.forty.

Through glares from the King and Wang Yo, Eun and Minji quietly found a seat and the wedding continued without another problem. Minji could feel her husband tense by her side, as he was likely still in shock. It had been his first kiss after all and she wanted to make it something special for him, but in the heat of the moment, she just couldn't help herself. She wanted to teach Yo a lesson and show him that she and Eun were going to make that marriage work, even if they had both been essentially forced into the marriage.

As they sat there ogether, Minji tied he best to comfort him and calm him down. She leaned her head on his shoulder and whispered reassurances to him. "I'm sorry if I took you by surprise, or if you didn't like it." She bit down on her lip nervously, he anger having died down enough to think things through. "Its just that he made me so mad, always picking on you and our marriage. I wanted him seething upon seeing us together and happy."

Her husband was silent.

She felt around for his hand until she found it, but she did not realize that he had placed his hand in her way when he saw her searching for him. They sat through the ceremony and afterwards the King excused himself, as he had business to tend to.

Everyone else stayed for dinner and opening the wedding presents. They had all been the standard presents, the same as they had given Eun and Minji at their wedding. When it got to Eun and Minji's present, they had actually given some thought as to what they gave them. It was expected, as Eun had grown up with Han all his life, and Minji had lived with Soon Deok all her life, or more likely the real Hak Soon had lived with Soon Deok all her life.

They opened Minji's present first, which was for her sister. It was a beautiful dress that she had gotten specially made for her sister. She had also gifted her a jewelry set which she had relied on Eun to pick out when they went to the market a few weeks back. But she trusted him enough to have made the right choice. Soon Deok smiled gratefully at her sister and pulled her in for a hug. When Han opened Eun's present, he was also happily surpised to find a new sword. The couple had both gone over to the market to pick out presents and Minji had suggested a new sword, with the family crest and designs that were only allowed for royalty.

As the ceremony ended and the crowd dispersed, Han and Eun stood off to the side talking. Eun had asked Minji to waiit for him a few feet off, as he had some questions for his brother that he didn't want her to hear. Minji suspected it had to do with fist kisses and baby making, since she heard the shyness in his voice as he asked her to wait fo him. She nodded and stood by, he sister had gone off to talk to their parents. In the span of a few months, their two daughters had gotten married and moved away. They were prepared to let Soon Deok go, since she was older. But they had been unprepared to let their fifteen year old Hak Soon go so soon.

Minji had been standing around when she felt a pair of arms encircle her. She thought it srtange, as it was something Eun never did, but she gave him the benefit of the doubt and let out a light giggle. "Eun-ah, are you ready to head back home?"

She turned in his arms, still thinking it to be her husband. But it was Wang Jung, who was confused in surprise when there was no reaction on her face. Her eyes seemed lost, looking out into nowhere, and his entire expression dropped as it all sunk in for him. She had been acting strange at breakfast the moning after the wedding, but he thought it had to do with the fact that she had been forced to marry Eun. He had been at first overcome with jealousy thinking that his bloved now belonged to another man, his own brother no less. And he didn't even want to think that by now they had shared a bed together, in more ways than one. Now he thought that it was the punishment the King had chosen for her--to make her blind for choosing to run away with Jung over getting married.

His finger tips ghosted over her open eyes sadly, taking her by surprise, and it was  immediately in that moment that she suspected this wasn't Eun.

"What did they do to you, Hak Soon?" He asked her sadly, as though hoping that she would prove him wrong. He wanted her to say that she could see him and that what he thought wasn't true.

"Jung..." She said his name slowly.

Before she could say anything more, she felt a hand grab onto hers and pull her behind him gently. His words were full of bravery again as he shot his brother a warning. "I don't want you talking to her or even getting close to her anymore. She's my wife and you're only going to cause her more harm." Eun said, and in a way, he was right. Jung getting close to Minji would only cause more problems for the two of them.

Jung scoffed at him. "Don't try to play pretend, hyung. You can't defend her fom anything because you don't have the strength. If you cared about her, you'd have never married her. You know she doesn't and will never love you."

"Jung stop--" Minji begged.

She didn't want to witness two brothers fighting over her. What was done was done. She was married to Eun and there was nothing any of them could do about it.

Eun was about to argue further, when Minji stopped him by placing a hand on his shoulder. She said to Jung, "I married Eun, and I am in love with him." She lied, though her words brought a bit of hope to Wang Eun who of the late was feeling strange things for Park Hak Soon. "The sooner you understand that, the easier thins will become for you and us."

But Jung refused to accept it, with a shake of his head. "That's a lie, Hak Soon, and we all know it."

