CH 306

‘…no, but why do I have to be self-conscious? This is not something that can be avoided.’

I reached out to Ha Tae-heon, who was standing quietly, and slowly raised the white veil covering his face.

Unlike usual, Ha Tae-heon, who had all of his bangs down, raised his head in time for the veil to be raised. Ha Tae-heon, who faced me at a close distance, had a more radiant face than usual due to how much he was dressed like me and had a soft scent.

I had kissed Ha Tae-heon several times before, but it was so awkward because I was going to do it first.

‘If it’s something we have to do anyway, let’s get it done quickly without being too hesitant.’

Swallowing my dry saliva, I placed my hand on Ha Tae-heon’s shoulder, and he smiled softly and lowered his upper body slightly.

With one hand holding his veil and the other on Ha Tae-heon’s shoulder, I tilted my head and kissed Ha Tae-heon. In response, a cheerful fanfare resounded and pale pink petals were scattered like snow.

After about five seconds, I parted with his lips as naturally as possible. Then the officiant applauded with a happy expression.

“May God bless you!”

As expected, even if it wasn’t a real kiss, it would pass. I received applause from the nobles and was truly relieved.

Ha Tae-heon whispered in a low voice to me as I smiled and waved at the guests at the bottom of the stairs.

“I told you to kiss me, not a peck on me.” (뽀뽀가 아니라 키스하라고 했는데, you know just touch his lips slightly)

“…can you just pass it please?”

Just kissing in front of everyone was already a limit.

The team members, including Cheon Sa-yeon, as well as strangers, who I didn’t know, just saw the scene, so I was already tired just imagining what would happen after we left this space.

“Certainly not a good place to kiss.”

“……”

What? Did that mean that we would have done it if the place was okay?

Ha Tae-heon, who looked sad, and Cheon Sa-yeon, who seemed to be holding back his irritation.

Taking turns looking at the two of them, I let out a deep sigh. I’m tired, really.

* * *

After the wedding, a party was held to celebrate me and Ha Tae-heon.

When Ha Tae-heon and I, who changed from white suits to party clothes, entered the party, the nobles sent various gifts and congratulations.

“Congratulations on your wedding.”

At the end of the celebration procession that lasted more than an hour, the nobleman who came was Cheon Sa-yeon. Cheon Sa-yeon, in a black party suit with red embroidery and all his bangs raised to reveal his forehead, looked like a real nobleman.

Come to think about it, even if he didn’t have to play a role, Cheon Sa-yeon was like a noble. Considering the size of the mansion he lived in when he was young, he was from a noble family. There was a reason why it fitted him.

“Thank you.”

When I answered awkwardly, Cheon Sa-yeon, who smiled brightly, turned to Ha Tae-heon.

“I can’t believe the youngest member of our family is getting married to the one and only prince in the kingdom. Amazing.”

Ha Tae-heon frowned slightly at the tone that seemed to be teasing somewhere.

“Even though I’m not your real hyung, we had a lot of fun together, but it’s a pity. Don’t you think so?”

Ha Tae-heon looked at Cheon Sa-yeon’s appearance who asked shamelessly.

Ha Tae-heon, who confirmed that there were many eyes to see from Woo Seo-hyuk, who was under mental control in a short distance, to the nobles, answered with a smile as if he were proud.

“It’s a pity for me too, but I’m happier now because I’m married to the Prince and not anyone else.”

“Happier…”

“If you were in the same situation as me, I think you would have accepted the marriage very readily. Isn’t it?”

Cheon Sa-yeon’s smile deepened at the naked provocation. On the surface, it looked like they were having a friendly conversation, but the atmosphere between the two was very cold.

‘Why are you fighting in this situation?’

Woo Seo-hyuk, who didn’t seem interested in Ha Tae-heon and Cheon Sa-yeon’s conversation, handed me a glass of fruit wine as a present.

I took and drank it while watching the two of them fight.

“Well, of course. I am. As our dongsaeng said, he’s the Prince, not anyone else.”

“The Prince chose me.”

“Because you are Cinderella.”

“If I hadn’t been Cinderella, the result would have been the same.”

“Well. We don’t know.”

Would it be good to stop them? But, the drink that Woo Seo-hyuk gave me was quite delicious.

Feeling the stress relieved by the sweet and refreshing taste of fruit wine, I asked Woo Seo-hyuk.

“What kind of fruit is this in?”

“The analysis showed apples and some grapefruit, lemon, peach and soda. Would you like another drink?”

Did you just analyze it? Well, I’m a prince, so he would test everything I got as a gift.

“Ung. Please.”

“I understand.”

I got Woo Seo-hyuk out of his seat and turned my attention to Cheon Sa-yeon and Ha Tae-heon, who are still arguing. I have to say something to stop them at this point.

“Whatever it is, it’s me, not you, who married the Prince.”

“Yeah. Right… Before that, there is something I want to say to you, Dongsaeng-ah.”

Cheon Sa-yeon, who smiled brighter than ever, put his hand on Ha Tae-heon’s shoulder.

“I’m too disappointed to hear you calling me like that. We won’t be able to see each other often from now on, so I hope you can call me Hyung for the last time.”

