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baek haewon 22 , hotel heiress with a taste for luxury and a fear of the future -- an OC character indie muse sideblog -- pinned by libby EST , 21+ 𐙚
✧˖° about // ask // opens ✧˖°

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“ are you a princess ? “
The question had been asked with such a childlike innocence and with sparkling eyes haewon didn’t immediately panic . she might have choked on her stew , sending little drops of both coughing into her palm , but otherwise maintained her composure and replacing her momentary surprise with a smile both to the sudden appearance of a little girl and her question .
“ what makes you think that , hm ? “ she asked sweetly with a little nudge of her fingers under the girl’s chin .
“ you’re really pretty . “ the little girl sat down next to haewon on the bench and pinched at the fabric of her dress , one she’d thought was a significant downgrade from the dresses she’d worn at the castle and the fine silks , hoping the less expensive style would blend in more . “ your dress is nice . it looks new ... and you wear your hair down . most women wear it up in braids to keep it out of their face when they work . you don’t have it covered , either . “
Haewon’s smile fell just slightly , looking around in the inn’s kitchen to the other women occupying its other tables . most of them looked the part ; cloths covering their hair and keeping it from their face , dirty aprons covering their obviously old raggy dresses to protect what remained of the fabric , and while most of the women staying as guests were clean skinned , the ones working the inn had grease stains smudged on their arm and caked under their nails . haewon quickly sat on her hands when she caught a glimpse of her own nails , still clean and neatly groomed , before the little girl would take notice . she’d thought her new styling would help her blend in more as they travelled .
“ i’m not a princess , child . just a noble travelling through . “ the disappointment across the little girl’s features actually had haewon feeling slightly guilty for lying , resisting the urge to pinch her cheek in hopes of bringing her mood back up and see those sparkling eyes again . the girl’s attention turned to the man sitting on her other side and catching river mid drink when she spotted the sword sheathed across his waist . she lifted a finger and pointed .
“ he’s a knight ! “
Then it was river’s turn to choke , coughing into his sleeve with a shake of his head , and trying to quickly clear his throat and defend himself the best he could before haewon chuckled , and pulled the little girl onto her lap to pull her attention away from him .
“ he’s not a knight , sweetling . just another nobleman ... “ though it was hard to deny considering river’s own choice in clothing , his black robes exchanged for a downgrade that was still undeniable of the freshness of his fabric . it didn’t help that he always carried himself with his shoulders back and scanned every possible exit in case they needed to make a quick escape . “ see ? he’s carrying it around just as protection in case we meet some bad men on the road . i guess you could say he’s my knight since he’s my own protector , “ she joked along trying to fulfill the girl’s fantasies without breaking her own cover . “ he’s actually boring , if you ask me . nothing like a real knight would be . he isn’t out there fighting dragons and climbing towers to rescue his princess from all the evil monsters locking her away . but you know what he can do ? “ she mused out loud as she pulled the girl more into her lap , loving the way her eyes shone as haewon spoke . “ he’s a wonderful dancer who likes to bring me flowers who is very handsome . so in my eyes , that makes him a prince , not a knight . what do you think ? does he look like a prince ? “
“ he is handsome , “ the girl said , now staring at river like he was really a prince haewon had described him as .
River managed to compose himself and reached over to pat the girl on the top of her head in amusement . “ this prince isn’t fighting off any dragons , unless you could the squirrels that try to steal our food as a dragon . “
“ are their dragons where you came from ? “ she asked . “ mother tells me stories sometimes about the monsters from other kingdoms and how they burn down castles and how the knights always kill them . is that true ? “
Haewon laughed , and shifted slightly so the little girl was sitting between her and river and wondering if parents still told those types of fairytale stories anymore , or if haewon should be feeding into them . it wasn’t as though her own fairytale princess life was going well , though there was nothing wrong with wanting to protect the child from the real world a little longer , then it wouldn’t hurt.
“ no dragons , “ she said , much to the disappointment of the girl who once more looked upset . “ but do you know what we do have ? wolves . “
“ werewolves ? “ she asked .
“ yes . big ones . “ haewon ignored the look river gave her from over his meal , partially a warning if she was about to reveal their secret , which she never would , or if she was about to double down on her teasing .
“ are they scary ? do they hurt the princess ? “
“ no . quite the opposite , “ she quickly refuted . “ they’re werewolves that only turn when they have to . they’re strong , fast , and they heal quick when they’re injured . they have the most important job to do in the kingdom . you see , they could use their secret to hurt people and take power , but they don’t . they protect the royal family instead and in return , the king and queen protect their secret . there aren’t that many werewolves left because bad people tried to kill them all , but there’s a few left . they say you can hear their howling every month on the full moon , and that’s when the kingdom is at its strongest . “
“ have you ever seen one before ? “
Haewon lifted her head to peek at river . “ yes i have . they’re magnificent creatures . fiercely loyal . “
The little girl gasped at the new information , looking ready to bounce off the bench from the excitement of a small story that would certainly fuel more stories to be told later among the other children . haewon had noticed the number of kids running around the inns grounds since their arrival the night before , though rather than grow upset from the constant sounds of scurrying and loud speaking , she found it charming that a village would let them freely roam and have their fun .
As the little girl scurried away to join the rest of her friends as they called her over , haewon scooted back beside river so they could finish their meal and prepare for another day of riding to wherever would house them safely next . the traveling days all seemed to blend together , and it was getting harder for her to track which kingdoms they were residing in temporarily when many of them didn’t have their flags raised outside every building .
“ magnificent ? “ river repeated amused .
“ i meant what i said . besides , watching how happy she got listening about it was worth it , “ she said with a longing look to the girl as she and her friends all ran outside . “ children should be able to daydream about stuff like that for as long as they can . i loved it when my maids told me stories about dragons and knights , it made growing up in a castle more bearable . “ she glanced down , breaking from her trance to his sword that stuck out so obviously amongst the other men in the room . “ she was right , though . you do look like a knight . if we’re blending in , at least ... loosen your posture or something . you stick out too much ... both of us do . “ she hadn’t realized how much attention they must have been drawing in with their disguises , and wondered if staying in the village another day would give them a chance to find better outfits that would help them blend in . all it would take is one more child asking if she was a princess for them to inevitably get recognized at the wrong time .
And haewon wasn’t ready to leave the village yet . it was the first time on their journey that she felt safe enough to stay another day , maybe scope out the area and decide if settling for a few months would be a more fulfilling option than continuing on running for the rest of their lives . the people seemed accommodating and friendly , and while they’d had a few stares simply from their choice in clothing , no one seemed to mind them any business . the kids roamed freely . it seemed far enough from any large castles or manors that it would be the furthest from any possible battles or war , which was the safest she’d felt since fleeing baekje all those weeks ago .
River seemed to consider the option . his years of training , on top of his dedication to protect haewon above all else , he’d never took any chances when it came to their safety and had run so far and so quickly baekje’s downfall hadn’t reached their location . he pursed his lips and looked frustrated at the idea of staying anywhere longer than necessary , but after haewon pouted and the light seemed to fade from her eyes , he let out a long sigh . “ fine . another few days won’t hurt . “
It started with searching for a seamstress . unlike the luxuries she had at the castle , with plenty of ladies letting haewon pick the finest silks and take her measurements with the upmost care , she had to settle on a small shop with an even smaller collection of dresses with fabrics that were much cheaper than her silks and a style different from a royal’s . she felt oddly exposed with her tie up corset and shorter sleeve , and river looked even more out of place in a casual outfit he could’ve pulled off if he hadn’t been so determined to find a way to still sheath his sword on his belt .
“ you can’t keep it on you , “ she tried to convince him like trying to pull a child from it’s mother . river returned the same pout she’d given him earlier when she reached to take it from him , the weight of it heavy that she almost dropped it , and him catching it with a bit of a glare how she’d nearly lost something so precious . “ fine ! “ she exclaimed with her hands above her head and scoffing out . “ you can carry it back to the inn , but you can’t hold on to it while we’re here . you’ll scare the villagers and the kids ... and it looks awful in that outfit . “ he still hadn’t stopped glaring at her , his silence enough of an answer as his grip tightened around the handle as if he was unwilling to separate himself from his father’s gifted weapon .
It had taken more convincing than she thought for it to be left behind at the inn . haewon also set aside her old dress and checked the crown jewels of her father in the small pouch hidden beneath the loose floorboards , and as a remaining measure , even separated herself from her father’s ring she’d kept on a small string around her neck beneath her front . she’d taken river’s outstretched hand and left behind the old pieces of their life to explore a potential new one in the village .
The weather was warm and pleasant . her skin soaked in the sun after weeks of riding through cloudy days and rainy weather , and the ache in her legs from riding for so long seemed to ease with the walking . rumors had spread quickly from the little girl at the inn of the noble couple passing through , village people peeking out of their small shops trying to catch a glimpse of them , all greeting haewon and river warmly with waves and invitations to discuss their travels . the girls had quickly learned of the handsome man’s arrival and haewon swore she heard them whisper about him , stifling her laughter as heads peeked from the shops windows at the giggles that followed .
“ you changed ! “
Haewon and river’s walk was stopped as the same little girl from earlier jumped out in front of them and pointed again at their new choice of clothing .
