IWBKD Chapter 6 – Your Majesty

Sujin told me that she had thought that I was very mature for my age. She soothed me, “My little princess, you always seem so much older than you are, but you really are just a child. My precious child.” In her arms, I saw an opportunity to advance my schemes.

I said, “I want chocolate!” Whenever I made this demand, the softhearted Sujin would readily give me chocolate, which I would hide carefully. I would use chocolate to bend my third-born older brother, Hwanseong, to my will. Hwanseong was already seven, but he lost all reason when he was with chocolate. Perhaps he had a very strong addiction to chocolate that Scumbag had limited it to one piece per day. 

I said to Hwanseong, “Your Majesty, I’m like a puppy.”

He corrected me, “You’re like a dog.”

No need to be so literal. I lisped, “If Your Majesty loves me like a puppy I’ll give Your Majesty chocolate!”

I wanted to shrivel up on the spot. I felt like a squid tossed onto hot stones. I’ll remind you that I was only four. Sujin looked on fondly while Hwanseong’s stern expression changed to one of excitement.

He asked, “Chocolate? Really?”

“Yes! I have this much!” I indicated by opening my arms. 

“I love you as much as puppy!”

“A puppy?”

I cocked my head. With chocolate on the line, Hwanseong quickly added, “Even more than a puppy!”

“Brother, you’re awesome!” My dignity hit new levels of low while trying to please a seven-year-old brat. I wanted to die of shame.

A few days later, Sujin told me that my betrothed, Jinsu Han, was departing to the empire to pursue higher training in magic. Very much like leaving to study abroad.

“Your majesty’s fiancé was admitted to the Imperial Institute of Magic with top marks,” Sujin informed me.

“Institute of Magic?”

“Yes, Princess Sanghee. The empire’s Imperial Institute of Magic is the most elite training ground in the world.”

I had known that already because I had read so many books. I was only a girl, but I was also a princess, so I was free to read to my heart’s content. In this world, all that girls were able to do was watch TV or read, so I had gotten Sujin to bring me as many books as possible. I was a little peeved, however, to find that they were mostly children’s fairy tales or international classics for children.

“Your Majesty,” Sujin chided, “tomorrow, you must be perfection itself.”

“Will you make me so?”

“Yes, indeed! There is a farewell party for your bethrothed. Shouldn’t you be the most beautiful there?”

I gave a shriek of glee to please Sujin. I suspected Sujin was very fond of me not only because I was sweet and obedient, but because I tamed Prince Hwanseong. I’m sure she was very thankful.

I did wonder though. I had many older half-sisters whom I have never met. Why had I been singled out to be pestered by my brothers? It was quite unfair. Obviously, they liked my company since I worked so hard to please them. Hwanseok was aloof and distant, but he was still a little boy. He didn’t show it, but he liked me.

The door swung open then. My idiot brother, Hwanseong, barged in.

“Fetch!” he yelled.

“Brother! I mean…Your Majesty!” I furrowed my brows openly.

Hwanseong grinned. His grin nearly split his face open. He had no idea how much I loathed him. Forcing me to fetch again?

Grinning still, he said, “You don’t have to call me that.”

“I want to use that title to honor Your Majesty.”

“But when you say it in that stupid baby voice, I don’t feel honored at all.”

“I won’t play with you, if you’re mean to me.”

Hwanseong, who wanted to be chummy with me, patted my head. He seemed to be pleased by my response. Obviously, he would be pleased because I was flattering him.

He confided, “The other girls are no fun. They are too petrified to even speak to me.”

What do you expect? Do you realize what kind of world we live in? For my part, I tried to be friendly with you, but I had to be cautious not to overstep my bounds. Do you know how much trouble I go through for you? No, of course you have no idea.

“I’m going now!”

Well, then why did you come? I thought you were learning fencing. I guess you aren’t really that busy!

But I just bowed, “Goodbye.”

“Then will we really see each other later?”

I said nothing. He walked out, shutting the door. The door swung open again…

“Fetch!” he yelled. The ragdoll came flying. My temper rose, as I thought, I’ll pummel you to death. Snickering, Hwanseong left again. I turned now to Sujin to continue our important discussion. I wanted to hear more about my fiancé’s party.

Sujin just looked at me adoringly, which irritated me. No, no, stay away. She scooped me up in her arms, putting her cheek to mine.

“My dear Princess Sanghee,” Sujin cooed.

I wanted to push her away. I want to hear more about my fiancé’s party! Stop! You’re suffocating me!

Jinsu Han was an esteemed figure in the Goryeo Kingdom. He bore the weight of great expectations on him. Jinsu himself was well aware of this. He had achieved the crowning success – acceptance into the Imperial Institute of Magic. He had waited for this for so long, and he was to leave in a week. There was, however, something that was weighing on his mind.

Why did I say such a thing to that little girl?

In bed, he tossed and turned. Of course there was no one else. Since childhood, he had been groomed to be a major player in the kingdom. He hardly had time to even speak to any girls much less get to know anyone well enough to give his heart away, not to mention, his marriage had been arranged. So, why had he lied? Why had he told that child that his heart belonged to another?

And why had she seemed so familiar? His head of full of unsettling questions, and he could not sleep peacefully for several days.

She’ll be at your farewell party tomorrow since she’s your betrothed.

He felt oddly comforted at this thought and mused at the strangeness of his emotions.

He tried to summon sleep at will, reminding himself of the party next day. If he didn’t get proper rest, he wouldn’t make a good impression on the kingdom’s many elders who would be in attendance.

Yet, sleep eluded Jinsu, and he spent yet another night wide awake, ruminating the oddity of his feelings.

Then the farewell party began.