"I'll call your maid, so you can change. Afterwards, I'll change."
The next fifteen minutes were spent changing out of their wedding robes into their dressing robes. Rui on one side of the room with the eunuch that had tended to him since he was a child, and Seorin at the other side of the room with her ladies in waiting.
Rui was done in less than five minutes, while Seorin of course needed more time.
Once they were left alone again, Seorin stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, wearing her yellow dressing robe. Rui was already sitting on the bed.
"We have to sleep in one bed, Princess. It's keeping up with appearances. You will be the one in trouble if we don't do this. The servants will gossip, and the gossip somehow always leak out of the palace."
Seorin walked to the bed, and sat as well.
Rui remembered, earlier, after he lifted her veil and they were walking at the circular dining table, she was so brave and could see him in the eyes. Now on the bed, Seorin was avoiding his eyes.
Somehow, Rui felt a surge of sympathy towards her.
A princess who left her kingdom and had to marry a stranger. He was the crown prince, but still, it couldn't be easy.
"I won't harm you," he promised. "It's just sharing a bed, Princess."
Seorin was moved. She hadn't met him for 24 hours yet, but at least she could feel it deep within her heart, that she was lucky to get a kind imperial husband.
"Forgive my lack of….whatever it is a bride should have. I'm grateful for your kindness."
Rui moved his hand to show that Seorin should take the inner side of the bed.
Seorin moved there in her layered night robe that was embroidered with silver threads.
Rui lied down on the outer side afterwards.
For a while, a tense silence filled the room.
"What time did you wake up earlier?" Rui asked.
"Three AM."
"Heavens. You need to rest now."
Seorin indeed felt the exhaustion of the past weeks weighed down on her. She felt she's going to fall asleep soon.
"Crown Prince….."
"Yes?"
"I'm here…..just because my kingdom wants the pride….someone from Yeonghwa to be the consort of Huang Empire's future emperor. I don't…..carry any other ulterior motives. I only want to survive. If I….can be of any use for you….please tell me."
"Thank you. Good night."
Like magic, although in a new empire, on the bed of a husband she just met that day, Seorin fell asleep.
Around five minutes passed, and Seorin's breathing had turned softer.
Surprised, Rui sat up and looked at her. She lied on her back, her hands were relaxed.
"Did she just fall asleep? That easily?"
Rui stared at the princess who was suddenly his wife.
From someone who had believed the world had grown entirely dark, he had to be responsible for a wife now.
If I'm destroyed, she will be destroyed too.
That's a realization that he couldn't shake.
He lied down again, and tried to sleep.
His wedding day that was entirely held for political reasons, ended more peacefully than he could hope for.
*****
Rui chambers had never been locked, and would never be locked.
A crown prince's bedroom was safe, because to reach it, you must pass loyal guards who were willing to die for him.
It couldn't be locked from the inside, for fear that if his life was somehow in danger, his guards wouldn't be able to enter.
Wu Jian always slept at the chamber next to him. When he's asleep, only his most trusted people guard Rui's doors.
A new routine began the very next morning. At dawn, Seorin's ladies in waiting were ready to dress their princess up.
As a habit, when her maids entered the room, guarded by Wu Jian's watchful eyes, Seorin was already awake.
Wu Jian was surprised to see Rui was fast asleep.
Rui had insomnia ever since his mother passed away.
He could only sleep for two to three hours. When dawn arrived Wu Jian would usually find him reading or writing something.
But here he was, peacefully asleep.
Seorin was sitting on the bed, confused of what to do.
Wu Jian saw she and Rui looked tidy, and they had slept at the edges of their bed.
But at least Rui managed to sleep, which was amazing.
"Please let him sleep, Your Highness. It's rare for him to sleep this long."
Seorin nodded then left the bed carefully.
Seorin then washed and changed into Huang Empire's royal robe, something elegant and luxurious, fitting for her new role.
It was Seorin's chamber actually. And there were six painted boxes.
"What are these?" Seorin asked in a low tone.
"These are jewels from the crown prince."
"What? All of these?"
"Yes. You'll need to dress up a lot. He gave various colors."
There were gold, silver, and gems of various colors, with intricate designs and they were all beautiful.
Seorin's lady in waiting chose light purple that day.
