NO REGARD

"My Lord, how did it go?" Bai asks as she sits opposite her husband and her kids sit close to her.

"Just as we predicted, she asked Ok Jung's hand in marriage too." Lord Jang replies as he takes off his cap.

"What?" Hae Jae asks annoyingly. "These women are so unbelievable."

"Ok Jung." Lord Jang looks at his daughter.

"Yes father."

"I have a question to ask you, and I want you to tell me nothing but the truth. Is that clear?"

"Yes father." Ok Jung nods.

"Recently, have you been seeing or talking to any boy of your age?"

"What are you talking about?" Ok Jung asks pretending.

"Do not lie to me, just tell me the truth. Please Ok Jung." Lord Jang pleads.

"Actually, I have a friend and his name is Yeoning." Ok Jung says quietly.

"Your friend happens to be the son of Suk-bin her majesty." Lord Jang exposes.

"What? Yeoning is a prince?" Ok Jung asks loudly.

"Yes." Lord Jang nods. "And he has asked for your hand in marriage, so as the queen too."

"Marriage? Yeoning asked my hand in marriage?" Ok Jung asks again.

"So, after all. Suk-bin her majesty doesn't plan on using her as a tool to crown her son, she just wants to make her son happy." Bai whispers.

"But the queen does, she doesn't even know what Ok Jung looks like but she asked her hand in marriage using her power and authority." Lord Jang hits his hand on the table. "She has no regard for anyone, she thinks her position can get her anything she wants or ask for."

"So what do you suggest we do now father?" Hae Jae asks.

"She has to marry one of them, but I think I will accept Suk-bin's son, since they have been friends, they know each other well."

"Won't it cause a bit commotion if we turn down the queen's request?" Bai ask.

"Commotion or no commotion, my sister's happiness means a lot." Hae Jae adds.

"Ok Jung, it's left for you to decide, are you ready to stop sneaking out and accept your new life as a princess the wife of prince Yeoning?" Lord Jang ask.

"I don't know what to say father, it's all happening too soon." Ok Jung whispers.

"Suk-bin says she will be here tomorrow with her son to come and make the official proposal."

"Really? Suk bin her majesty will be here tomorrow?" Hae Jae asks.

"Does she really mean to make it everything fast so soon?" Bai asks too.

"I guess so." Lord Jang whispers.

"My lord, don't you think giving out Ok Jung's hand in marriage to prince Yeoning will affect you politically?" Bai asks again. "I mean you belong to the northern faction and Suk-bin belongs to the southern faction, it will seem like trespassing to others."

"The king already gave me the right and opportunity to choose whether to belong to any faction or even attend any meeting that has to do with power struggling. I just claim the faction because it is essential I do so. If the worse happens, I will resign from my position."

"Honey!!!" Bai calls loudly. "Resign? Why should you mention such thing?"

"I do not want to involve myself or family in power struggles." Lord Jang whispers. "Inform the maids of the expectation of our guests tomorrow, but do not disclose who we are expecting to them."

"Yes, my lord." Bai says and bows.

*************

"Ok Jung, are you sure you are ready for this?" Hae Jae asks his sister as he sits with her in her room.

"Brother, I don't think so, will I get married before you?" Ok Jung asks.

"Well as it is, I think you will get married before me." Hae Jae sighs. "I still can't believe my younger sister will soon get married."

"Brother, I want you to get married before me, I want to take care of kids before I take care of mine." Ok Jung nags.

"We have no choice, but I want you to think about it well, do you love prince Yeoning? Think about it well before agreeing to marrying him." Hae Jae whispers.

"I do like him brother, but I never expected him to be a prince." Ok Jung sighs. "If I marry him, are we staying in the palace or outside the palace?"

"It depends, you know marrying you can make Prince Yeoning become the crown prince of this nation."

"It isn't going to be an easy one, the queen might not want to accept it."

"Don't worry, I am here for you. I will make sure to protect you no matter what happens." Hae Jae assures with a smile.

"You will have to bow to me once I marry the prince." Ok Jung fumes.

"What?" Hae Jae asks loudly. "Why would I bow to you?"

"Because I am a princess." Ok Jung says with smile. "You will refer to me as Princess, your highness."

"Unbelievable!" Hae Jae exclaims and laughs. "You seem to amaze me every time. Now, tell me how did you get to meet the prince?"

"Actually, I met him on the street about two years ago." Ok Jung smiles. "He somehow ran into a fight with some market thieves, so I rescued him."

"Wow, you fought the thieves off for him?" Hae Jae asks again.

"Yes." Ok Jung nods. "I fought the thieves off and I started teaching him martial arts."

"You are really amazing." Hae Jae says finding his sister's story very interesting.

"Yes, most of the time, I sneak out because of him." Ok Jung smiles. "But I couldn't bring myself to tell anyone about it, because I felt it was very wrong to sneak out because of a boy."

"Ok Jung!" Hae Jae calls wearing a very serious look. "Do not lie to me and tell me the truth."

"What is that?"

"Did you and the prince." Hae Jae touches at his lips.

"What are you talking about?" Ok Jung asks.

"Nitwit!" Hae Jae insults and knocks her on her head. "I mean did you guys-" he stops for a while and continues. "Kiss." He whispers.

"No!" Ok Jung retorts loudly.