.seventy two.

-

"I do apologize because you have gotten your hopes up for nothing. You will not bear his majesty another child."

-

With Mu on the throne, there was a relative peace among the brothers. But there was unrest in the court. They still felt that he was unfit to sit on the throne, especially with his worsening heath condition as well as paranoia. The court wanted someone strong to sit in the king's seat, and their options in mind now were Wang Wook, and Wang So. So was not keen to the idea of taking the place that rightfully belonged to his older brother. Wook, on the other hand, didn't think  it such a bad idea. 

Still, the family was closer now and Eun got visits more often from the siblings that he was close to--So, Baek-ah, Yeon Hwa, and very rarely Mu. Minji had also heard from reliable sources that Hajin was back in the palace. She had also been elevated to the highest court lady honor. Her job was now that of the one Court Lady Oh used to have. Minji was happy for her friend and made it a point to visit her whenever she and Eun went to the palace to see the other princes or whenever there were important events taking place. 

Minji's health also improved significantly, but Jinki was still sickly and was not allowed to leave the house. For that reason, she rarely left the house and rarely left his side as well. She was still a bit weak. But as a year went by into Mu's reign, she was finally eighteen years old, finally an adult, not that it mattered much in those days since she had already gotten married and given birth to three children. It wasn't much of a milestone, but her family and husband wanted to celebrate it big. The twins were three years old and more able to speak coherent sentences. Jinki was almost two and Minji worried for him. Eun was already twenty one and had been training with Han for a whole year.

Han constantly joked to Minji that if she knew just how good her husband looked, she wouldn't let him out of the bed room. But Minji could definitely feel the difference. Though she liked him as he was before--a sweet little boy who loved her--she was happy about his reasons for making this change. He had mentioned to her that he wanted to be the one to protect her and the children from any harm should it present itself. But Minji could certainly feel it when she touched him, when she was underneath him. They were both truly adults now, and with that came the evident changes in their bodies. Even his voice had changed a little bit was a little bit deeper.

It was the day of her eighteenth birthday party and her family as well as Eun's had been invited. Her parents greeted her with a hug, and as she pulled away, her father mentioned to her with a hint of sadness, "Finally eighteen, my little one. My youngest daughter, the light of my eyes. I wish this had been the day when you would have gotten married."

She smiled him a bit sadly, knowing that if he had been right, she would have lived for the last four years with her parents and not with Eun. She would have missed out on marrying him and he would have ended up with someone else. Perhaps, if things had gone as they all wanted, she would have married Jung. But then she wouldn't have her wonderful husband and their three beautiful kids. Despite Jinki being sickly and her blaming herself for it, she knew she wouldn't trade him, Soo, or Bi for anything else in the world. She no longer even cared if she went back to the present anymore. In fact, she really didn't want to because she didn't want to leave her new life, her husband, and their children behind.

"Appa don't think about it like that." She said to him with her sad smile remaining. The thought about not having her family by her side was one she shuddered to think about. "Think about how I'm very happy with my husband, he loves me like no one else could. And think about your grand children. Had I gotten married until now, you wouldn't have them, and they love you so much."

Her father nodded in agreement with her. "I love them too."

"Plus, Eun is a good husband." Minji added, now a genuine smile tugging at her lips. Each time she talked about him, or even thought about him, she couldn't help but smile. He and the children were her entire happiness. 

She was also relieved that as soon as the incident at the King's funeral happened, Jung had decided to back off and go to the front lines of the battle fields. She hadn't seen him for a whole year, but she had heard from Yeon Hwa that he was alive and well. He was one of the best soldiers out there and he had essentially taken Han's place at the front, so that his brother could spend more time with his family. He still got along with Han and cared about him. The only brother he still had a problem with was Eun.

The general nodded, once again agreeing. "I was unsure about you marrying his majesty the tenth prince. I didn't think he could ever make you happy because he was just an arrogant little boy. But he has changed for you. I truly believe you have made the best decision of your life with him, and likewise he is the luckiest man alive to have you by his side."

Eun heard that as he walked up behind Minji and wrapped an arm around her waist. He was stronger now, and more confident. The women of Goryeo commented how he was easily now one of the more handsome princes, able to compete with his brothers Baek-ah and Jung. The smile on his face was unmistakable as he made a comment of his own towards the general. "My wife has been like a refreshing rain that has washed over my soul. I firmly believe that without her by my side, I would still be an arrogant and annoying little prince. I will always be grateful that she chose me to love." Although, if they both thought about it, they knew that she had been forced to marry him. But it was also true that she had grown to love him and he was now the love of her life.

Minji turned in his embrace and cupped his face in her hands. "If anything, I'm lucky to have you. I'm a burden in anyone's life, yet you have stayed by my side without complaining. You could have anyone better, even a princess, and that's the truth."