She's used to wearing hanbok dresses, but from then on, she had to wear Huang Empire's dresses.
She had to admit, the dress, the robe and the jewels were pretty.
****
Rui woke up feeling confused of where he was. He was sure it wasn't his chamber.
His whole body felt relaxed after sleeping enough for the first time in ages.
Did he sleep peacefully, after so many years?
Why?
His eunuch approached him.
"Your Highness, are you awake?"
"Yes."
"Princess Seorin has been waiting for you for breakfast. She's been waiting for a while."
Rui sat up. "What time is this?"
"Around 7 AM, Your Highness."
"How long has she waited for me?"
"Since 5 AM, My Lord."
"Why didn't you wake me up earlier?"
"...Lord Wu Jian told me not to, My Lord. He said you haven't slept this well for a long time."
"You can't make the princess wait for me to eat that long. That's inhuman. I'll wash up first."
*****
The breakfast was laid outdoor, at a gazebo. Because Rui liked to have breakfast outside. He said it made him breathe better.
He wondered whether Seorin minded having breakfast outdoors, yet he hoped he'd tell her if she didn't like something.
"Good morning, Crown Prince," Seorin said, standing up and curtseying.
"I apologize for waking up so late. You should have asked my people to wake up."
"Your Captain of The Guards said I should let you rest, My Lord, because it's rare that you could sleep for more than two hours."
"That's a bad idea, because you waited for me and starve yourself. If you don't want to disturb me, you should at least start the breakfast first."
"My mother told me I should have a meal with my royal husband at least once a day. For my parents, it's usually during breakfast. If we don't meet at night, I shall greet you every morning. I believe I exist to honor my kingdom. One of the ways is to be a good royal wife."
"You take your role so seriously."
"I left my kingdom and cross the sea to be with you. It's my life's mission to take my role here seriously."
Rui was amused, but he replied by pouring a small bowl with chicken porridge and handed it to Seorin.
"Let's talk while eating, Princess. You must be starving."
"Thank you, My Lord."
They ate quietly for a while.
"I hope you will be able to adapt to this empire's food."
"Actually, I brought my two chefs with me. I will have my kingdom's food in my side of the palace, My Lord. If you wish to visit me, they could also cook Huang Empire's food."
"How thoughtful of you."
"Are you not pleased, My Lord."
"No. That's alright. I'm not particular on these kinds of things. One has to have meals to maintain one's health. Of course it has to be something that you enjoy. As long as you are healthy, I don't mind."
Seorin was quiet for a few seconds, before she bowed, "Your kindness knows no bounds, My Lord."
Rui swallowed his porridge before saying, "You don't have to say these things if you don't mean it, Princess. Please. At least in this palace, let me hear only things that are true."
His voice sounded suddenly tired, and it was an octave higher.
"I mean it, My Lord. In fact, it's very rare that I say things that I don't mean. My father said it is one of my biggest problems."
Rui went really still.
Seorin was a little scared. She must have said something wrong.
And then, to everyone's surprise, he chuckled.
Even Wu Jian turned and stared.
It's been forever since he saw his royal friend smiled that genuinely.
"Thank you, then, Princess. And I don't…..see speaking truthfully as a flaw. At least not when we're alone. At court and in front of others, you must watch what you say. With me….you can be honest. I don't get that from a lot of people."
Seorin was blinded by Rui's smile earlier.
When Huang Rui smiled, he looked like a happy child. It warmed her heart instantly, and she felt as if nothing could ever go wrong again.
"I'll—remember that, My Lord."
"That's good. Do continue your meal, Princess."
Seorin did. Her hands resumed eating the porridge. She swallowed and tasted the delicious, warm meal, while secretly trying to filter her own thoughts.
Loving your imperial husband so quickly is a good thing or a bad thing, she wondered.
*****
Author's Note:
Here we go with the new chapter of Crown Prince Huang Rui.
I wonder whether it's interesting to read if there's no problem between Rui and Seorin. It's definitely interesting to write.
They will have problems from outside their relationship.
My sister is back home from working in Ghana, Africa.
She's home only twice a year.
So I'm gonna have more family time.
Hope to continue this in a week, at the latest.
Meanwhile, please like my story and add it to your library.