.twenty eight.
.twenty eight.
Days later, Minji was almost a regular at the breakfast table with Jung and the other princes. The king didn't mind her there, and even welcomed her with open arms, her and her sister as well. Minji had tried to invite Soon Deok, but knowing that the tenth prince would be there made her nervous because she liked him so much, and she didn't want to embarrass herself in front of him. Her fifteen year old sister jokingly pointed out that embarrassing herself in front of the dopey tenth prince would be considered an accomplishment. Still, Soon Deok wasn't confident enough to sit at the same table with the boy she was in love with. Especially considering he wasn't in love with her.
While they had their meal, the king casually brought up Eun's upcoming birthday, and what it should mean to him. "You'll be turning eighteen in a matter of days, Eun-ah."
To which the tenth prince crinkled up his nose in displeasure. Without his father even saying anything yet, the little prince already knew what that conversation would be about. The deadline was approaching, and his father had been more persistent as the date got closer. He had started pestering him about it starting from a year prior, when he had just turned seventeen. Soon he would be beginning to pester Baek-ah and Han about it too, and eventually Jung. But he didn't have to worry about the youngest brother anymore. The king was glad that Jung had already found someone who would marry him.
When Eun said nothing, his expression clearly readable and showing his true feelings, the king continued with enthusiasm. It was a stark contrast to the burden Eun was starting to feel, just thinking about it. "Have you thought about any possible candidates? Anyone you have your eye on?"
He didn't want to get married. But if he was going to be forced to do so, he only had one person in mind. That person was Hae Soo, but he wasn't too sure if it would even be allowed. For one, she was a palace court lady, and also she had purposefully scarred her body in order to avoid marriage to the king. Eun wasn't sure if the same rule applied to the princes. He also didn't want to anger his father by marrying the same woman he was supposed to marry.
In a whiny voice, Eun asked, "But why do I have to get married? Why can't I just stay like this? I'm happy this way. I just want to play."
Single, with no responsibilities. That was the life he wanted.
Maybe later in his life he would welcome having a wife. But right then it wasn't on his list of priorities. He did want to have children, and Yo had told him he needed a wife for that. Eun just didn't know how a woman played a role in having children. He didn't really understand the basics of life.
"Wives really are dead weight." Won commented with a sigh, to which Yo agreed with a grin and a nod of his head.
The king tried to reason with him, one of the few times he spoke to him as a father and not as the king of their country. It was clear in the way his tone softened significantly. "You have to understand, Eun-ah. Eighteen is the age for marriage in our kingdom."
Wang Eun looked to his fourth brother Wang So who was sitting at the table as well, pointing out something he thought would get him out of having to get married to some woman he didn't love. "My brother So isn't married and he's already twenty." He didn't think it fair that the king was finding him a wife, while completely ignoring the fact that So was unmarried. He seemed utterly unconcerned by it.
"Who could possibly love a monster?" Yo asked, once more trying to mess with his brother.
So ignored him and explained calmly to his younger brother, a sigh escaping his lips. "No one would have me, even if I am a prince, because of my face."
"The more you pass the age of marriage, the less likely it is that a woman will want to marry you." The king explained. But Minji knew it was also about alliances. The princes who were married had inlaws who were either in politics or were nobles in Goryeo. That way, they would be able to keep power among themselves. They mostly tried to keep the throne within the family. But when it came to other positions in the government, they tried to marry princes, princesses, or nobles.
"I don't want to marry." Eun whined once more.
This time, one of his older brothers spoke up in a scolding tone, annoyed by his younger brother's whining. "You dare to argue with our king who only wants what's best for us and the kingdom?" Yo glared at his younger brother. Eun lowered his head down, like a small pup who was being scolded for doing something wrong.
Minji, who had been quiet the entire time, sitting right next to Jung, spoke up after a while. "I think we shouldn't push him and let him find someone on his own. There's really no need for him to marry someone he doesn't love. As the tenth prince, his marriage will be of no importance to the kingdom." Eun raised his head slightly and shot her a thankful look. She was standing up for him, when they weren't even as close as she and Jung were.
"And who asked for your opinion?" Yo looked in her direction and snapped at her.
"No one. I'm just trying to let you all know what I think." Minji said back, replying with the same level of annoyance.
Yo scoffed at her, taken aback that she hadn't cowered like his other brothers when he reprimanded him. She was like So, replying back without caring what anyone thought.
Won was quick to take his older brother's side, as he often did. "You're a woman. Your opinion doesn't matter." He was probably the only one that got along with Yo. Even Jung, who was also in close contact with him because of their mother didn't seem to talk to him much. Yo thought himself better than all of his brothers and wanted more than anything to be the crown prince, a position that was for Mu through inheritance as the oldest brother.