The smile on his face instantly dropped, as did her father's. Everyone seemed to act like everything was okay and the family hardly ever acknowledged that she was unable to see. It was like they wanted to spare her feelings by never mentioning it. That was because Eun knew how much it hurt So emotionally when people mentioned his scar. He didn't want his wife to suffer that way. But she had embraced it already and it didn't make her upset anymore.

The tenth prince quickly gave a shake of his head. "Don't ever say you're a burden. I've never felt that way. You are my wife, my best friend, my love. There is no one else I would ever want." He brought his lips to hers, offering reassurances. 

-

Her birthday party was a success and the very next morning, she was woken up to a wave of nausea washing over her. It was a familiar feeling that made her heart jump for joy. If her suspicions were true, then it meant she and her husband were finally going to complete their happiness. The four children they wanted, and there were no threats in their lives, with Yo finally gone and Mu on the throne.

When she returned to her bed after spilling out the contents of her stomach and then rinsing out her mouth, her husband was sitting up in bed sleepily. He had immediately felt her presence gone from the room and waited for her to return. 

"What's wrong, jagi?" He asked her, running a hand through his long hair sleepily. 

He just wanted her to come back to bed so that he could continue sleeping, but with her by his side. He had a relaxing day planned for them. He wanted her to sleep in, then he was going to have the maids bring them breakfast in bed, and finally they would spend an afternoon at the lake with the children. Eun had even consulted with her doctor if it was okay for Jinki to go out of the house for just a few hours. The doctor had authorized it, but warned the tenth prince that his third child would have to be very bundled up and covered up from the elements. Eun would make sure to do so in order to get his wife to agree to go out with him.

"We should call our doctor." She said to him and then placed a hand over her stomach. "Love...I think our fourth little one is on the way."

The tenth prince leapt out of bed with excitement. The grin on his face was evident as he rushed to her side to hug her. He had even been able to lift her up in his arms easily. "This is wonderful news. This is...the happiest moment of my life." He was so overjoyed and excited that a hearty laugh escaped his lips, the kind of genuine laughs that made her heart flutter. 

She smiled back at him, but when he put her back down, she reminded him, "Its just my suspicion. That's why I want the doctor to come in and examine me. He'll be better able to determine whether or not we should be happy or not."

Already having forgotten about sleep, he called the maids in to help him change into his clothes for the day. He asked Minji to get back in bed and instructed them to bring her some breakfast. Then he had them bring in the children to keep her company while he went to fetch the doctor. He could have sent a maid out, but he wanted to do it himself, since this was a very important moment. He might finally have his dream come true of having a wife and his four children by his side. The only thing left to really complete his happiness was if they could open a little toy shopo together in the village. He would need to talk to Mu for permission about it, but he knew his older brother would approve.

Minji waited for him with the children, and when he returned, Eunbi jumped into her father's arms. "Is it true I'm getting a new brother or sister, appa?" Her big eyes gleamed with excitement. Jinki was in his mother's arms, while Soohyun was sitting by her side.

Eun nodded his head in agreement. "I sure hope so, Bi."

The little girl smiled a boxy smile just like her father's. In appearance she was most like her mother, except for the box shaped smile that truly made her her father's daughter. She also had his exact same attitude. She loved to play and was very loud. Soohyun looked identical to his father, but had his mother's attitude. He was more quiet and liked to think more before speaking. 

"I hope its a girl." She admitted out loud. At three years old, the twins could already talk almost perfectly. Though they sometimes did struggle with words, since they were toddlers after all. "Soo has Jinki to play with and I need someone too."

Her father joked, and feigned feeling sad and offended. "What about me?"

"Appa," The little girl touched his face lovingly. "I want a sister to play with."

Minji nodded her head in agreement, reminding him. "I'd be happy with a boy or a girl. But remember we initially wanted two boys and two girls Eunnie?"

The doctor instructed for Eun to take the boys from Minji's side and then started running his tests on her. The family remained in the room, anxiously awaiting the news on whether they were going to have another member in the family. Minji watched him with excitement as he reached his verdict on the matter.

He heaved a sigh, and the next words that left his mouth were ones that shattered the hopes of everyone in the room. "I do apologize because you have gotten your hopes up for nothing. You will not bear his majesty another child. Perhaps you merely ate something last night that didn't agree with you." Minji's expression dropped and her eyes pooled up with tears. It had been almost two years since Jinki had been born, she and her husband didn't use protection, as they welcomed another child into their lives. And just when she thought their happiness would be complete, it was a false alarm.

She had gotten pregnant with the twins and Jinki so easily. But now it just wasn't happening. But they were young and they could still keep trying if they wanted that fourth child.

-

have i really not updated in that long?

let me tell you all why. my friend from work is taking her manager classes, and she didn't have a computer to do them on. so she asked if she could borrow my laptop. so she's been having my laptop for over a month.

but now i asked my sister if i could borrow hers, since she never uses it. she only used it for school and since she graduated already, she doesnt need it.

so i will be back posting more updates from now on.

qotd: that sucks that suddenly they cant have kids as much as they've tried. do you think they will or should have their fourth baby? they really want it.

-clary