“What?”

“Oh.”

Ha Tae-heon who called Cheon Sa-yeon Hyung? I carefully folded my mind to stop them and looked at Ha Tae-heon in full of anticipation.

“……”

Confused at the unexpected request, Ha Tae-heon looked back at me.

The expression that looked like he was asking for help was cute, but I wanted to hear Ha Tae-heon’s voice calling him Hyung, so I pretended not to know and ignored it.

“Come on. Call me Hyung.”

“What are you up to?”

“What do you mean? There’s no way I have some plans to be called Hyung by the youngest. And are you thinking I’m talking nonsense now?”

As the conversation between the two grew longer, the number of eyes looking at them increased that much. Ha Tae-heon, who had been contemplating for a while with his lips closed, took a deep breath and said lowly.

“…Hyung.”

“What? I can’t hear you well.”

“Hyung.”

Ududuk, Ha Tae-heon made the sound of molars hitting each other.

Cheon Sa-yeon, who finally made Ha Tae-heon call him Hyung, took a step back with a satisfied look.

“Congratulations on your wedding. I’ll be going now.”

Cheon Sa-yeon, who greeted and bowed skillfully, left the place. At the same time, I received the new cup that Woo Seo-hyuk had brought and handed it to Ha Tae-heon.

“Try it. It’s delicious.”

Ha Tae-heon, who had been properly beaten by Cheon Sa-yeon, took a large sip of alcohol with a burning face. I quietly stared at it and asked Ha Tae-heon while leaning on him.

“Ha Tae-heon-ssi.”

“Say it.”

“Please call me like that just once…”

“……”

Ha Tae-heon looked at me with pathetic eyes.

It had been a long time since he saw me with these eyes. In the past, I used to look at him like that whenever I had time.

“Ahem, it’s a joke. More than that, the wedding is over and nothing happens.”

“Yeah. If this continues without change, we will have to find another way.”

Another way… when there was no information or certainty, I thought that marriage was the only answer, and if not, the matter became more complicated.

The only good thing was that everyone except Fox got together? My chest felt stuffy.

“What should we do? If it’s not marriage, we’d have to go outside the castle to get information, but it’s not easy.”

As a prince, there were many restrictions to freely roaming outside the castle.

Since Ha Tae-heon came to the castle, he must be in a similar situation to me. Then we had no choice but to lean a lot on Cheon Sa-yeon.

“For now, let’s see how things turn out until tomorrow. If we act hastily, other problems may arise.”

“I understand.”

It had been quite some time since the party started.

Woo Seo-hyuk, who had never left my side except for the time he brought me a drink, checked the time and spoke quietly.

“It’s late at night, my prince. Would you like to go up first?”

I thought it meant I was going to rest. There didn’t seem to be anything else to do here at the party.

When I looked at Ha Tae-heon, he nodded his head to mean that he was okay.

“Yeah. I will go up.”

Following Woo Seo-hyuk, I left the party and headed to my room.

As I was walking down the darkened hallway, the fatigue I had forgotten came flooding in. Since the most important wedding ended so well, as Ha Tae-heon said, it would be better to take a break today and think about how to do it again tomorrow.

“Prince.”

“Oh?”

Before opening the door, Woo Seo-hyuk looked back at me and opened his mouth.

“If you enter the room and wait a little bit, the servants will arrive to help you prepare.”

“Prepare? Prepare what?”

We had a wedding and a party, did we still have anything left? Woo Seo-hyuk hesitated for a moment when he looked at me, who had a bewildered expression.

“These are the servants to help prepare for the first night.”

What? First night? What first night? Maybe the first night I’m thinking of?

Woo Seo-hyuk continued to explain to me, who had stiffened with my mouth open.

“Now that you are married, you have to go to your partner’s room and spend the first night there.”

“Uh… wait a minute. Do I have to?”

“It’s not stipulated by law, so it doesn’t matter if you don’t do it. If the Prince doesn’t want to, I won’t let servants going in.”

Naturally, I was going to ask him to do that, but I stopped answering with a sudden thought.

Even though we got married, it was a little bit… to not going to visit on the first night, right?

Rumours spread that Kim Woo-jin was brought into the bedroom, but there was a high possibility that it would be the same without the first-night thing. In the worst case, Ha Tae-heon might be ignored by others.

‘I’d rather sleep for a day in Ha Tae-heon’s room.’

Sleeping in the same bed with Ha Tae-heon was nothing new as I had experienced it a few times while staying at Elohim’s house.

Having made up my mind, I asked Woo Seo-hyuk.

“No. Send them. I’m married, but I have to take care of the first night. Did you say that Cinderella’s room is right next door?”

“…yes. You’re right.”

Woo Seo-hyuk, who heard my answer, nodded with a hint of disappointment.

“Then I will send the servants up as prepared in advance. Please rest.”

At the end of those words, Woo Seo-hyuk turned his body and left without listening to my answer.

I looked at Woo Seo-hyuk’s back, which was getting farther away from me, feeling a bit uneasy, and I stroked the nape of my neck.