“ why did you change ? “ she asked , hands going out to touch the much less finer fabrics and frowning when it didn’t feel as soft as the silks did earlier she’d admired so much . “ and where is your sword ? “ she turned to river with the same accusational tone for as small as she was , her voice was quite powerful . “ my brothers were excited to see it ! “
Her little feet stomped on the dirt road , little puffs from the settled dust lifting back into the air again adorably that made haewon smile . “ what’s your name ? “ she asked . “anna . “ haewon lowered herself down to her level , and brushed away the little bit of dust that had settled onto the top of her head . “ and do you always run around by yourself , anna ? where are your parents ? “ a tiny hand lifted and pointed to the biggest house in the center of the village , then fell to start playing with haewon’s hair now that it was level with her shorter stature . “ your parents are the lord and lady of the village , are they ? “ she asked , anna nodding in response . “ so you know the village quite well then ? why don’t you show us around ? “ haewon opened her own hand , offering it to the girl and smiling as she took it .
Soon enough , they were sat by the small pond with anna in her lap and anna’s brothers hanging from river’s arms trying to goad him into a fight to prove he really was a knight and not some nobleman accompanying his new bride on a journey through the realm . haewon noted the other families gathered around to enjoy the pleasant afternoon as if something so casual was an everyday occurrence there; between the laughter of the children and the birds singing from the above trees , she didn’t think a life this peaceful was common outside of the castle .
River’s grunt and eventual overdramatic yell came over when he allowed himself to get tackled by the two brothers who yelped in excitement from overtaking the grown man . the boys proudly claimed themselves victorious and grabbed some sticks off the ground as makeshift swords and pretended to attack river again while he was still down , the playful scene making the princess soften , and the part of her that had died weeks ago seemed to warm back up again as it came back to life .
“ you look sad , “ anna commented as she watched haewon’s expression change at the unfolding scene .
“ i’m not sad . i’m actually very happy , anna , “ she said with a touch to the child’s nose . “ we’ve been travelling for a long time and it’s nice to settle in for a few days to relax while meeting some nice people . “
“ then you should move here ! “ anna happily suggested and stood from haewon’s lap to prove her point . the princess stood short after , bending down to scoop the child up in her arms and carry her with . river decided to follow and had one of the boys hanging on his leg with the other slung over his shoulder , still in the middle of their brawl .
“ we’re here for a few days . why don’t we enjoy our time together with what we have ? “ she suggested , anna’s disappointment clear but accepting as she rested her head on haewon’s shoulder , and allowed herself to be carried all the way home where the children were safely dropped off at the lord’s manor so the couple could enjoy some more time together .
They’d started their way back to the inn to care for the stallion when haewon paused at a familiar scent wafting through the air . lilacs -- her mother’s favorite scent , and haewon’s favorite flower . it was coming from a wooden shop they stood right outside of , naturally following the scent a finding herself in a somewhat familiar scene that had her tearing up . dried flowers from baekje hung from the ceiling . there were large bottles on the shelves filled with oils had been dusted over from age , some of the petals floating inside as they continued to seep their fragrance into the essence . some fresh flowers remained in a water filled vase , though most of the bouquets couldn’t have survived such a long journey and even though most of them had wilted , haewon searched through the shop trying to find the lilacs .
“ haewon . “ river’s soft voice from behind had her turning to find the knight holding one of them out to her . it had been wilted , appearing as it had dead for days and the white petals barely holding onto the stem as even just the movement of taking it from the vase had one of them falling to the ground and joining the various colored petals on the wooden floor . the loose stem flopped in her hand , though she held it close to her chest and admired what remained .
She wondered what had become of baekje . if the fire extended from the castle to the surrounding gardens , if the farmers of her kingdom had been affected , if her people were safe . if whoever had instigated the attack decided to keep baekje for themselves and bask in the fortunes of the fertile soil and continue to let her kingdom thrive in her absence , or if they’d let their precious flowers die .
River noticed her sudden shift in mood and lifted under her chin , wiping away one of the brewing tears and held her cheek . he kissed her forehead assuringly , silently stepping away to the counter and buying a small bottle of the same scented oil she’d always wear . it seemed pointless to buy anything as luxurious as oils when they were supposed to be on the run , but the small reminder of home was too precious for her to pass .
The lilac was limp and already dead by the time they’d returned to the inn that night . haewon scurried around the room hoping to find something to preserve it , any book , and loose pages that were floating around , settling on leaving it by the window where hopefully the morning sun would take the last of the moisture and allow the petals to be preserved permanently .
“ i saved every flower you brought me , “ she said as the silence grew too loud for her to ignore . “ even those dead roses you picked outside the gates when there was the uprising . i pressed them between my books . if i could , i would tell the glaziers they were ones i found in the gardens and have them set in glass so i could keep them with me in my chambers as decoration . whenever you were away , i’d look over them and think of you , as i knew you’d come back with more . “ she could feel herself begin to tear up again , the weeks of running having made her numb that she hadn’t sobbed in weeks . river was right there and already trying to console her , pulling her to his chest and pressing his chin to the top of her head to let her cry if she needed . “ what if they’re all destroyed ? “
“ they’re just flowers , haewon ,” he tried to tell her , despite him knowing the deeper meaning behind every one he’d brought her and why he’d continued to bring them even after her engagement in secret . for what he’d never been able to properly tell her , he’d done by gifting her the pieces of baekje that made their kingdom special as a constant reminder for his feelings for her . to anyone else , they might have been a simple gift , but to her , they were all symbolic gestures of his love she’d treasure forever .
The sounds of music coming from outside the window drew her attention away from her grief , along with the blazes of a large fire and people singing . the village seemed to be having a gathering in the center of town , big enough that the sounds of it reached the outskirts to their inn . haewon wasn’t in much of a dancing mood as she kept her face tucked in river’s chest and let out a deep breath to calm herself down ; perhaps it was the sight of the large flames causing the shadows to reflect on the walls that caused her to feel the sudden unease , much too familiar of the final sight of her home going up in the same light .
“ we should go join them , “ river tried to convince her as haewon shook her head . “ we shouldn’t spend the remainder of our night up here feeling sad . why would we waste a happy day to end it like this ? the whole village is probably out there dancing and wondering why we’re not there joining them , and you love dancing . “
“ it’s not the type of dancing either of us are accustomed to , “ she tried to argue , more trying to convince herself than him as she wiped at her face to rid of the tears .
“ it might not be . but it’s us , isn’t it ? we can go out there and recreate the awful dancing we did when we were teenagers and you were teaching me how to move without stepping on your feet . “ river took a step back , haewon frowning at the bit of distance between them , watching as he fell into a deep bow reminiscent of the ones he used with her in the grand hall of the castle as a formal invitation to dance . “ princess , “ he said , peeking up with a smirk so uniquely river it still brought that little flutter in the pit of her stomach . “ would you like to dance ? “
She didn’t give him a verbal answer as she pressed back to his front and grabbed his hand while extending their arms out to the side as she fell into a simple step , hardly considered dancing with how haewon’s head rested on his shoulder as they swayed with the echoes of the much lighthearted , faster step played that required a much different dance . while it didn’t match , it was enough to pull haewon from her grief as river kissed the top of her head and did a very gentle spin .
“ anna will be wondering why you’re not there , “ he tried convincing again , knowing what a gentle spot haewon already developed for the lord’s daughter .
“ she’s very sweet , “ haewon agreed . “ i hope one day she’ll be as beloved by the villagers as they are now . “
River peeked down at the little smile haewon started to form . he chuckled , deciding to move into another gentle spin . this time when he pulled her back in , he welcomed her back into his arms and tucked her head under his chin . “ you’ve always been good with children . “ he sighed , stealing a glance outside the window where a few of the dancing families could be seen in view as the music continued on . “ i like it here . it’s so different from we grew up in the castle with the finest luxuries in the kingdom . even a little outsider like me was treated better than most of the people here were thanks to the king . it makes me wonder how differently my life might have been if father decided to remain in his village before becoming a soldier . “
“ what would you have liked to your life to be ? “ she asked , amused at the prospect of river being anything other than a knight with his skill and pride .
“ i don’t know . maybe a blacksmith ? stable boy . something a lot less stressful than a soldier or sellsword where i could come home to my family every night and not have to worry about the possibility of getting killed every time i leave , “ he chuckled .
Haewon tried to imagine it ; river coming home in the same outfit he had on , maybe covered in soot from working with metals or near a fire , always smiling , doting on his children after a long days work . the image was appealing , but entirely unrealistic for either one of them to have a life so simple when fate had decided theirs already .
“ would you want that ? “ she asked him . there was a tone of seriousness in her question , meeting his eyes and slowly coming to a stop in their dance for him to really consider his answer . should they both grow tired of running , if rumors of baekje reached them that the castle had been destroyed and the kingdom fell to ruins , if whoever ruined her family’s reign decided to keep it for themselves , and there was truly no point in fighting , would settling somewhere be something they wanted ? she’d rather confine herself to a false identity and live with river here peacefully for the rest of her life than fight a losing battle , or safely hide forever if it meant escape with their lives . her question wasn’t just out of curiosity ; she asked it as an offer , a silent proposal to him that if he agreed , perhaps they could change their fate entirely .
