promise ↜ ljn

♕ twenty

[a/n: play 'hard for me by doyoung' while reading this!]

〚 2 years later. 〛

Haneul stayed seated at the small table by the lake. She wasn't accompanied as she wanted some time alone. It was her morning routine, to sit there as soon as she finished breakfast. The queen did nothing much, she preferred to read at a time like this to ease her mind for the day.

As always, Yoon Oh would ask her if she wanted company but lately, the king had been quite busy so she rather not bother him. Yoon Oh was taking care of her quite well, they learned about each other more as the days passed but Haneul wasn't ready to open her heart for him.

She would also keep a distance from him if she found herself falling deeper for her spouse. The girl had to take extra caution as she never wanted to hurt his feelings. She respected that he liked her but she would not lie to him about her feelings.

For some reasons, today she an addition of excitement. Haneul wasn't the type to take wild guesses but she figured out it must've been because it has been two years since Jeno left. By today or soon enough, he should have returned and the queen would be waiting.

Two years wasn't a short period, she had to do a lot of waiting and she mastered the art of patience. Jeno left for two years already, yet she had not heard a single word from him. Though the queen would write to him from time to time, but the prince never replied. Still, Haneul had hopes he would've replied if he had the time to but until now he hasn't.

However, it doesn't matter to her anymore. Haneul knew he was returning just like said he would and she would be there to welcome him.

"From the king." A maid appeared out of nowhere and placed a cup of tea on the table. Instantly, Haneul glanced at the balconies from the castle to find any sight of her spouse but he was great at hiding himself. Haneul grinned to herself before thanking the maid.

She took a sip from the cup, green tea. Yoon Oh learned it was her favourite and she would drink it whenever she was in a good mood. Strangely enough, the king knew she was feeling happy today. It was a sign that something positive might indeed happen.

"Oh, and someone is here for you."

At her sentence, Haneul placed down the cup. She had high hopes it would be Jeno but at the revelation of the face, she felt a little sad. Still, Haneul smiled at the male who was approaching her. The maid bowed and excused herself. Haneul stood up, to welcome the guest as he bowed down to the queen.

She tried to keep on a smile, though she was curious of what was happening. "I'm honoured to have finally met you." The male said. "Allow me to introduce myself, your Majesty." He started. "My name is Na Jaemin, and I have news from my dearest friend, Jeno."

〚 王 〛

To my kismet, my first and last,
Lee Haneul.

"If you're reading this, it means I lost a battle of my own. As you might know by now, I lied. I didn't leave to prepare myself as a soldier, a general to lead the wars. No, I was infected. I was dying of an unknown disease, an incurable one.
Don't worry, it's not contagious. So, stop wasting those tears. I had it when I was on a hunt, long before I met you. No one knew, except me.
True, I should have never approached you in the first place but your presence truly made me feel alive again. As if I had a surreal second chance.
I'm not writing to explain how I got here. I'm delivering my sincere thoughts instead. Haneul, my beautiful love. When I first laid eyes on you, I thought I was dreaming. I've never seen such a majestic, such beauty of a lady with my own eyes. However, as soon as you opened your mouth, I wanted you gone. Still, funny. No matter how arrogant you were at that time, fate attracted me so much to you.
Maybe the fated scar I gave you was what kept us together?
Then, when I saw you battling for the trials, my heart ached but I tried to hide it. I was shy to tell that I liked you. And when you won, I was truly delighted. You proved to be a great princess you are. Yet, you were still arrogant, you told me my brother wouldn't marry you as you were invincible and my heart ached for the second time when you two were engaged.
Still, I was happy for both of you. I don't want you to feel lonely, my dear. Though I loved you so much, I realised this thing inside me was going to take me away from you one day, so I tried to distance myself from you.
I watched you and my brother growing fond of one another and I was entirely pleased. Though I cannot stop my heart from breaking, I didn't want yours to do the same too.
I had to make you hate me, so you would forget me. It would be less painful by the time you find out but I knew, it was impossible. I have to apologise for hurting you, I was trying to protect you in my own way.
You'll make a wonderful queen, I'm sure of it but you have to be a little braver. You were always so afraid of breaking the rules, but I want you to be braver now and let me go. I'm not asking you to throw me away, just make a little space in that heart of yours for my brother as well.
If you hate me, I have to admit I expected that but I want you to know that I love you so much. We made a promise to do so forever, didn't we? I don't want you to remember me as a dead prince, a secret love that you'd take to your grave. No, I don't want that. I want you to remember me as the smiling prince, the one you loved.
If you ever felt sorry to think I was alone, I could tell you I was never alone. You made me feel complete and I am truly grateful for that. I can assure, that your letters kept me accompanied. I'm satisfied with what I have now. I did everything I wanted with you and I am not in vain.
I watched you become Queen, able to love you even for a while, had a spar with you, ran away with you, and most importantly I saw joy in you.
We started off with a promise made between us and no one else, I wish we could end with a promise as well. So, promise me Haneul, that you'll be happy forever, in a way you like it to be, and when we meet again, we'll be together."

—yours forevermore
Jung Jeno.

〚 王 〛

Haneul folded the letter again, she leaned in her chair. Tears never came to her eyes, she was too shocked, it was too much for her to consume. There was silence between the two, Jaemin was in no position to speak yet Haneul felt so unsettled.

"Were you..." her words trailed off, she couldn't think properly. "Were you there when he—" she couldn't finish her words and found herself choking at them. Jaemin nodded his head lightly, he knew exactly what she was referring to.

This time, Haneul really couldn't contain her sadness and she allow the tears to roll down her cheeks. The queen had to tilt her head downwards, as it wasn't proper for a queen to cry in front of others. "Oh God." She whispered to herself, trying to stop the tears.

"He was the happiest when your letters came, he'd read them over and over if he ever felt weak. I'm truly thankful that you kept him accompanied until the end." Jaemin said. As she imagined it, Haneul found herself crying even more.

Jaemin was unsure to continue, but Jeno made sure he would tell her everything. Jeno made his friend kept his words to assure Haneul that he didn't die in vain, he wanted Haneul to know she was the reason for his happiness only.

"Your Majesty, he left this world with a smile he was born with. He told me he was truly contented to have loved you, he had you with him until his last breath and he kept his promise."

"I was told to deliver this letter to you if he passed away and I have done my part. I humbly ask you to listen to him and move on. Jeno had always been a cheerful friend, he didn't like it when people suffer because of him. He had so much compassion in him, so I ask you to allow him to rest peacefully."

"I'm representing him as well as myself to say, live your life happily, your Majesty. The world might be cruel, but we mustn't allow ourselves to be treated like so. Jeno would've wanted the same thing too." Jaemin said, he was satisfied to have done his part. Haneul forced the tears to stop as she needed to talk to the male.

She inhaled a deep breath and tried to regain her composure. "Does the king know about this?" She asked and for a while, Jaemin kept quiet. The male finally nodded his head afterwards. "He knew as soon as Jeno left this world." The male said. Again, Haneul felt pain in her heart.

"Thank you, Jaemin." Haneul finally said. "Thank you for being with him until the end." She added and this time she showed the tears that rolled down her cheeks again. "I should thank you, your Majesty. He was the happiest around you." Jaemin replied.

〚 王 〛
🐾im not even lying
i cried while typing this.