.forty one.

The very next morning as the sun rose over the horizon, Minji woke up to her husband's arms around her as he slept soundly by her side. She sighed comfortably in his embrace and searched for his face with her hands. She bit down on her lip shyly, before deciding to wake him up with a kiss, practicing what they had been getting started the day before. She would have to show him many things, including how to kiss properly. Yesterday's kiss had been pleasant and welcome, but it was short and sweet, full of innocence. He would have to learn more in his married life, especially if they wanted to have children any time soon. Her thumbs swiped over his lips gently, as though memorizing in her mind where his lips were located and what they felt like. Then she leaned in slowly, closing her eyes. 

Her lips met his gently and he sighed awake at the feeling. She could feel the shape of his lips curling up into a smile and when he opened his eyes and blinked back, he was met with the image of his wife by his side. Her long hair draped past her shoulders messily framing her childishly round face. She was fifteen in that lifetime and still held features of a child which made her look totally innocent, as did he. But it was normal for people in that era to marry young. For Eun, it was a nice image to wake up to. When they pulled away, the tenth prince greeted her with a sleepy, "Good morning."

"Good morning." She greeted back happily, a smile touching her lips. 

With the light coming in through the window, she looked almost angelic to him. He never thought he would ever find a girl to look so good to him. It was a foreign feeling to the boy who had always been more focused on playing and having fun than on the opposite sex. She laid back next to him after pulling away, her head resting on his chest and they stayed there for what felt like hours, just enjoying one another's company until the servants arrived to help them get dressed for the day. 

As they were about to lead Eun out of the room like they did every morning, Minji stopped them with a wave of her hand. "My husband can get dressed here starting today. I don't mind." She thought about their married life and the fact that she would soon have to teach him the facts of baby making. He would have to get used to and get comfortable with seeing her fully undressed before him and staying in the room while she changed was a start. The thought made her nervous and made her heart race, as she wasn't sure if her husband would even like what he saw beneath her clothing. But she comforted herself by thinking that she couldn't see him watching her and she wouldn't have to worry about it. She would instead calm herself by pretending that he still wasn't in the room.

Eun stuttered, as he became flustered by her instructions. "I c-can go in the o-other room, Hak Soon-ah."

He motioned to leave, pulling away from her and leaving her head to fall back onto the pillows slowly. She reached for his hand to stop him before he could move too far away from her, finding it almost instantly, and she tugged on it, begging him to stay. Her words were ones that led the servants to believe there had already been something between them. Minji knew there were already whispers and rumors going around Damiwon, about her and Eun, and the fact that they hadn't started getting intimate yet. People whispered about how they were dumb children who had no idea what they were doing. They're two little rich kids trying to play house, the servants said about them. 

That was due to the fact that the very next morning after their wedding, the servants had found them fully dressed in their wedding attire and they were not required to change the sheets as they often did when other royals got married. The rumors were started and spread by the servants themselves and had reached the King. Eun hadn't brought himself to mention it to his wife, out of consideration and respect for her, but he had gotten a letter from his father. In it, he degraded Minji and spoke of her with disdain at her for not giving him any children yet and for not being a competent wife. But they had only been married for a bit over a month and had plenty of time for that in the future. Eun wasn't too worried about it, since he'd never gotten intimate with a woman before and was nervous to start so soon when only months prior he didn't even have a girlfriend.

Eun tried to argue it once more, but Minji would have none of it. She instructed the servants to start helping her out of her robe and night gown, and into her outfit for the day. As she was stripped down to nothing, she gulped nervously, almost regretting her decision and feeling every bit vulnerable in front of him. He could see her, but she could not see him. Minji could feel the burn of his eyes on her, but she could also hear him fidgeting nervously. She did not know that he was trying his hardest not to look, but his eyes kept betraying him and glancing at her discreetly, his face red as a beet with a blush tinting it.

When they were both changed into their outfits, the servants excused themselves, informing them that they would be headed to the eleventh prince's home to assist them with their morning routine. Eun sent the newlyweds a message with the servants, that he and Minji wanted to have breakfast with them, their siblings. The servants nodded and bowed, exiting the room and leaving them alone.

It wasn't until they were alone, in a dead silence, that Minji started feeling self conscious. She turned and headed in the general direction of the door, calculating her steps in her mind. She had every inch of their house memorized and measured in her mind. But she was flustered and nervous, being the same room with Eun alone. Especially after he had seen her fully undressed and knew every bit of her now. She stopped when she felt herself collide with someone. It was Eun, the only thing standing between her and the door. 

Minji tried to go around him, but he stopped her with a hand grabbing her wrist.

"What are you doing?" He asked her, puzzled.

"I'm running away." She told him bluntly and full of embarrassment, trying to wrench her wrist out of his hold. 