Fingers dipped below her chin to keep their gazes locked , and the lightest touch to her lips . “ any life i have with you , princess , is the only one that i want , whether it be as villagers , as wanderers , or as a knight under your leadership . “ her head was lifted more , river leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her lips and letting it linger long enough for haewon to melt into him once more , foreheads pressed , and eyes closed as they let the moment settle into silence . “ i’ll always be by your side . but should fate decide to have your rightful place as queen , i ask you make your own oath to me , now , here , that you’ll never push me aside and pick another . in whatever life we decide together , it will be as husband and wife . i’ll watch another kingdom burn before watching you swear to another man again . “
Haewon’s hand lifted to wrap around the bottom of his thumb and wrist , holding his grasp to her face longer and nodding . it wasn’t a single moment of contemplation in her answer ; he was her only reason left living in such a miserable existence in these past weeks , her only person that could pull her from her dark thoughts ; the dedicated he had to protecting his princess , haewon felt the same to keep living , not for herself , but for him .
“ i need you to promise it to me , haewon , “ he whispered , eyes closed , as if it pained him not to hear her speak right away .
“ i promise . “ her hand lifted once more , pressing her fingers over her heart and sealing it as an oath , not having released river’s hand as his own now felt the erratic beating through her chest . his fingers tightened over hers , and he kissed her once more , this time more deeper than the last as the fire outside the inn window blazed bigger and hotter than before as the music’s tempo grew faster . she barely noticed it , now .
“ that’s all i’ve ever wanted , haewon , was to see you safe , happy , and to be mine ... i don’t care where or how . just be mine forever . “ her grip tightened around his fingers . her heart skipped a beat .
“ always and forever . “
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“i’m not hurt.” the reassurance came immediately, almost instinctively, the moment he noticed where her attention had settled. river knew exactly what she was looking at. her eyes kept returning to his cheekbone, to the spot where one of the outlaws had managed to land a hit. it had stung at the time—- more irritating than painful, really—- but whatever bruise might have formed had already faded. all that remained was a smear of dirt and dust streaking across his skin and there was plenty more where that came from. his uniform had suffered a similar fate. dark fabric was now covered in road dust, traces of mud clinging to the hem and sleeves. he glanced down briefly, expression tightening with mild displeasure. he had spent far too much time maintaining appearances to enjoy looking like he'd rolled through a ditch.
still, his annoyance lasted only a moment. his attention drifted right back to her. the moment he truly looked at haewon again, every other concern became secondary. he could hear it in her voice. the fear. the lingering tremor she was trying so hard to hide. most people probably wouldn't have noticed it but river had spent years learning every shift in her tone, every subtle expression. he knew the difference between her excitement, her frustration, her happiness and he knew fear.
the urge that followed was immediate and almost overwhelming. he wanted to pull her into his arms. to wrap her up in his warmth until the fear disappeared completely. to tell her she was safe. that as long as he was breathing, no one would ever harm her. that he would stand between her and every danger this world could offer. that he would kill for her if he had to.
instead, he remained where he was. barely. when her forehead pressed lightly against his chest, his entire body seemed to soften despite himself. for one brief moment, he allowed his hand to rise. his fingers brushed gently through her hair, a small, comforting gesture that came entirely from instinct. the touch lingered for only a second before he forced himself to pull back, lowering his hand to rest instead on her shoulder. a safer place… a more appropriate place. his gaze shifted slightly. all of her ladies were staring. every single one of them. river could practically feel their eyes drilling into him. expecting him to make one wrong move. one gesture too intimate. one touch that lingered too long and they would likely spend the next month lecturing both him and the princess about propriety. the thought almost made him laugh.
“everyone's safe,” he repeated softly, offering her a reassuring smile and it was true. the outlaws had been dealt with. the soldiers were unharmed beyond a few minor scrapes. the carriage was intact. most importantly—- haewon was safe. his expression gentled further. “we're halfway there,” he continued, his voice taking on that calm authority he always carried when speaking during matters of travel or security. “it's better if we continue moving.” his gaze briefly swept over the road ahead before returning to her. “i won't ride too far ahead, so princess...” his smile softened. “please return to the carriage.” it wasn't what he wanted. truthfully, he wanted the exact opposite. he wanted to place her on horseback beside him and spend the remainder of the journey talking like they used to. away from everyone else. away from expectations. just river and haewon. but those were exactly the kinds of thoughts he had been trying so hard to avoid. he couldn't afford unnecessary risks. not with her.
haewon hesitated, unsurprisingly. river expected as much. it took a fair amount of reassurance before she finally relented. he remained patient throughout it all, offering calm explanations and gentle insistence until she eventually allowed her ladies to guide her back toward the carriage. only once he saw her safely settled inside did the tension in his shoulders ease slightly. the escort resumed its journey soon after. horses returned to their steady pace. wagon wheels creaked against the dirt road. conversation slowly returned among the soldiers now that the danger had passed. river guided his horse alongside the carriage instead of riding at the front. close enough to react instantly should anything happen. close enough to hear if she called for him.
his gaze drifted upward toward the sky. the clouds gathering ahead looked increasingly unfriendly. dark and heavy. the kind that promised rain. he frowned slightly. part of him wondered whether they should stop at the next town they passed through and seek shelter for the night. it would be safer from the weather but towns brought their own problems. crowds. unknown faces. potential threats hidden among travelers and merchants. an open road carried risks. a crowded inn carried different ones. neither option was ideal. a quiet sigh escaped him. his fingers adjusted around the reins as he continued riding beside the carriage.
for once, he found himself hoping the weather forecast written across the sky was wrong because if the rain came, the roads would become difficult. slower. more dangerous and the last thing river wanted was for anything to complicate the journey while the princess was under his protection.
the carriage was warm and comfortable with the thick cushions and numerous blankets scattered along its inside . as the rain started to fall and the wind picked up , the cold breeze came through the open gold plating windows and sent a chill down her spine . she could have huddled into the middle , kept clear from the straying drops that found its way in with the wind , but she was pressed to the sides and sacrificing the state of her hair to watch river as he kept his place beside her . he must have been cold ; the rain was relentless in its downpour and soaking his uniform he always took pride in keeping neat , his hair dripping , and still found a way to smile at the princess from her spot in her worries . he didn't stray from her side once , haewon watching him with sad eyes and a slightly damp face as more drops found their way through the gold plating , another firm reminder that they'd never be able to truly share the same space as he'd always have to be a step away from her .
as the months passed , the princess continued her routine with her tutors and began to accompany father to his counsel meetings learning of the kingdom's trade routes and finances . it busiest most of her time , having to slowly learn how to takeover the kingdom one day as queen , a role she'd accepted and honored to have , though what she didn't like was how far her new duties pulled her away from the people . there were less villages visits where she could meet with their respective nobles , less time for her to see what parts of the kingdom needed the most help , and she felt rather closed in the castle walls if it wasn't for the small reprieves river had provided .
his presence alone kept her sane . when things felt overwhelming , he'd take her on a ride through the forest . every time she doubted her position as heir during counsel , she felt his assuring nod from the corner . most importantly , despite his new busy schedule required of his position , he never failed his nightly escorts to her chambers .
the whispers from her ladies and maids seemed to spread at the return of the princess from her journey . new eyes seem to track their moves , watching for a hint of something more than a lifelong friendship and waited for them to slip . she knew how the dukes regarded the king's knight with respect , but also noted the closeness between him and the princess , and one afternoon during another counsel meeting when the first proposal was laid out , haewon felt her heart stop in her chest .
" father , you're not considering this ? " she asked , peeking to river who stood behind the king in his rightful spot and noting the way his hand tightened around the sword sheathed on his side . then to hear the dukes proudly proclaiming a few proposals had been offered for the princess , and the announcement for the first meetings to be made into a grand ceremony . she wanted to beg her father to reconsider in front of all the important leaders in the kingdom , propose her own idea of marrying for love , or at least give her more time as she wasn't ready .
her father's sad expression stopped her from all of that . then another reminder , albeit gentle , from the dukes that the responsibility as heir to find a match that would ensure the kingdom to thrive for generations to come . it wasn't just about her , or her heart . her people ; the ones she loved the most . haewon solemnly sat back and lifelessly watched as the first ceremony was planned with the only shine in her eyes from the unshed tears as she looked back to river and his shaken posture .
the walk to her chambers that night was silent . there weren't words that would make either of them feel better . haewon wondered still if she privately asked for her father to reconsider , perhaps he would , but she also trusted the judgement of her counsel and knew her kingdom wouldn't approve of a marriage between her and anyone that didn't have a title .
