royalty! au with yeo hwanwoong
~~~
father watched me intently as i picked at the food on the plate. his eyes cut into my lowered head, almost demanding for me to say something.
i played with the gold chain bracelet on my wrist, twirling it around my finger a few times.
a cough echoed in the grand dining room as his eyes turned icier, and i stood up slowly.
"you better make a good impression," mother hissed into my ear as i walked by, making a point by yanking the wrinkled sleeve on my dress and straightening the tiny silver crown on my head.
i shuffled closer to the prince waiting at the end of the table, who looked equally unnerved by this as me. the king of twilight standing next to the man muttered something in his ear, and he grimaced as he took my hand.
as much as i didn't want to, i felt somewhat self-conscious of that expression. was i that bad of a match for him?
after a quick speech from the king of twilight, father stood up and put on a polite smile.
"i am just as glad as anyone else to strengthen our bond between our kingdoms, and i hope they have a prosperous, happy marriage," he declared, and shot a glare at me.
just as i rehearsed, i held out my hand limply to the prince, and he politely leaned over it and kissed it lightly.
automatically, my cheeks flushed, and father and mother looked at each other triumphantly.
i wanted to run out of the palace, but i stood there with a fake smile and looming tears.
~~~
"as it is tradition, we will give the couple a night together. have a lovely evening, everyone!"
my parents and the other nobles were ushered out of the dining hall, and the other king slipped out as well. two maids dragged us into a large bedroom and shut the door, giggling on the way out.
once they left, i scoffed.
"what do they expect us to do, fall in love and make out overnight?" the prince let out a tiny laugh, although his disappointed expression wasn't missed.
we both made our way over to the bed, laying down and stacking pillows into a line that separated us.
after a while of silence, he asked, "what's your name?"
"... hana."
"hwanwoong."
"sorry about this, hwanwoong."
he was quiet, and i thought he was asleep, until i heard him murmur, "i should be the one sorry for enjoying this..."
~~~
i opened my eyes slowly, blinking as a beam of light shone in my eyes. the room was colored orange by the rising sun, and i tried to sit up.
someone's arms were wrapped around my waist, and i patted them tentatively. turning my head around, i saw hwanwoong's child-like face peacefully sleeping with a tiny smile.
i raised my hand to unwrap myself from his arms, but his gentle expression stopped me.
i lay there, unsure, contemplating what i should do. i looked back at hwanwoong, his arms still around me, and my heart started to beat faster.
what?!
i closed my eyes shut, trying to shake out the complicated feelings that were welling up in my heart. boldly, i wriggled myself out of his grasp and sat on the side of the bed, overwhelmed by these annoying frenemies called "feelings."
hwanwoong stirred in his sleep, waking up almost immediately after. i turned around to see him crawling up to me, clumsily taking a seat next to me.
"do you hate me?" he fiddled with the bed sheet, trying to hide his discouragement.
"no, it's not that!!" i protested, scared that i hurt his feelings, "i-"
"i like you," he looked at me, hesitating, "i like you."
"oh-" my cheeks inflamed, and my heart started doing somersaults, thumping loudly.
"i know you don't like me," he looked down, "but can you please give me a chance?"
"i've been waiting forever for this chance, but i never knew it, love."