Minji felt her jaw drop in disbelief. "Excuse you--"
But Jung dropped his hand onto her knee to stop her before she could say anything more. Her hand was balled up into a fist as he leaned in to whisper, "Hak Soon, just let it go. You won't win this battle and I don't want you to be punished." He meant it in the sense that women were supposed to bite their tongues and be filial in front of the men. But Minji couldn't do so when there were people like Yo and Won who were rude and mean to everyone. But she let it go for Jung's sake, knowing the king might scold him as well, for not saying anything to her.
Minji cleared her throat angrily and pushed her chair back, faking a smile onto her lips. "If you'll excuse me, I have to go. I forgot to tell my family I would be here and they'll be worried."
Jung pushed his own chair back. "I'll walk you home if you want." He offered quickly.
But the general's daughter gave a shake of her head. "Please, don't get up. I'll see you later, oppa." Her hand absently touched his shoulder as she said her goodbye.
She walked away without another word and fifteen minutes later she found herself wandering around the palace. All that time visiting with Jung and the other boys, and she still didn't know her way around.
Minji stopped in her tracks when she ran into none other than the third prince, Wang Yo.
He was all but pleased to see her. But now that they had ran into each other, he had a few things to say to her. His eyes darkened, sending a chill down Minji's spine as he began to speak. "I've been meaning to say something to you. But my dumb younger brother Jung is always around to protect you." He said.
The fifteen year old gulped in intimidation. She wasn't so much afraid of him, but she was very intimidated by him. He was taller and probably stronger than her, and he didn't seem to like her very much, so she didn't know what he might be capable of doing to her. Especially considering that he had been waiting until he could catch her alone to do it.
She quickly turned around and pretended someone was calling to her. "Oh, hey! I'm coming!" She waved her hand high above her head and started to walk away.
She was stopped by the third prince gripping her upper arm, hard. Minji winced in pain when she felt his fingers digging into her skin through her gown.
"You think you're so special, sitting at the table with the king and a bunch of princes." He hissed at her in annoyance. Minji knew that he didn't like her from the first day that she met him. "But you're only Jung's girlfriend. That doesn't make you someone important in the palace."
"I never said I was important." Minji said, struggling in his hold.
"Ever since you and that other girl arrived, all you've been causing is trouble." He continued with venom seeping through his words.
"Let go." She said, her words dropping into whimpers. "You're hurting me."
Next thing she knew, someone was stepping in between them, pulling her arm out of his grip. Minji's eyes widened in surprise as she saw the tenth prince standing in front of her, his arm holding her back behind him, as though he were trying to protect her. The tenth prince who had always shied away from fights was now standing up for Minji, who was practically his sworn enemy. Except he couldn't have thought that way of her if he was protecting her now.
"Hyung, I won't let you treat her like that." He said, his tone lower than what she was used to hearing. No whiny little prince.
His brother found that entertaining to hear and threw his head back in laughter.
"You're standing up for her now too, Eun?" He asked, looking from his younger brother to the fifteen year old he had pushed behind him protectively.
That's when the tenth prince became a bit flustered, and he was quick to deny the facts. "Its not just her. I would do it for any woman." He turned to Minji and added, "Don't start to feel special now, wench."
"You don't even know how to fight." Yo pointed out in amusement.
"He doesn't, but I do." They heard from the end of the hall, and they turned to see Jung walking towards them. The sixteen year old prince stopped when he reached them, standing in front of both Eun and Minji, glaring at his older brother. "If you touch her, hyung, you'll really regret it. She's going to be my wife and I won't allow you to hurt her."
Minji felt her heart flutter.
Yo glared at the three of them and stormed off, leaving them there alone.
Once he was gone, Eun turned to his younger brother, going back to his whiny self. "You didn't have to interfere, Jung-ah. I had things under control."
But Jung wasn't exactly pleased with him either. He saw how close Eun and Minji were becoming and he didn't like it. It made him jealous of them because he felt like he was slowly losing her.
"Thanks hyung." Jung muttered a half hearted apology. "But the only one who's going to protect her from everything is me."
-
so the sort of war between two brothers for the love of a woman has begun.
even though, i will admit, eun isn't totally into minji yet. but its getting there. and i have been dropping hints. so i hope you noticed them.
and i hope you liked the chapter.
thank you for reading. i have to go. im going to the park for a jog with my cousin. i always say im going to be healthier and end up eating junkfood again. but this time i will try to actually be committed to this.
-clary
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