" i'm sorry , " she managed to whisper to him when her back turned just before calling for her ladies behind the door .
the following week , haewon was dressed grandly for the ceremony . no expense was spared as the castle was decorated with the best flowers from the nursery and scrubbed every corner of gray walls until spotless . the king had arranged for ten princes for haewon to meet , which meant hosting ten kingdom's highest families -- she'd never seen such excitement from all the maids in her entire life .
meeting ten princes at first felt awkward . some were older , younger , all respectful up front , though it was cathay's crowned prince that had taken initiative to approach haewon and lead her through the first dance .
prince wooseok was handsome . he lacked the same charms as the other princes with a colder exterior , though kind when the situation called for , and haewon spotted it as an act immediately . he seemed the type to be ruthless towards those who wronged him , and for a future king , it might've been useful in war , though years of watching her own father's reign did she learn the people respected him due to his ability to be a firm , yet forgiving leader . his leading during their dance was demanding . he didn't seem to have the same respect for the other princes . he regarded river with a sneer when he caught haewon peeking back to him through the crowds , and towards the end of the dance , he separated with a scoff .
" are you sweet to your king's knight , princess ? " he chuckled , having intentionally led their dance towards the corner of the grand hall so they weren't in the direct line of sight to the crowd . " i heard a rumor about baekje's knights being the most loyal guard dogs in all of the kingdoms . have you heard that one before ? no ? "
" the king's guard is highly trained and respected in baekje . it's the highest honor , " she tried to explain to him , though he didn't seem interested in hearing it . wooseok rolled his eyes and tapped under haewon's chin mockingly .
" you're beautiful , princess . any of those guards would dishonor you the moment your kingdom falls and keep you for ransome -- the knights of flowers , right ? none of them seem like they're strong enough to protect baekje . cathay has the strongest military in all of the lands ; imagine how our invincible our kingdom's would become if we were to marry ? " he'd tried , though he reached out again , haewon taking another step back with eyes wide from the blatant disrespect he'd given towards her guard . wooseok reached out for her again , stepping forward just as she stepped back again . " princess . have i offended you ? years in your castle has softened you , hasn't it ? "
" it's a nice gift . thank you . " haewon blushed as she accepted the small bag with both hands , her life of luxury so comparable to theirs that she felt a little embarrassed as she set the bag down to pick up her own gift , pushing it across the table and biting her lip at the differing price . " it's ... a cologne . sorry to spoil it , just ... be careful handling it , " she warned , and not due to it's fragile nature , but the thousands of won she'd spent on it , now realizing she'd overspent on her present significantly compared to theirs . @lightsideofseoul
haewon hadn't been here before . she'd thought she'd explored most of the city considering how long she'd lived there , but as she walked inside and took a good look around the differing architecture , she realized there were still a lot of places left untouched .
" why did we decide to meet here ? " she mused out loud , trying to identify the familiar face among the crowd she'd planned to meet with . @gcholdtrops
he lingered somewhere between sleep and wakefulness, caught in that hazy state where reality and dreams blurred together. his body felt heavy, comfortably weighed down by exhaustion and every time he drifted closer to consciousness, sleep tugged him back under again. through the fog, he vaguely registered movement behind him. a gentle hand running through his still-damp hair. the sensation was faint enough that, for a moment, he wondered if he was imagining it. then came the feeling of her shifting closer until he felt her settle against his back. an arm slipped around his waist. his tired mind recognized the gesture before he fully processed it. even half-asleep, he knew it was her. a small part of him wanted to react. wanted to acknowledge it somehow but he was simply too exhausted. his body had already made its decision. sleep was winning.
still, before consciousness completely slipped away, one thing remained. one sentence. whether it came from a dream, a memory or his own thoughts, he couldn't tell. it echoed quietly through his mind. "neither one of us is alone anymore." the words lingered for only a second. then darkness claimed him completely. he slept deeply after that.
hours passed unnoticed. eventually, however, his body began pulling him back toward consciousness naturally. he stirred slightly. his eyes remained closed at first. then slowly opened. the room had shifted into the warm glow of late afternoon, sunlight filtering softly through the curtains. for a few moments he simply lay there, orienting himself. then he became aware of the weight pressed against him. haewon. still attached.
his lips twitched faintly. she was practically wrapped around him. one arm remained securely around his waist while her body was tucked against his back, holding onto him with the determination of someone who had absolutely no intention of letting go. like a koala. the comparison immediately came to mind. he found himself strangely amused by it.
careful not to move too much, he glanced downward. his gaze landed on the hand resting against his stomach. for a moment, he simply looked at it. at the wedding ring sitting there. the ring neither of them had removed. his sleepy mind lingered on the sight longer than necessary. without really thinking about it, he reached down. his fingertip brushed lightly against the metal band. slowly tracing its surface. the gesture was absentminded. almost unconscious. his finger moved from the ring to her hand. following the shape of her knuckles. the lines of her fingers. the softness of her skin. then upward along her wrist, her forearm. his touch remained featherlight, guided more by curiosity than intent.
it wasn't until he felt movement behind him that awareness crashed back into place. his eyes widened slightly. oh. he froze immediately. his hand stopped where it was before quickly retreating. “sorry—-” his voice came out rough with sleep, barely louder than a whisper. “did i wake you up?” the question left him before he could think too hard about it. as she shifted again, moving slightly, he immediately lowered his hand completely, placing distance between them as though pretending he hadn't just been tracing patterns against her skin moments earlier. his heart betrayed him by beating just a little faster.
the two of them gradually woke properly after that. the comfortable haze of sleep eventually gave way to the reality of the evening ahead. dinner. their final day on the island. the approaching end of the honeymoon. river got up first, stretching carefully while avoiding any movement that aggravated his shoulder. thankfully, the bruise seemed slightly better than before, though it still ached enough to remind him it existed. once dressed, he sat in the living room and reached for his phone. old habits returned immediately. emails. he skimmed through everything quickly. the company was still standing. a miracle, apparently. his inbox was manageable and most of the urgent matters had already been handled without him.
a few messages from his mother sat unread. more from his sister. significantly more. he wasn't surprised. his sister had always worried about him more than anyone else. especially after everything that had happened before. she had witnessed firsthand what the aftermath of his previous marriage had done to him. how long it had taken him to recover. how thoroughly it had affected him. her messages reflected that concern. river stared at the screen for a moment. then sighed quietly. his thumbs hovered over the keyboard. eventually, he typed the same kinds of responses he had been sending all week. all technically true yet somehow incomplete. because every time he tried to dig deeper than saying things were fine, he stopped himself.
he couldn't bring himself to explain what was actually happening. couldn't explain how confused he felt. how much had changed in such a short amount of time. how often he found himself thinking about her now. how comfortable her presence had become. because putting those feelings into words made them real and if he admitted them—- to his sister, to his family, even to himself—- then it felt dangerously close to hope. hope that this marriage might become something more. hope that these feelings weren't one-sided. hope that he could actually have something good and hope was terrifying. especially for someone who had already learned how painful it was when expectations shattered.
so instead, he kept his replies simple. carefully measured. his sister deserved honesty, he knew that but part of him still wasn't ready to face the truth himself. and until he could, it was easier to keep telling everyone—- including himself—- that everything was merely decent. that there was nothing to worry about. even as his gaze drifted toward the bathroom door where haewon was getting ready. even as his thoughts immediately followed her there. even as his heart quietly disagreed with every lie he typed.
haewon had woken to gentle fingers grazing the wedding ring . while she'd gotten used to the weight , she hadn't gotten used to seeing it reflect off their respective hands whenever they were close . it was hard to ignore the gentle traces up her finger , then up her hand , and haewon came to and realized it wasn't herself touching her arm , but it was river doing it .
confusing emotions swirled inside the heiress as eyes opened more clearly to focus on the fabric of his shirt , her forehead still tucked to his spine and arms locked around him in an attempt to take what physical touch she could from her husband as it was the only one she could from their position . just this , she'd been happy , but to feel his touch lift up her wrist and up her arm , haewon's eyes forced closed and head pushed more firmly to his back . fingers instinctively gripped onto the front of his shirt as a way to hopefully cling him closer , not having realized the reaction had given away her waking .
then it was gone . haewon watched with a deep sadness as he released himself from her hold and stretched , leaving her on the mattress tilted to his side of the bed leaned forward as if she was still reaching out for him to come back to her . she hadn't been ready to let go of it , yet , and was left there alone to prepare herself for one of their final nights together in hawaii before they had to return back to their normal lives , though she wondered what their new normal would be .
there wouldn't be the waking in the same bed with no plans or schedules waiting for them . no relaxing , no stresses over work , and she'd gotten so used to being turned off from needing to hold appearances she wondered if the front both of them had put up to the media would have to return again . the river she'd met here was more withdrawn , perhaps warming , but so genuine that it really made her appreciate who he was even more . he'd opened up ; what if she shut himself back down when they were home ?
haewon didn't like the idea of them back to being strangers again . it took longer than it should have to get ready for their dinner reservations . it wasn't a particularly elegant one ; her simple sundress and sandals so directed for the island took a minute to put on . her makeup was simple . minimal jewelry .
" i'm ready , " she said after mustering the courage to face her husband again and seeing him there on the couch responding to what she assumed were work emails . she knew she'd have to get used to seeing him like that back home . more quiet car rides , perhaps they'd have their own driver for media events provided by the company , and that silence .
their restaurant hostess recognized the couple immediately and congratulated them for their final night of their honeymoon , offering them the best beachside view the place had to offer . lanterns were lit , music was playing , and vacationing couples dancing in the middle awfully to the beat despite the numerous hula lessons they'd all taken together since arriving . haewon would miss this view dearly .