"Just leave us alone." Eun said, eyebrows furrowed at his younger brother.

-

That afternoon, the new newly weds moved all their belongings into their new house. Eun and Minji offered to have supper with them as they finished getting settled, which the two happily welcomed.

After their meal, Eun and Minji walked back to their home. Before theiy left, Han nudged his older brother and whispered to him, "Remember what we talked about, okay?" To which Eun responded with a nervous nod of his head. Minji wasn't sure what that was about, but she decided not to ask. Eun would probably tell her later on.

As they left, Minji hugged her sister, and she lingered just a little more than  usual. She was nervous to be left alone with her husband, since he was probably less innocent than Eun even though he was a year younger and would pobably be expecting something from her on their wedding night. Minji was sure though, that if Soon Deok didn't feel ready for this next step, he would gladly respect her wishes. He loved her so much and would do absolutely anything fo her.

When they arrived at their house, the maids helped Minji and Eun change into something comfortable to sleep in and then excused themselves for the night. They were left alone and Minji heaved a sigh, once again trying to aplogize for having kissed him like that, out of the blue. "Eun-ah," She started nervously. "I'm sorry for planting one on you today at the wedding."

He stopped her, full of confusion. "Planting a what?"

"I mean...for just grabbing you and kissing you like that." She rephrased her sentence. "I know it was your first kiss and it should have been something special."

He shook his head, reassuring her after a moment. "I was shocked in the moment. But if I have to be honest...I liked it. I've never been kissed before, but it was nice. You have soft lips." He told her innocently.

Minji felt a blush tint her cheeks.

"You're so pure." She said to him. "I really wish all men were like you."

"Does that mean that you meant what you said?" He asked her, eyes shining with hope. "That you are in love with me?"

"Oh, Eun." Minji bit down on her lip. She didn't want to make him feel bad. But she also didn't want to lie to him and lead him on. He was her husband and there was a chance she would fall in love with him one day. But at the moment, her heart still raced for Wang Jung. It wasn't going to be easy to forget him after everything they shared. "I had to say that to Jung so he'd stop pursuing me. I don't want him to get in touble for my sake."

Once again, the tenth prince was let down.

"Oh." He said.

Her hand reached up to caress the side of his face. "But I don't want you to worry or  feel bad. I will be a good and faithful wife to you for the rest of my life."

"For a hundred years?" He asked her, his expression brightening slightly.

She nodded her head. "For a thousand."

As they both got into bed and cuddled up together, Eun mentioned to him what he had talked about with Han in private that day. "My brother told me you will show me how to make babies soon. He says that I'll probably like it. Do you think so?" He wondered curiously as they laid in bed together. He then added something else that made Minji blush bright red once more. "He said it has to do with something in my pants." He was so innocent that Minji's heart ached for having to take that from him at such a young age.

"Tonight is maybe way too soon to start." She said to him nervously. "I have to gather my bearings first."

"How about tomorrow?" He asked her, thinking the process was as simple as playing a game.

"I can't promise anything." She said to him.

He was, for the moment, satisfied with that answer.

There was silence for a moment between them, until the tenth prince spoke up once more. "Before we go to sleep...can I...kiss you?"

Minji felt her heart race in her chest. Why was he making her so flustered and nervous all of a sudden? Maybe it was the fact that she was still nervous about having to teach him the facts of life so that they could start having children.

She nodded her head slowly, and closed her eyes, waiting for the kiss.

He leaned in a pressed his soft lips to hers. The kiss lasted a couple of seconds, since he only knew enough to give her a small peck.

Minji smiled against his lips.

When they pulled away, she couldn't see the big and proud smile that adorned his thin lips. He was like an excited little pup at having kissed his wife for the first time. Earlier, she had been the one to kiss him, but this was his kiss. He had kissed her. He never saw the appeal in having a wife or a girlfriend. But having Park Hak Soon wasn't so bad.

He slept more comfortably, with his arms around her, and he had someone to talk to and play with all the time.

She was quickly becoming someone vital in his life.

"Goodnight Eunie." She said, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.

"Goodnight, jagi." He said, the term of endearment slipping out of his mouth without even thinking about it.

He knew he could get used to and even grow to like his married life.

-

hello everyone!

i know i haven't posted for this in a couple of days. but i have been busy decorating my new room. so i have been away these past few days. but here is another chapter for you all.

don't think this is going to be sunshine and rainbows forever.

there will be upcoming drama between eun and minji, and jung. so stay tuned for that.

have a wonderful day!

-clary