"Why?" He asked another question.

She kept her head low as she admitted to him, "Because I'm just now realizing that this was a huge step to take. I showed you the all parts of me that I can't even see anymore. I'm also worried that I'll come to rely on you more than I ever thought I would."

Eun gave a shake of his head. "That's not true. You're so strong. I admire that."

-

Eun and Minji headed over to Han and Soon Deok's home after getting dressed. 

The two were glad to see their siblings, and Soon Deok pulled her younger sister in for a tight hug, after not having seen much of her in the last few months. Since she had moved in with her husband, she rarely visited the family, but they understood that it was because of her condition. She could not go too far beyond the safety of her house. When they pulled away and Minji went to find some water to wash up for breakfast, she had caught the servants talking about them once more. This time they had been whispering among themselves that, like with Eun and Minji, they were not required to change the sheets, meaning that nothing happened the previous night.

Soon Deok was just as innocent as Eun, which led Minji to believe that maybe they would have been a better match. Soon Deok loved him so much, but he just wasn't interested in her. Now, the tenth prince seemed to be growing a liking for her sister, or maybe she was just his method through which he had gotten out of an arranged marriage to someone he didn't know. Maybe Eun didn't have feelings for Minji and was just using her to avoid a different fate. Minji couldn't blame him. If she was forced to get married, she would much rather marry someone she knew over marrying a complete stranger. 

When she took a step, knocking into a wall, the whispers ceased immediately, and the servants bowed their heads to her in greeting. They apologized to her and scurried off to another part of the house, likely to continue with their chores but also with their conversation. 

Minji found her way back to where the others were waiting, and they sat down for breakfast together. The others had washed up when she came back and once everyone was back they started their meal.

Eun, who was still in the dark about baby making, made a comment that almost made Minji choke on her food. "So...dongsaeng, have you and Soon Deok-ah started baby making already?"

Minji heard another sound which was Han choking nervously on his food. Not that he was uncomfortable by the question, but rather that he had been taken off guard by the question. He cleared his throat and replied, keeping his answer vague. "We were both tired after the wedding last night, so nothing happened." He looked to Soon Deok, who looked away shyly. What had really happened was that they talked, and he asked her if she was ready for that big step. He knew that all their lives, they had grown up together and he knew that Soon Deok didn't feel the same about him. 

He understood and had patience with her when she said she wanted to wait a bit longer before getting intimate with him. But that was information that they wanted to keep between them. It was something they couldn't keep away from the watchful eyes of the servants. They would no doubt be spreading the word around the palace about what was happening at Wang Han's home.

"What about you?" The younger brother wondered, switching the question around on them. "Did you practice what I told you?"

Minji wondered what they had talked about exactly. She couldn't imagine it being something explicit. 

Eun nodded his head, a proud smile spreading across his lips. "Yes. I kissed her yesterday."

There was an amused smile on Han's lips. "I suppose that's a start."

"Today my wife is going to teach me how to make babies." He announced proudly.

Again, Minji almost choked on her food at the way he seemed to be blurting all of their personal information at the table. His innocence really had no end. But this time, she spoke up. Meanwhile, she could hear an amused chuckle erupting from Wang Han's lips. "Eun-ah, I said maybe tonight. But I'm not sure if we're ready for this right now. One step at a time, okay?"

"She says women don't get pregnant through kissing." He mentioned again in a curious tone, looking towards his brother for an answer. Perhaps, he thought, Minji didn't know, but he thought Han would now for sure. "But what if they do?"

Soon Deok agreed with him. "I always thought that was how it happens."

Minji almost wanted to face palm herself. The two were so oblivious to everything. By now, Han was laughing so hard that he was out of breath. Only he and Minji knew how ridiculous their words really sounded. But as far as Han knew, Minji was also as innocent as her sister. She didn't grow up on the battle fields like him, hearing the other soldiers brag about their sexual lives and encounters. Han knew everything about it, even though her was about to turn seventeen years old. He didn't have to learn the facts of life from his parents. He learned it on the battle fields from other soldiers. 

"Please take care of him, Hak Soon-ah." Han begged of Minji through his laughs, tears were beginning to form in his eyes at how hard he was laughing. "He's innocent, and I really think he will faint when the time comes for him to get you pregnant."

"Oh God." Minji groaned, horrified.

-

a big filler chapter, but i haven't had much time or energy to update. 

mexico won their game against south korea today at the world cup. and while i like korea, i was over the moon when mexico won because i'm mexican. mexico hasn't lost a game this group stage and might go into the next stage undefeated.

anyway, thank you for reading and supporting this story. it really means a lot to me. i hope you all enjoy this chapter.

have a wonderful night!

-clary