" we should do it together , " she said , perhaps wanting to use it as an excuse for them to touch another time . " it's the final night we'll get to try without anyone recognizing us , " she added , hoping the light hearted teasing would be convincing enough . " we can both be awful at it , and we can look back on it and laugh at how horrible we looked out there . it might be the best memory we make from the entire week . " she didn't wait for an answer , standing from her seat with a bit of boldness , just in time for the music to slow down significantly , and the couples all getting closer in to a more intimate , loving stance .
haewon still didn't back down . " we'll be expected to dance together when we get back home . we can practice now ... " she tried , being untraditional as she held out her arm for him to take in a shocked role reversal .
“we’re loners, aren’t we?” the words left him almost absentmindedly, spoken somewhere between observation and question. he wasn't entirely sure what she meant by it, though. whether she was talking about romantic relationships specifically or people in general. he felt like he already knew the answer or at least, he had a strong suspicion. but river had never been someone who liked making assumptions, especially when it came to things that mattered. so instead of digging deeper, he let the comment linger between them without pressing further.
his attention gradually shifted away from the conversation and back toward the sharp sting radiating through his shoulder. every time she touched the bruised area, he could feel the ache pulse beneath his skin. he endured it quietly, as he always did. then he felt her blow gently against the spot. the cool air offered immediate relief, subtle but noticeable enough to make him exhale. his gaze drifted toward her almost instinctively and then their eyes met. everything seemed to stop or perhaps it only felt that way. the distance between them suddenly felt impossibly small. close enough for him to notice every tiny detail—- the way her eyes focused on him, the concentration lingering on her features, the softness that seemed to appear whenever she forgot to guard herself.
for a brief second, river forgot entirely about his shoulder. forgot about the hike. forgot about the heat. forgot about everything except her. it was ridiculous and yet he couldn't seem to look away. his thoughts became impossibly loud. what was this feeling? he couldn't quite name it. it wasn't discomfort. it wasn't awkwardness. it wasn't even surprise anymore. it was something else entirely. something warm. something dangerous. the next few moments stretched endlessly. not because he hated them, not because the pain was unbearable but because his mind was suddenly flooded with thoughts he had been trying very hard not to entertain. thoughts about her. about the way she had cried in his arms. about how naturally she fit there. about waking up beside her. about how much easier it had become to be around her. about how often he caught himself looking for her now and perhaps most troubling of all—- about how much he had started to enjoy it.
when she finally finished and stepped back, rising to her feet, the spell broke. river blinked once before glancing away, forcing his attention back toward reality. toward his shoulder. toward literally anything else. “yeah,” he said after a moment, looking at the bruise. “no point in using a bandage since i have yet to shower.” he finished the remainder of his lemonade in a few long sips before carrying the empty glass to the sink. the cold drink had helped but only barely. at her question about whether she should rest, his answer came immediately. “go ahead and take a nap.” he lifted one hand dismissively, waving away any concern. “i don't mind at all.” his lips curved into the faintest hint of amusement. “it was an eventful... morning.” that felt like an understatement. between the storm, the hike, the fall and everything else that had happened between them, he felt like several days had somehow been crammed into a single afternoon.
when she suggested what they could do later that evening, he nodded. “sounds good, actually.” the idea of a quiet dinner sounded appealing. “rest well.” there was a brief pause before he turned and headed toward the bathroom, leaving her to settle into bed. once inside, he closed the door behind him and stepped beneath the shower. cold water cascaded over him immediately. the sensation should have cleared his head. it didn't. instead, his thoughts continued circling endlessly. all roads seemed to lead back to her. he tilted his head beneath the stream, closing his eyes. the two of them weren't all that different. that realization had become harder and harder to ignore. they both understood loneliness, expectations and what it felt like to spend years trying to become the version of themselves everyone else wanted. they wore different faces. lived different lives. but underneath it all, there were similarities he hadn't expected to find and maybe that was why being around her felt so easy.
the water continued to pour over him as minutes slipped by unnoticed. before he realized it, he had been standing there far longer than necessary. eventually, he shut the water off. his dark hair hung damp against his forehead, droplets sliding down his neck and shoulders as he wrapped a towel around his waist. when he stepped out of the bathroom, the villa was noticeably quieter. haewon had already drifted off or so it seemed at least. he slowed instinctively. her back was facing him.
moving carefully, almost absurdly quietly for someone his size, he gathered fresh clothes and dressed as quickly as possible. the towel was tossed into the laundry basket afterward. then he glanced toward the bed again. she hadn't moved. his eyes lingered for a second longer than necessary. before he reached for the light blanket resting nearby. carefully, he draped it over her waist. just in case.
once satisfied, he finally climbed onto the opposite side of the bed. the ache in his shoulder returned the moment he settled down. with a quiet grimace, he adjusted himself before eventually turning so his back faced hers. it wasn't entirely by choice. sleeping any other way made the bruised shoulder protest immediately. he stared ahead at the dim room for a while, listening to the faint sounds of the villa around them. listening to her breathing. aware of her presence even without looking.
his eyes slowly grew heavier and despite all the thoughts still lingering in his mind, despite all the questions he still didn't have answers to, sleep eventually began to pull at him. for now, he allowed himself to stop thinking.
she didn't let on how sad his remark had actually made her . haewon liked to consider herself happily extroverted when the moment required , from the many public outings she often did take enjoyment in , down to the casual time she spent with her friends where she didn't feel restricted by her image . her family was plenty loving enough ; but her life had lacked the intimacy of any sort of closeness that she hadn't realized how empty she'd felt until he'd said it , that she felt herself growing more gloomy the longer she listened to the water run until it stopped .
as tired as she was , her mind was too focused for her to fall asleep so easily and listened as river emerged and was considerate in the way he tried to keep quiet as she dressed . haewon resisted the urge to peek her eyes open to watch him , though as she felt the blanket rest over her , she actually shifted a little under it and felt her heart do another clench at the kindness such a small gesture meant .
it hadn't just been the touch that had her feeling this way . she'd gotten to see that part of her husband that no one else did . he was open , vulnerable , and accepting of her comforting words and didn't feel pressured to return the favor he'd given her so easily ; haewon wanted to be that person that comforted him . and his story broke her on the inside . of course he'd be so closed off at the idea of a second marriage , and for the longest time up until their honeymoon , she thought he'd only tolerated her for the sake of the contract .
she held her breath when she felt the bed dip . it didn't feel strange to be sharing a bed with him anymore , the few nights spent together was already enough for her to have learned his breathing patterns to know when he was sleeping and what positions he'd like to sleep in . she waited .
then she peeked her head behind her to see his back facing , a momentary frown crossing the heiress' features until she remembered his injury . she hoped it wasn't causing him too much pain , and the longing to hold him as she'd nursed his injury came rushing back , this time the urge stronger than before that haewon didn't stop herself when she crossed the distance of the bed and came up behind him .
she was careful not to disturb his rest . this wasn't entirely for herself as selfish as seeking the same comfort he'd given her last night , and hoped it wouldn't startle him as she leaned over so she was looking down at his side . haewon reached to touch the damp bangs and moved them from his face to look over his profile again , her finger barely brushing the skin ; she wanted to kiss him . this was hardly the right time to be doing anything like that having them just opening up finally , stopping herself at her hovering , then back down again , though she didn't roll back to her side of the bed . haewon kept herself right there against his back , allowing herself to loop her arms around his middle as she'd wanted to do before and pressed her forehead to his spine , making sure to stay clear of the bruised shoulder . she'd curled up on her side just like that , looking uncomfortable , but this was exactly what she'd needed in that moment .
" neither one of us are alone , anymore , " she whispered under her breath as she forced her eyes closed as a single tear escaped down her cheek she used his shirt to catch , her face pressed to his back and sighing out , though this time it wasn't out of sadness . it actually felt like relief , hope , perhaps something budding stronger than a casual crush to someone she was starting to fall for .
and she'd hoped with the moments she'd caught of him showing the same attraction weren't all imagined in her head . that every little gesture he'd shown from the longing glances , the hand he always held out to help her balance as they walked , or the slightly possessive nature she'd noticed whenever another man watched her on their outings , weren't out of a contractual obligation . perhaps , it wasn't just her struggling with these new feelings .

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(250830) WONYOUNG ♡ 'XOXZ'
I think this is the first starter call I’ve ever posted on this blog before
But here it is . The first official starter call
that bug be biting sometimes @deerhunteer
the music echoed through most of the castle . only the highest towers were free from the elegant sounds of the violin and lute , covering most of the grounds with a echoed music the winds carried through kingdom . the king had invited the highest of the nobility to entertain with a massive feast and conversations she had little interest in entertaining , and had chosen not to attend despite her growing love for dancing and greeting those grown adults who had declared their loyalty to her as future heir .
she'd opted to stick to her much less glamorous day dress as she wandered around the back halls of the castle searching for the only other person she knew wasn't attending the king's gathering .
she'd spotted river's father alongside the king's just before they'd bid the young princess a restful night , though she was more concerned with peeking her head around to see if his son had joined . the space beside the king's knight was empty , much to her disappointment , and once the chamber halls were empty , she'd decided to take a stroll through them , though made sure to keep her distance from the commotion .
the music was a nice touch . it seemed even the maids were enjoying their time dancing in their respective work spaces and allowing the princess to join , though she didn't stay for long as she continued her search . the stables were also empty . the bakery seemed to be the only part of the castle that still worked through the night keeping up with the noble's insatiable appetites , though the bakers were kind and let the princess sample on the treats and even gave her an extra cake as if they knew who she was looing for .
she bid them a good evening and thanked them for all their hard work as she passed the gardens and finally caught movement from the corner of her eye .
excitement tensed haewon's movements when she identified the moving body appear , then disappear behind the various potted flowers . was he running ? it looked too eloquent to be running , and she knew the speed he could move at , and when he appeared again , it appeared to be the movements were in somewhat of a rhythm with the lute that filled the castle's halls .
