My father was a really friendly king, we were brought up to see the lives of people. So yes, they loved us." Yoon Oh replied, his eyes following her gaze as he took a look at the people of the kingdom outside as well. "They'll love you too, once they know you better." His grip on her tightened slightly.

Haneul turned to give him a small smile. She rarely got the chance to see her people back in the kingdom. Maybe, this would truly be a new start of her life.

〚 王 〛

"Haneul, I have to tell you something." Jeno started, the named girl lifted an eyebrow. A gesture that she was curious, and motioned for him to go on. The male looked somewhere else for a while, and unknowingly, she followed what he did.

"I'm leaving as well."

The queen would've expected for herself to jump into questions asking him from this mini surprise but instead she felt completely normal. It must've been the effect after sending so many people away from this very palace.

"To where would you go?" She asked, Haneul couldn't figure out why she was lacking in emotions. "I'd have to run some early preparations before I train with the rest of the chevaliers." He said, he was careful to watch her reaction. Haneul kept quiet for a while, thinking.

She knew most princes would have to go through that if they weren't set for the crown. They'd be the banneret, the general of the other warriors. It would be harsh training, but Jeno wouldn't be affected much as he would be the one to command, but still, he'd be so far away.

"For how long?" Only then her emotions came, she felt sad to let him go. The thought of not seeing him for months would be devastating as Haneul had no one else. "A week first, then after everything is prepared, I'd leave for 2 years?" He managed to smile, it wasn't for her, he wanted to reassure himself as well.

Haneul couldn't reply the smile, she wasn't being dramatic, she was worried for him. The girl could clearly remember what Donghyuck used to say when he felt glad that he wouldn't have to join the fighters. He called it hell though he never truly experienced it.

She opened her mouth to say something, to tell him not to go but it wasn't possible even if she wanted it to. "I'll be fine," Jeno paused for a while. "I hope you'll be fine as well." He took her hand. Jeno stared at it for a while, more particularly the ring on her finger before he brought his eyes up to her face.

"Am I stopping you?" Haneul asked, she didn't want to be a burden he should never carry. She wanted him to do things freely as he wanted it to be. Jeno nodded slightly as a joke.

Haneul took his other hand and looked at him sincerely. "My father used to say this to me whenever I wanted something but I hesitated; Push forward, leave everything and never look back." At the quote, Jeno chuckled. He wasn't belittling her, he found it cute that she was doing this to him.

"I'll keep that in mind." He said as he released one hand and both of them started strolling inside the garden. "Make sure you are back in one piece." Haneul stated but she looked away instead of at him. "Anything for the Queen." He smiled.

Every time he flashed his smile, Haneul couldn't help but to chuckle. She loved it a lot, the crescents his eyes formed, sincerity was pouring out from his expression. He was calming indeed and she appreciated to have him around her.

"Don't talk to other princes, except my brother. You're only allowed to look at him, but not too long." Jeno warned out of the blue causing both of them to laugh. "Even my father encouraged me to talk to other princes." Haneul teased him. "The King isn't here but I am, so listen to me." He added.

"You won't be here after tomorrow, won't you?" The queen was amused, she'd enjoy watching a flustered prince at times. "I am here, I would always be here." He said somehow managed to face her. She didn't know why but it was as if he was trying to tell her something, but Haneul shook it off as Jeno was full of tricks.

"As you wish, Your Highness." Haneul did a curtsy. The two would continue to joke around and talk as much as they could because they both know they couldn't let each other go so easily, but none of them showed it.

〚 王 〛
🐾i am so so so sorry for the late update
ive been sooo busy lately but
I'll try my best!