ᅳ    i'll wait .
𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻. 𝗌𝖾𝗈 𝗒𝘶𝗅

"SHIN YEONGRAN !!! I'VE BEEN SEARCHING YOU FOR THE WHOLE DAMN DAY!?"

The serene atmosphere where Yeongran was sitting and playing her flute with small birds and rabbits surrounding her was broken by the intruder who didn't even care about the peace he just destroyed.

The rabbits gave a look full of hatred towards the intruder as they hope back to their place where they came from and the birds all flew away. Yeongran felt the emotions of the animals and chuckled as she turn towards the intruder

"Uk-ah, can you stop disturbing me while I am with the animals for once?"

"My apology but ─── what in the damn world am I hearing?"

Jang Uk sat down right in front of Yeongran with a confused look which made the girl immediately understood by what he meant but decided to act dumb.

"What happened Uk-ah?"

"Don't fucking play dumb with me! I heard you came in hand-in-hand with Yul and he was carrying you to your room and even asked the maids to prepare you a mooncake?"

Yeongran expected Jang Uk to find her the moment she reached here but he was a bit late than she expected. She just chuckled and stood up while Jang Uk was dying to know the tea between the two because no one in the country is more supportive than Jang Uk and protective of Yeongran.

"Uk-ah, I might get my heart shattered again as I am turning towards a new direction. I smell danger and an unexpected heart break, but it feels like I am doing the right thing this time"

Jang Uk understood immediately what she meant by that but he wasn't gonna settle down unless they're completely fine. One is his childhood friend and the other one is also his close friend who is like a sister and their feelings have been exposed to him since the beginning. He knew everything yet he couldn't help in the past but now, it seems like it was going well.

"It seems a bit too sudden but then, it's up to you two now. Take the chance and see how far could you two go. I am becoming a dad in few months though I got married late and the two of you?"

He let out a deep sigh which Yeongran suddenly blushed up and smack Jang Uk at the back of his head " Stop talking nonsense, if not ─── I might not accept your child as my disciples"

"Disciples? my foot! "

The two of them bickered back and forth as they make their way towards the dining room where they were greeted by Jin Buyeon, Danggu, Jin Choyeon, the Crown Prince and Seo Yul.

"Greetings, Your Majesty"

"I've heard from the folks that Lady Shin came to Daeho but because of my work, I couldn't greet you properly. Nice to meet you Lady Shin"

Yeongran knew and heard a lot about the King of Daeho. His actions and virtue are always the talk of the travellers, poets and singers who often sing and write about him. It was an honor for her to meet the King, not only meeting him but he even recognised her which made her feel happy and gave a deep bow.

"It's alright. Do join us for lunch"

Yeongran sat beside Seo Yul and soon the maids came to serve varieties of food and side dish which looked fancy. The rest were all friendly with the King, especially Jin Buyeon who started spilling all the secrets of the King and his love-life failure ─── a hopeless romantic.

Though Go Won is the king, he was still a human and a normal friend to the group of friends. He doesn't seem to care about the heavy title he bears when he is with his friends and let's his guard down, after all ───── he is their friend ; a very close friend who went through several stages of difficulties in manage the country together and bring peace upon everyone

Buyeon and Choyeon have been trying to set up many beautiful maidens from every corner of the country but none were to his liking which made Buyeon to doubt the King's sexual preferences but that doesn't stop when they started introducing him to male suitors which scared Go Won so bad that he had to announce to his ministers and the two matchmaker that he was a straight man.

"Have this" Seo Yul placed some prawns that he peeled in Yeongran's bowl and some oysters. She smiled at him and ate the prawns which tasted exceptionally good maybe because the prawns were peeled off for her or it's just that those foods came from the man beside her.

Jang Uk who sat across Yeongran accidentally saw their interaction. He started questioning himself why he was here to witness such a scene but looking at his own wife whom he often pampered in front of people, it was nothing.

Seo Yul leaned closer to Yeongran and whispered "After dinner, let's go for a walk. It is said that there will be stars today"

Yeongran didn't expect him to get so close as she can feel the soft sensation that was tingling her skin from his breath. She shyly nodded and looked around making sure that no one saw what just happened but, in all friendship ─── there is always that one friend who'd be everywhere and at every crime scene. In terms of Yeongran, it's none other than Jang Uk.

Yeongran didn't understand why was she blushing when Jang Uk sent her a mischievous smile ─── she suddenly felt like she was a mistress, cheating with Seo Yul. She quickly reminded herself that she was his wife and glanced at the wedding ring on her ring finger

After all these years, I'm still here, loving you silently.