" are you trying to dance ? "
river jumped , and she knew he didn't scare easy ; she honestly felt bad for interrupting him as rudely as she had with her judgmental look and a hand full of cake . he'd attempted to compose himself and stand there looking at the stones on the floor littered with loose flower petals , though he didn't try and deny it . but the defeated look on his face had haewon instantly softening .
" you don't have to look so upset , i didn't mean to interrupt you . you're trying to learn , aren't you ? " she questioned . river nodded . " why ? "
the silence was a bit uncomfortable . he looked pained , glancing between the young princess and the surrounding flowers , then focused on the open door that led from the gardens to the trails leading out to the forest . she wondered if he would try to run .
" you said you liked to dance . "
haewon felt her heart jump in her chest at the admission , then she softened her posture and felt her face warm when she started putting together the pieces ; the longing looks he gave when she danced , his curious questions about her recent tutoring sessions with the choreographer , and his sudden interest in the castle music . he wanted to learn to dance ; so he could dance with her .
" you ruined the cake . "
" huh ? "
river nodded down to the hand at her side , haewon glancing down to find that her grip had loosened so much that the sugar that dusted the top melted from her body heat and cake crumbling between her fingers , leaving behind a sticky mess on her palm and an even bigger one on the stone . " oh , " she mumbled , finding a place to put the rest of the ruined dessert so she didn't mess up her mother's favorite spot in the castle the king still regarded as a sacred spot . river was already locating the water bucket and cloth used to clean the spots of soil and bringing it back between them .
it was silent again as he squeezed the excess water from the cloth and didn't need to ask as haewon held out her hands . the coolness from the water was satisfying on now hot skin as he delicately held her hand to wash off the sugar , her gaze locked on his maturing features and whisps of hair that had shifted with his exerted energy .
" why didn't you ask your father to send you for dancing lessons or hire a tutor ? " she asked , though a soft scoff and laugh from his chest had her regretting ever asking .
river lifted his head to lock gazes with the princess . he smiled , loosening up the once tense mood between them . he gently wiped the cloth down her hand a second time . " i'm not a prince or a nobleman . what sense is there for teaching a commoner to dance ? "
she'd been ready to argue . he wasn't just a commoner -- he was the son of the king's sworn knight ; her father had always treated river and his family as if he was a part of their own and didn't hesitate to arrange a fine marriage between his sister with a close friend in another kingdom to ensure his family's legacy was secure .
" imagine what the nobles would say if they saw us go out there together and fumble over baekje's princess . the poor family pulled out of their famines by the king and their commoner son daring to touch the princess as if he's part of the nobility --"
" that's not true , river . the nobles respect your father . "
" they still whisper , haewon , " river was quick to silence her . no one else would dare to interrupt her like that other than her father , though he wasn't just anyone . river would always be one of her closest friends she could always be herself around .
haewon liked to ignore the whispers she did hear . the few the king had caught had been quickly corrected and reaffirmed river's family's position as the closest he had . if they still did gossip , it was often behind the royal family's back and she didn't hear it anymore .
" i can teach you , " she offered as her hands were back to resting at her front again when river dropped the cloth back into the bucket . she thought he'd refuse with how frightened he'd been when she caught him practicing by himself , though to her surprise , he nodded his head again .
no other place could have been better . while she was the type to enjoy learning hobbies she wanted to perfect , river wouldn't have been comfortable guided by a tutor in a private room and a small band watching his every mistake . he was too much of a perfectionist to let anyone see him mess up , though haewon , was a much more softer teacher and gentle as she guided him how to hold his arms . she pulled him a more clear section of the gardens and waited for the music to settle to a slower part of the song , then gestured for him to take his first step .
" ow ! " his thick shoes stepped right onto her much softer flats and both of them jumped . she took a second , then glared , not saying anything to scold him when river held up his hands innocently . " we're supposed to move together . you're supposed to lead , but wait until i'm ready , too , " she lectured .
they tried again . haewon guided him at first through a simple step until he gained enough confidence for him to take over leading . he did miss a few steps , though she was quick to forgive and encouraged him to try again . then tried a more complicated routine , one that was far more complicated and intricate , but close . haewon loved these types of choreography that involved spinning and being caught by her partner , loved how easy it was for her to lower her arm when it fell from the raise and gently held the side of his face when they spun , and how even her day dress skirts spun with her .
" haewon . i think it's midnight . "
they began to slow to a stop . haewon listened , though didn't hear any music . there was an absence of voices and no laughter anymore -- when her head turned , there wasn't the same candelight anymore on the walls as their wicks had flamed out , and the pair of them had been using the moonlight to illuminate their movements .
" my ladies are probably worried about me , " she chuckled as she pulled out of their hold and touched her hair to make sure it didn't look as whipped as his did . river plucked a fallen pedal from her hair .
" should i escort you back to your chambers ? " he offered , probably to make sure she'd get there safely as the halls would be much emptier , and only the few guards would stand to keep watch as the castle and its occupants settled in for the night . she considered , truly , and thought about the her ladies that were probably coming up with worse case scenarios about her disappearance ; all of them silly and not worth true worry , but enough for them to gossip . if they caught sight of the king's knight's son escorting her back , who knows what nonsense they'd gossip around to the maids . haewon thought about how those nobles would hear of it eventually and find another reason to mock river's family , and it infuriated her inside . perhaps , if she continued to show up with him and take her own stance alongside her father that they were close like family , they'd stop . there wasn't anyone she trusted more to protect her father than his father , or someone she sought comfort in than river .
she dipped into a sweet bow usually given to a prince and stood back smiling . " i would expect nothing less from my dance partner . " as river extended an arm out for her , she didn't hesitate to reach out for it .
“yeah, bless the air conditioning,” he muttered with a quiet exhale, leaning back slightly as the cool air brushed against his overheated skin. after the hike, after the humidity that seemed determined to cling to him no matter how much water he drank, the coolness inside the villa felt almost unreal. “would love a cold shower next,” he added, bringing the glass of lemonade up for another sip.
the drink was cold enough to make him pause for a second, ice clinking softly against the glass as he lowered it again. he followed her over when she nudged the chair out with her foot, silently offering him a place to sit. he could’ve refused out of habit—- said he was fine, insisted it was nothing serious—- but he already knew she would keep pushing until he gave in. and honestly, it wasn’t fine. his shoulder hurt far more than he wanted to admit.
without much fuss, he set the lemonade down nearby before pulling his t-shirt over his head in one smooth motion. the fabric peeled away from skin still warm from the heat outside and he sat down, angling himself so the bruised shoulder faced her while the rest of his back remained exposed.
he glanced over briefly, noticing her reading the back of something from the first aid kit, brows slightly focused as she figured out what to use. he didn’t interrupt. instead, he simply watched her for a moment before looking away again, letting her do what she wanted. letting her take care of him. that alone still felt unfamiliar.
river had spent so long taking care of everything himself that being on the receiving end of concern always threw him off a little. he didn’t know how to sit still and let someone fuss over him without feeling awkward about it. and yet with her, he found himself allowing it more and more.
when she finally touched the bruised area, his body reacted instantly. he paused, muscles tightening beneath her touch before a sharp sting pulled a wince from him despite his efforts to suppress it. his jaw clenched briefly, tension flickering across his expression as the pain flared hotter for a moment. still, he didn’t move away. the sting faded gradually, leaving behind a dull ache and he exhaled quietly through his nose before speaking.
“there’s nothing to thank me about,” he said, his voice calmer now, quieter. “it’s very human to have those emotions and to feel the need to let it out… or be held.” his words came easier than expected, though admitting them still felt strange. because the truth was, he had liked it too. more than he probably should’ve.
having her curled up against him, feeling her pressed close in his arms—- it had felt natural in a way he hadn’t anticipated. easy. like something his body recognized before his mind could catch up to it. she fit against him perfectly, like there had never been space for anyone else there and that realization alone unsettled him a little. because if this had been anyone else, he would’ve created distance immediately. he would’ve shut it down before it could become something harder to untangle. but with haewon, every line he thought he had firmly drawn kept blurring little by little.
still, it wouldn’t be river wang if he admitted all of that out loud so soon.
he was still conflicted—- about the situation, about her, about himself most of all. there were feelings beginning to settle somewhere deep in him, quiet but persistent and he didn’t quite know what to do with them yet. part of him wanted to hold onto caution, to stay guarded the way he always had. another part was growing tired of constantly keeping people at arm’s length.
he knew better than anyone what happened when you let old wounds dictate everything. he had spent years doing exactly that, convincing himself it was safer not to get too attached, safer not to rely on anyone too much. but he also knew that letting past mistakes ruin the possibility of something good in the future was its own kind of regret. and maybe, somewhere along the way during this trip, he had started realizing he didn’t want to make that mistake again.
