Y/N kept her gaze on the doorway long after the attendants had disappeared with the last of the children.
The sudden silence should have been comforting but it felt foreign.
Strangely, silence only reminded her that the children weren't near and it broke her heart.
What was wrong with her??
Her fingers remained folded neatly in her lap, though she hadn't realized she had been twisting the fabric of her skirt between them until she felt Jungkook touching her.
"I'm fine" she murmured to no one in particular. The words almost sounded convincing.
She traced her fingers through his dark locks and kissed his head.
"I'll be fine after dinner, Koo” she smiled softly, with her lips still close to his scalp “I was just overwhelmed, the children have been inside all morning. They're energetic. It happens."
The twins would have then exhausted themselves with whatever game they invented in the gardens. Jia would be tucked away with another book. Areum would likely have forgotten whatever fantasy had occupied her moments ago. Aesul would be asleep almost mid-dinner, and Jin-ah would be pulled into another peaceful slumber.
Everything would return to its proper place. So would she.
It was only today. Only one difficult afternoon.
Y/N guided her husband’s face close to hers, kissing his lips softly.
“At least we have some time to ourselves. Not mom nor dad for now. Just Y/N and Jungkook”
The queen was so intently looking into her husband’s starry eyes that she did not even listened the door being opened
A small pair of embroidered shoes appeared in her peripheral vision.
Areum. Behind her stood Junseol.
"Hmm, I thought Appa said everyone was going outside," Y/N said softly, slowly letting go of Jungkook. She did not even had to look at him to see his eyebrows creasing and the pout slowly forming.
"I forgot something." Junseol said while staring at the floor. His mother knew immediately that he was lying.
Areum shifted closer, almost putting herself between her parents.
"I wasn't loud today, eomma” she mumbled quickly. "I whispered almost all day just like Jiseol taught me.”
Y/N frowned. "I know, my love."
"Then..." The little girl's brow furrowed. “are you sick, eomma?”
The question caught Y/N off guard. "What makes you think that?"
Areum looked at her brother and back to her mother, big eyes staring back while her little hans was clutching her light pink chima.
"When people stop smiling and talking, it means they are sick. Just like in the Princess books” She lowered her voice to an anxious whisper. “And sick people die, eomma”
The queen wasn’t sure if she should laugh or hold herself together and calm her daughter. She opted for just hold Jungkook’s hand as a way to tell him to not laugh.
"Eomma is not dying, Areum. We already told you that” Junseol rolled his eyes.
“YOU DON’T KNOW THAT!” The young one yelled back at her brother.
Y/N took a deep breath and stood up, picking her daughter up. “I’m not sick, just a bit tired. You don’t gave to worry cause appa is here to take care of me” she smiled and kissed her round cheek.
“Promise?" Areum did not look very convinced and looked at her dad. “Promise, appa?”
"We promise, sweetheart." She laughed and put her back on the floor.
Areum at both of her parents, searching her mother's face as though trying to determine whether her parents could break promises.
Apparently satisfied, she nodded once.
Only then did Y/N notice Junseol hadn't moved.
He stood exactly where he'd been, hands clasped behind his back. His eyes so painfully like Jungkook's, never left her face.
She smiled faintly. "Yes?"
His voice was very small and expression almost dejected. "You didn't say it back."
"You didn’t say I love you back."
The realization hit her like a blow.
She had been so overwhelmed, she hadn't answered.
The queen laughed and hugged Junseol.
"I love you, silly. I love you more than the moon."
"No," she kissed his head, brushing his hair back.
She looked back as Jungkook and smiled, all sadness disappearing from her eyes. It was like she was engraving the moment in her memory.
The lovely moment was broken by a huff that came from the doorway.
"There you are!” Ayra was standing at the door, staring at their siblings with folded arms. "I told you Appa said to stay outside."
Ayra sighed with all the exasperation an eleven-year-old could muster.
"You guys will get all of us in trouble” She walked into the room and planted her hands on her hips. "Come on."
