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Y/n

The marriage was in one day.

Y/n wished she could express her giddiness to the kingdoms, but she kept her smile hidden and her hands by her side as she strolled with Jimin through the streets of Nionna. None of the civilians clapped or bowed for him, though they didn't shoot him dirty looks, either. Improvement. Yippee.

At most, some tilted their heads and knitted their brows, though most glanced at him, took in his appearance, and left it alone. No one bothered to stop Y/n and Jimin as she showed him around her gorgeous golden kingdom. Waterfalls splashed in the distance with the beating sun providing a comfortable heat. Their position in the valley provided gentle breezes that eased their farmers. Some farmers sat in circles around a fire at the end of the day and shared stories about the best breezes they had ever experienced. Perhaps that sounded boring, but to them, it was the best bonding time they ever had.

"Nionna has more children than I was expecting," Jimin said as they frolicked down the smooth concrete pathways consisting of children rushing around and giggling. Hoseok had set up a booth by the intersection, where the pathway became a fork and went multiple different ways. Whenever a kid stopped by, he painted their faces with ink, and most of the youth opted to get birds. Hoseok managed to make each one more realistic than the last.

"We're a very family-oriented society."

Y/n wished that were true of her parents. Her father loved her, though he was not perfect. Far from it, in fact. Most days, he spent more times with his maps and war planning than looking at her. The childhood days were the best. Back then, he took her to the festivals held every other week, hosted by the teachers and monks who wished to celebrate the gods and make offerings in the form of food the chefs crafted. It had been over a year since they went to a festival together and had fun. Festivals occurred all the time, and Father attended, but not with her. Mother never cared much for anything other than bathing and reading. Part of Y/n wondered why Mother had a kid in the first place.

"Cute," Jimin mumbled, and she quirked a brow at that, prompting Jimin to chuckle. "Oh, sorry, I did not mean to go soft."

"Right. The big, bad commander cannot show any signs of softness, yes?"

"You got that right, my princess." Jimin stopped for a moment to sigh as they traversed the calming streets full of laughter and bouncing kids who waited for Hoseok to paint their faces. "But if I were being honest, it's... nice."

"What is? Nionna?"

"No. Your kingdom could burn, for all I care." He paused to snort and nudge her. "Not you, though. Or the kids. But that's exactly what I mean: the kids. Perhaps it is foolish, considering my track record, but I wish to have kids one day. Three boys, three girls."

Y/n winced at the thought of pushing out that many. "Six? Really?"

"What, you don't think I'm fit to be a father?"

"You barely fit in me," she muttered, and he gasped at that.

"My princess, there are children around. Keep that potty mouth of yours to yourself."

Y/n laughed at that, as did he. She wished she could loop her arm around his and pull him back to the waterfalls so they could drink and kiss near the most romantic setting in the kingdoms. However, fate had other plans. Fate said they couldn't show their relationship, otherwise they'd perish.

"Very well, my prince." She hummed and took him to Hoseok, who just finished painting another kid's face. "Hoseok, my good sir, please give the prince a makeover."

Hoseok didn't answer for a long beat, holding his paint-covered hands up as he peeked back and forth between the two. When Y/n smiled, Hoseok swallowed. "Uh... okay. Is he armed?"

"Oh, you Nionnians are so dramatic," Jimin said in a drawl as he plopped down in front of the stand, taking a seat on the tree stump in front of Hoseok's booth. "I need no weapons to claw your heart out, dear sir." Jimin grinned and flashed his teeth. "A true prince knows how to eat well, correct?"

"Uh." Hoseok coughed and stared at Y/n, who nodded.

"Give him a flower. Any."

"No, no." Jimin tugged the sleeves of his himation down and unstrapped his tunic to show his bare chest. Before anyone could protest, Jimin turned and showed Hoseok his back, where the burned image of Dali was. "Her. Dali, my bird. Paint her." Jimin paused and put his clothes back on. "Please."

Y/n snorted when she heard the way his voice dropped over the please, but she covered it as best she could while Hoseok did his job. Dali appeared on Jimin's face a handful of minutes later. Every line Hoseok drew was more magnificent than the last, and Jimin closed his eyes as Hoseok painted over his left cheek and part of his eye.

"Where did you learn these talents?" Jimin asked.

Hoseok slowed his strokes. "Mother. She used to paint the waterfalls, and I watched."

"Is she still around?"

A smile—a heart-shaped one—blessed Hoseok's face. "Yes, but she lives on the other side of Nionna with my father. Artists always need a change of scenery." Hoseok snickered. "I take the hike to visit her every day."

"Hike? I was unaware Nionna was so large."

"You have eyes, don't you?"

Jimin opened said pretty eyes and snickered back at him. "My, my, you have quite a mouth on you, speaking to your prince like that." Jimin turned to Y/n and smirked. "I like him."

"Great." Y/n rolled her eyes and gave Hoseok a mock glare. "Don't steal my future husband, Mr. Jung."

"Jung. Pretty." Jimin leaned on the table despite having only three-fourths of the paint job done. "Maybe Princess L/n is the one who needs to worry about me falling for you."

It was uncommon for men to marry in Nionna, though not unheard of, so Y/n redirected her glare to her prince, who waved at her and got up. He shot a wink to Hoseok as he did so. Hoseok had no interest in men, let alone men like Jimin, though that didn't stop the cartographer from shooting up both his brows with his lips parted.

"Don't ask," she whispered, and Hoseok hesitated before nodding.

Jimin ignored them and instead offered his arm to her. "Shall we, my dearest princess?"

"I suppose."

She linked her arm with his, and she had to admit warmth exploded inside her stomach and mind. They pretended not to be enjoying the touch, that way no suspicion would arise, though they attempted to look civil for sake of easing Nionna's people. The kids giggled and adored Jimin's face paint. The adults rolled their eyes but otherwise didn't comment. At least they didn't insult her prince.

"Do you believe in miracles, princess?"

The random question from Jimin had her snapping her head up to peer at him, though he kept his eyes on the waterfalls in the distance, even ignoring the children clapping at him in delight thanks to his face paint.

"I do, my prince. I survived my... episode, and that was nothing short of a miracle. Why do you ask?"

"I don't know, really. Father used to say they were fake. Mother said the opposite, before Father put her back in her place."

"And you?"

Jimin clicked his tongue. "When you live in a wasteland, it's hard to believe in anything other than dirt, rocks, and the blood of your enemies, but yes, I do. I want to, anyway. It will take a miracle to save our kingdoms, after all. You know this marriage won't be enough, and we'll need more time and effort, right?"

"I know," she muttered, slowing them to a stop and facing him. He did the same with his glorious hickory irises locked on her. "But my miracle is standing right in front of me, and I have faith he can bring another one."

He chuckled and dropped his voice. "My princess, we are in public. Careful. If you keep saying words like that, I'll have to kiss you in front of all of them."

"Perhaps I should stop tempting you then, my prince." She squeezed his arm and smiled. "How about a trip to the waterfalls, hm? Will that take your mind off my words?"

"Never, princess, but I could go for a drink." He paused to snort. "Will we be in private this time of day?"

"Shush."

Jimin went to laugh but stopped it halfway through, probably realizing they were, in fact, in public, and the noises came out as half-snorts and wheezes instead. A little squeaky sound forced its way out, and Y/n memorized the way it hiccupped his body and had his pupils dilating. She wished she could hold onto the sound forever. Hold onto him forever.

But it'd take a miracle to do that, too.

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