" it may be a surprise to you , or maybe not , but i haven't really experienced the feeling of people holding me that often in my life , " she chuckled to herself to lighten the mood between them as she wiped at the wound one final time to rid his shoulder of the debris and dirt from the branch . while haewon tried to be gentle , it couldn't have felt good to have cleanser directly on the wounded skin and flinched every time she went over it . she leaned forward in her seat to blow at it hoping to ease some of the stinging , only for her purse lips to blow out and hold her breath as where she leaned , her eyes lifted and met his while holding that contact a bit longer than necessary .
" almost done . " she was back to finishing her work and patted at the bruise one more time . it seemed pointless to bandage it up when he still needed to shower , but hopefully just by her cleaning it would help the healing process and she'd be back to staring again in no time . haewon paused a moment longer , this time her gaze lingering near his waist and how close her arms were to him , suddenly resisting the urge to loop her arms around and rest her chin on his uninjured shoulder .
it had only taken one full night of uninterrupted cuddling for haewon to crave those soft touches that he had deemed " human " . the only real cuddling she'd done in recent years were with cocoa ... and her cat still remained at the hotel's penthouse since she'd made the unofficial move into river's home . she doubted river would wanted to be used as a substitute for the feline .
haewon closed the bandaging kit and stood from her seat to put distance between her and her husband as quickly as she could before she gave in to her urges and held him . " you're all good to shower ... it looks like it doesn't need a bandage to cover it ... " she said like she knew exactly how to handle wounds when she didn't even know to open the kit the first time she touched it . " i'm a bit tired after the hike , with the heat and exertion , it really wore me down . if it's alright with you , i think i'll take a nap while you shower if you don't mind me right outside the bathroom . " and now her eyes were wandering over the bare skin of his chest . " once we have some of our energy back , we can try that restaurant on the water you spotted yesterday ? ice cream after ? "
she took the lemonade with her to the bedroom and settled in comfortably with the air blowing much cooler now and clean , though still felt heated inside from staring at her husband for too long . while haewon took a bit of time to scroll through her phone and answer some missed messages from her friends , she eventually set it off to the side and found odd comfort in listening to the run of the water . haewon attempted to sleep , though her mind wandered , particularly back to river again and when the water stopped , instinctively stiffened as if he'd decide to join her under the blankets .
you've really lost it , haewon . get a grip .
she rolled her eyes and adjusted again , arms going under her pillow as she let out a long breath , and tried once more to go to sleep as she refuted once again that she was developing a crush on her husband .
river had been keeping his distance ever since that night. ever since the stolen kisses beneath the flower arch. he had meant every word of his oath to her—- but that was exactly why he needed space now. distance was safer. for both of them. still, even from afar, he kept his promise.
his eyes always found her in crowded rooms. his presence lingered nearby during court gatherings, during walks through the gardens, during meals where he stood silently at the edges like a shadow sworn to her safety. he never neglected his duty toward her. if anything, he had become even more attentive. he just no longer allowed himself to linger because every moment near her threatened to undo him.
she would never truly be his. river repeated that truth to himself often now, forcing it into his mind like discipline drilled into a soldier. and so he buried himself in work instead. becoming commander of the royal guard had brought far more responsibility than simply fighting battles with a sword in hand. now he had to lead. to strategize. to command respect not only through strength but through presence alone. there were meetings to oversee, soldiers to train, disputes to settle, patrol routes to revise. he carried it all without complaint.
so when the king requested that river personally escort the princess to the kingdom of lechia, he accepted immediately. preparations had been made days in advance. routes mapped carefully, supplies checked twice over, soldiers assigned positions around the carriage detail. river trusted the men beneath him—- they would manage the kingdom just fine during his absence.
but this mission carried one priority above all else. the princess.
the journey itself had been relatively calm thus far. the rhythmic sound of horses against dirt roads and carriage wheels creaking over uneven terrain filled most of the day. river rode near the front of the escort formation atop his dark horse, posture straight, gaze constantly scanning the surrounding woods. so when he heard another horse approaching from behind, he wasn’t surprised. if anything, he had expected it sooner.
a faint smile tugged briefly at the corner of his mouth as haewon’s horse caught up beside his. “my princess?” he repeated lightly when she addressed him, amusement threading into his voice despite himself. “i thought i was sworn to the king.” it was a joke, mostly. a weak attempt to keep things lighter than they truly felt between them now. because despite the distance he’d been forcing between them, his mind still betrayed him at the worst moments. sometimes all it took was hearing her voice to remember exactly how soft her lips had felt against his. river forced the thought away immediately.
“i’ve had quite a lot to go through these days,” he continued, tone gentler now. “please forgive my absence, but it’s not so easy leading the royal guard.” before she could answer, something shifted. his entire body tensed instantly. it wasn’t visible to most people—- not at first—- but beneath his composed exterior, every instinct sharpened violently. the wolf beneath his skin stirred, snarling in warning, senses suddenly alive with d a n g e r.
someone was nearby. river’s gaze snapped toward the trees ahead. “haewon—- stop.” his voice changed immediately. firmer. commanding. he guided his horse closer to hers, one hand reaching to gently but firmly catch her reins before maneuvering his mount in front of her protectively.
“come fort—-” his arm lifted sharply toward the soldiers behind them, signaling for the entire line to halt and stay back. then—- movement. river unsheathed his sword in one fluid motion just as an arrow came flying from the treeline. steel flashed through the air, cutting the projectile cleanly in half before it could reach him. silence lasted only a second. “or leave at once,” he called toward the dense bushes ahead, voice carrying easily across the path. there was an edge of confidence to him now—- something almost taunting. “i know you’re five. you can’t win this.”
cocky. more cocky than protocol probably allowed. his eyes flickered back toward haewon briefly, giving her a subtle nod urging her farther back toward the soldiers. then he dismounted. boots hit the dirt heavily as he strode forward without hesitation, sword loose in his grip. three men burst from the brush almost immediately.
river moved before they could even fully react. one was kicked hard enough in the chest to send him sprawling backward into the mud. another swung wildly with a rusted sword, only for river to duck beneath it effortlessly before driving his elbow into the man’s jaw. the third came from the side but river twisted away just in time, blades clashing violently. the fight erupted around them and despite the numbers, river was barely trying.
he moved through them with brutal efficiency, every movement practiced and controlled. still, a few blows landed—- a fist across his cheekbone, a strike to his ribs—- but nothing substantial. nothing he couldn’t shrug off. within moments, three bodies lay unconscious in the dirt. river exhaled once, adjusting his grip on the sword—- then froze.
movement again. behind him. his head snapped toward the carriage just in time to see another outlaw burst from the bushes straight toward the princess. one of the nearby guards intercepted too late. the impact sent both the soldier and haewon crashing to the ground. something inside river snapped.
“haewon!” the growl tore from his throat before he even realized it. he moved faster than human eyes should comfortably track, closing the distance in seconds before launching himself onto the attacker. his hand slammed the outlaw’s wrist against the ground hard enough to force the dagger free while his other hand twisted the second wrist violently. a sickening crack echoed through the air. the man screamed in agony. river barely seemed to hear it. “i told you, didn’t i?” he snarled coldly, gripping tighter as panic and fury mixed into something dangerous beneath his skin. “you can’t win this.” it took two soldiers grabbing his shoulders to finally pull him back before he crushed the thief’s wrists completely. breathing hard, river stepped away at last.
the ladies-in-waiting rushed immediately toward haewon, fussing over her dress and checking for injuries while the remaining guards restrained the surviving outlaws. river stood still for a moment, chest rising heavily. then he looked down at himself. his uniform was dirtied now, dust and mud clinging to the dark fabric. calmly, he brushed himself off, straightened his collar, and only then stepped toward the princess again. but the moment his eyes found hers, all composure cracked slightly because beneath the adrenaline, beneath the fury—- he had been terrified.
his gaze searched her face frantically despite his attempt to remain controlled, checking every inch of her for injury. “are you hurt, princess?” he asked quietly.
" ah , there it is again , swearing yourself to the king . if i remember correctly , you swore an oath to protect the realm which means you're to protect me as well , " she joked as a common tease to the separate oath he'd taken to put himself in front of danger. there was no one she felt safer with and no one she'd rather spends a two week journey to accompany her on for such a long ride .
when his voice grew stern , she'd paused almost immediately without hesitation . then a slow retreat , visualizing river briefly jump from his horse before her view was blocked by the sudden soldiers and her ladies forming a wall between the princess and outlaws .
it seems all the hard work she'd watched river put in to his sparring had paid off . she'd never doubted his skill , years of secretly watching him train to the point of exhaustion and trying to nurse him back to health ; that didn't stop her from worrying when she watched him take a hit . then it was the soldiers keeping her back as she tried to push past them to find her own way to him if it meant putting her delicate hands on the robbers herself .