"You'll make Appa angry.”
Before her pouty husband could lose his patience, Y/N decided to intervene/
"I’ll see you all after dinner. Apologize to your dad and go back to your nanny, please”
Junseol looked at her immediately, ready to argue back but had no time to even argue before being dragged out by Ayra.
Areum ran to her dad and jumped at him, almost climbing on his legs. “I’m sorry, appa. I love you” she spoke fast before running out of the room, following the twins that were already arguing again.
The room was quiet once more.
And for the first time that afternoon, the queen’s heart wasn’t heavy.
She hugged her husband, almost jumping on his arms just like her daughter. The queen giggled and kissed her husband “It never ceases to amaze me how much they inherited of you, Koo”
Jungkook barely has time to steady himself before you throw your arms around him.
His eyes widen for the briefest second.
Then he laughs, The kind that only you ever pull from him.
His arms close around you immediately.
Instinctively. Like they’ve spent years learning the exact shape of your body. and honestly? They have.
His voice is warm against your ear. I’ve been waiting for my wife to smile at me again.”
He buries his face against your neck for a moment.
The tension that had followed him from the council chamber finally melts away.
When you kiss him, his ears turn faintly pink.
Even after all these years.
Even after six children. You can still make him blush.
He secretly loves that. His forehead rests against yours.
“I don’t care how many meetings I miss or how many ministers complain. If this is what I come home to…”
“…I’ll happily let them wait.”
Your words about the children make him laugh again.
“They really did inherit too much from me.”
He sighs dramatically. Especially Junseol.”
“He stares exactly like I do when I’m worried about you.”
“And Ayra…” He shakes his head. you know how special this name is to him it reminds him of his mother, because queen dowager ayra was just as gentle and smart.
“She already thinks she’s running the palace.”
His expression softens when he mentions Areum.
“I don’t know where that little imagination came from.” He pretends to think.
“…Definitely not me.” Jungkook gives you a mischievous smile.
“Maybe she stole it from you.”
“I’m convinced she’ll end up correcting half the court before she’s grown.”
He chuckles. “I don’t think that child has ever walked anywhere.”
“She only runs.” and for a flicker, he starts to remember his own childhood. He was a really active Child and Jungkook’s mother would chase him around the gardens.
His smile becomes impossibly gentle.
His eyes drift toward the nursery.
“Yn I still can’t believe she’s ours. I catch myself staring at her while she sleeps. she’s so fucking cute.”
“Just… making sure she’s real.”
His attention returns to you. Always back to you.
“You know what my favorite part of today was?”
He doesn’t wait for an answer.
“It wasn’t the council, wasn’t even seeing the children.”
Jungkook’s eyes are focused on you and his lips are softly smiling, near your forehead?
“It was walking back through that door…”
“…and finding you waiting for me.”
Slowly. Patience is a virtue and he’s still learning that lesson.
“I’ve loved being their father.” His voice lowers.
His eyes soften in that familiar way they only ever do for you.
“I’ll never stop loving being your husband first.” His grin suddenly returns.
“I should probably be jealous.”
“They all keep stealing hugs that belong to me.”
He sighs dramatically. “I’ve been outranked by my own children.”
Even as he complains, he’s smiling. Because he adores every one of them. Because they love you with their whole hearts. Just like he does.
He wraps both arms around your waist again. Holding you a little tighter.
“Yn… no more worrying tonight. You’ve done enough.”
“I’ll read to the children after dinner.”
He list all the things one by one. This is a habit that he has begun to have ever since he’s had six children with you.
“I’ll listen to Jia’s newest lesson.”
“I’ll rescue Areum from whichever imaginary prince she’s arguing with.”
he nozzles your nose, his breath sharp.
“I’ll chase Aesul around the corridors.”
“And I’ll rock Jin-ah to sleep.”
He smiles and the thing is that Jungkook loves seeing you being happy, and he would go to any length to make sure that you stay happy.
“So my queen can simply…”
“…be my wife for a little while.”