" river ! " she'd shouted when the third one was taken down and restrained . her distraction caused for the attacker to launch his surprise attack , unnoticed by both her and the solider as she was tackled down and stunned into silence . it wasn't long that she stayed down as she was lifted back up just in time to both watch and hear as river fought for her safety . he hadn't hesitated .
she was shaking . she hadn't feared for her life , nor had she really feared for his after seeing the damage taken by the outlaws in their attempt to rob the royal and their crew -- but it didn't take away the fear of the sudden attack . when he approached she'd been numb to the fussing of her ladies or soldiers as they patted her down , her eyes still locked on her knight , and as he approached she finally seemed to loosen up .
" are you hurt ? " she asked right back to him , her suffering nothing more than a few pieces of hair out of place from her fall , but lifting her hand to gently cup the area she'd watched him get punched . should there have been a bruise ? she heard the hit ; he should have a mark on his face , yet all she saw was the dirt and grime from the outlaw's hand smudged against his skin . " i'm fine ... i'm alright , " she said in a frantic voice that contraindicated her words . her hands fell to grip to the front of is uniform , ignoring the mud that stained it , and sought his comfort as he was the only one that could pull her out of the shock . her fingers gripped all over his front until she felt her crest hidden under one of the collars . it took a mere second to identify the gold plating , and haewon finally let out just one soft sob as she dipped her forehead to press in to his chest as it ended with a sigh of relief . no tears . she was steadying out already .
" we're both alright . they're just robbers ... everyone's safe , " she said out loud as if she was reassuring it to herself . " should we go back ? continue on ? " she asked , looking for his advice rather than her own instinct to return back home to the kingdom . " how far are we from -- do we -- " she cleared her throat , peeking around at the other soldiers and her ladies that watched as the knight and princess continued in their embrace .

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married life sentence starters
if you are sending to a multi-muse, remember to specify the muse that the sentence starters are being sent for .
fluff
“ [Name], will you marry me? ”
“ I take you to be my lawfully wedded husband / wife. ”
“ Happy anniversary, my love. ”
“ Can you believe it’s been a year already? ”
“ I made us some dinner. It should be edible. ”
“ I still get butterflies when I look at our rings. ”
“ I’m proud of the life we’ve built together. ”
“ We really need a bigger couch if we’re going to keep cuddling like this. ”
“ You know I’m legally obligated to steal your fries now, right? ”
“ I married you, not your terrible taste in movies. ”
“ I love you, but if you snore like that again, I’m filing a complaint. ”
suggestive
“ Are we arguing or flirting right now? I can’t tell. ”
“ Close the door. I need my husband / wife to myself. ”
“ You still make my heart race like we just met. ”
“ I love how you still look at me like that. ”
“ Remind me why I fell in love with you - slowly. ”
“ If you keep looking at me like that, I’m not doing the dishes. ”
pregnancy
“ What do you think about us having kids? ”
“ I'd love to have kids with you. ”
“ I don't know how I feel about having kids… What if I do something wrong? ”
“ What if I'm a horrible mother / father? ”
“ I'm pregnant. ”
“ Wait. Are you pregnant? ”
“ We should think about a name for our baby. ”
“ Our son / daughter has your eyes. ”
“ I don't think my genes had any chance of winning. They're a spitting image of you. ”
“ It's your turn with the baby. ”
angst
“ We’ll get through this. We always do. ”
“ I married you for better and worse, remember? ”
“ It’s okay to fall apart. I’m not going anywhere. ”
“ Do you ever think about our wedding day? ”
“ I love you, but I don’t know how to fix this. ”
“ We can’t keep pretending everything is fine. ”
“ When did we stop talking like we used to? ”
“ I’m scared we’re becoming strangers. ”
“ Do you still want this? Us? ”
“ I don’t regret marrying you - but I regret how we’re hurting each other. ”
“ And to prove to myself that this is the end, I taped this over our wedding video. ”
a surprise return -- drabble for @deerhunteer
the month had been grueling to the young princess . the king had decided to leave for a neighboring diplomatic negotiation , and rather than her accompany as she usually would , he'd suggested she stay behind and take over some of his work while he was away . after all , the kingdom would be hers on day , and it was time she was mentored to become queen , so named her regent in his absence .
her gentle heart didn't care for the idea of being separated from her father for that long , but upon the news that river would be accompanying his journey along with a small group of the kings guard , her already aching heart sank in her chest . it was purely logical -- he was the king's guardian , his sworn knight , and he had his own oath to upkeep that couldn't be broken just for her .
it was a six week journey . she'd hugged the king goodbye and longingly watched river take his rightful place beside her father , hoping no one caught the wink he'd given her just as they were out of view .
so began the long month of an unfamiliar routine . less time with her tutors and ladies in waiting , now spent with counsel in some of the most boring meetings she'd ever sat through . most of the heavier work was passed on to the dukes the kingdom had trusted for years , which haewon might have taken a more keen interest in as it was more relevant to her future work as queen , though the king seemed to leave her with the less stimulating tasks that had little effect on the kingdom .
without river , her days had felt achingly lonely . the times he had left for battles were never for long , and the few days stretches he was off fighting for the realm , were some of the longest the princess had experienced ; she'd often had fallen ill from the constant worrying about his wellbeing . though , as this wasn't a battle , haewon's worrying were for her own sanity as she felt as though she was falling into a depression without his presence . there wasn't anyone to make her laugh or the nightly escort to her chambers she'd come to cherish dearly . her ladies , while sweet and often good company , couldn't fill the ache in her chest he'd left behind .
at the first day of the fifth week , haewon hadn't been paying much attention to the lords as they spoke on and on about mundane tasks needing to be completed in the castle that had no interest to the princess . one of the squires entered the meeting hall , bending to speak to the duke and his smile hadn't been enough to pull haewon from her trance , but his words did .
" wonderful news ! the king is returning early . his carriage has been spotted approaching the gates along with the guards -- princess ! "
she hadn't waited for further clarification . haewon ran as fast as she could to the castle balcony overlooking the grounds just in time to see her father's carriage and river riding through with applause from the housemaids and groundskeepers with the return of their king . it was tradition for the princess to wait in the grand halls with the lords and dukes to await the king , and she nearly tripped over her skirts trying to get there first before the others as if it would get river there faster .
her hair had been messed during the run . some curls had fallen from the clip her ladies spent fifteen minutes fussing over that morning , and slightly frizzed in front of her eyes . haewon was trembling from excitement , and as the lords began to gather around and the chamberlain made ready to announce the king's arrival , the doors finally opened .
" his majesty has returned ! "
more applause . haewon's smile faltered just slightly when she couldn't spot the knight right away , catching him towards the back with the rest of the kings guard still in his armor . she paid little attention to her father as he turned to the people and declared a successful alliance and negotiation wakoku for new trading ; she only watched as river began to unbuckle the thick metal plating over his arms casually as he listened to the king . their gaze met briefly once ; his confident grin finally had her breathe out a relaxed sigh and didn't realize her father was standing in front of her until she felt a pat to the top of her head .
" something troubling your mind , haewon ? " he teased with with a soft smile , though quickly pulled his daughter into a big hug that she happily returned and snapped her attention back to him . only brief glances to the knight as his soldiers helped remove more of the heavy plating . " have you been enjoying your time as regent ? why don't we go finish counsel , i'm sure our early arrival interrupted the meeting . "
" no ! it's alright , we were just about finished anyways , " she tried to convince him as she released her hold on his arms and tried to get past him to properly greet river .
" you finished already ? then why don't we have a nice supper together , what do you say ? catch up stories on the road . "
" yes , father . i'd like that . " her smile wasn't faked when the king bent to kiss her on top of her head , and called for the rest of the lords to follow . haewon expected river to follow , but he didn't , though he gestured for the rest of the king's guard to follow after the king .
both of them waited a few seconds after the grand hall had been emptied before either one of them moved . then , haewon ran again , but this time it was to close the distance between them and launched herself into his arms . river laughed as he caught the princess and spun her a few times and carefully set her back down so she didn't get all tangled up in her skirts .
" you can't leave me that long again , " she breathed out , river pushing the curls out of her face and keeping quiet just a moment longer as he reached behind himself and pulled back a single long stemmed flower from his belt .
haewon's eyes widened at the small surprise , taking it from its stem and holding it to her chest . " but you didn't go in to battle , " she pointed out .
" i didn't , " he agreed . " i left my princess ... i promised to bring her flowers whenever i returned , i never said it had to be for battle . " he tapped haewon under her chin , raising her head back and making her smile again at the sincerity of his words . he'd leaned in , just enough to press their foreheads together and held the side of her face . " go . your father is waiting for you . "
" but you just came back , " she whined , not ready to leave him after such a short greeting .
" he's been talking about how much he missed you for the last two days on the ride back . i'm not the only one who cherishes you this much , haewon . " another tap under her chin to keep her from frowning . " i'll be there tonight to see you off to your chambers . "
" won't you be at supper ? "
river shook his head , still smiling . " go spend time with the king , princess . we can discuss our travels tonight . "
haewon's eyes were big and sad , but his convincing words were enough for her to clutch the flower tighter to her chest , and turned to follow after the king .