That afternoon it was Jang mi and Jae young's wedding day.
Jang mi was walking towards Jae young who was standing at a distance, Jang mi was dressed up in a long sleeved top and skirt with a large number of layers. When wearing them they were folded one by one and then put on a red wide sleeved coat outside. The whole body of the dress was narrow, long can be dragged to the ground, without exposing the feet.
Her hair was opened and the front was a little twisted and tucked behind her ear with a hairpin which was her mother's. Also can be expressed as a heirloom from her mother. Her eyes were shaded with black colour and beautifully lined. Her lips were of raspberry colour making it obvious that she didn't wore any makeup on her face except a little on her eyes. The dress looks so pretty and fits her so perfectly making her look unresisting.
Jae young gazed up at her, his eyes shined and a hint of sparkle was visible in his eyes. But he hid it immediately. Standing opposite to her , he extended his right hand to take her towards the palanquin.
He was wearing a red and black coat with pure black . It was also red coloured matching with jang mi. His hair was well groomed. His hair was always a little long and wavy and they would move like feathers if blown. It is said, a hairstyle of a man completely can change a man's face and personality. He no more looked the way everyone would describe him. Rather he was now an affectionate soft man who was wanted by every girl.
Jang mi stared at him then took the hand he offered. Softly holding her hand, he began to walk towards the palanquin.
As they both sat in the palanquin, people began whispering,
≥"Out of everyone, why is the 2nd prince marrying this woman?"
≥"2nd prince is a man of strong character, it is unbelievable. How did she seduce him?"
≥"First the 3rd prince and now 2nd prince. If she even seduces the 1st prince, I won't be shocked."
As they both entered in the palace to greet the Emperor, the people were astonished to see Jae young got married to Jang mi but the ministers couldn't hold back their anger.
≥ "Your majesty, how can this woman become a part of the royal family?"
≥"Your majesty, this is unacceptable. A woman of a stained past becoming your daughter in law? Haven't you always cared for you reputation more than anything? How could you let this happen?"
≥ "Your majesty, no matter what happens. I won't accept this shameless woman."
"She is still an embarrassment for me even when she got married to the 2nd prince." Choi geung, Jang mi's father mumbled to Min ah. She smirked. She felt good seeing jang mi getting insulted.
Minhyuk was standing next to her. He looked really bothered by the whole thing.
≥" She's a scandalous, shameless woman. She can't become the princess consort! She's-"
The minister got cut off by Jae young moving his glare to him, his gaze met Jae young's death glare and he gulped.
≥"Your Highness, I..I mean..her..this -"
"Do I have to get your permission to marry now?" Jae Young said in an ice cold tone.
≥"Absolutely no...i-i just..this..woman-"
"The woman you're talking about is my wife!"
Jae Young was sharply glaring at the minister as if he would kill him right away. Listening to that jang mi gazed up at Jae young, he looked really angry. His body was shivering with anger. The hand grabbing hers was getting tight.
That minister moved back a little.
≥"I know, my prince but..but there are some certain rules that-"
"Now, do I have to learn rules from you?"
"Jae young has something to show us" The Emperor said."I know you have many questions and doubts about the new princess consort but the rumours are not always true."
Min ah furrowed her brows in confusion.
"Jihoon!" Jae young commanded. Jihoon bowed his head then some men brought a man inside and pushed him on the ground, he sat on his knees, his face bruised making it obvious that he was badly beaten.
Seeing the man, Min ah gasped.
NO!!
She screamed internally.
"He is that man, the servant of Jang mi's father." He said. "you all must be thinking how is he still alive? After doing such a thing, why wasn't he killed? It is because he was promised his life will be spared if he will keep giving that false statement about jang mi."
Jae young gripped on his hair tightly and pulled upward. "Speak up!" Everyone was looking at that man intently but Mina was trembling in fear..
"i-i was ordered to do this! My lord, i-I'm just a servant.i-i do what my master says. I-i was told to go to her room while she was sleeping. I went there and slept next to her, n-nothing happened. I was just told to do that then her father entered and..."
"AND WHAT!?"
"and I'm told them th-that we were involved!" Hearing that Jang mi's father's expression changed drastically.
"And who told you to do that?" he tightened his grip on his hair, that man squeezed his eyes.
NO! NO! H-he's gonna say my name! No! Min ah screamed, sweating.
"Lord geung's second wife." He screamed leaving everyone stunned as well as Min ah. She was surprised why he didn't take her name since she was the one who did that. Although her mother was involved too but most of it was her doing.
The ministers and the common people also started whispering to one another about the whole situation. Some of them believed everything but some were still doubtful. The ministers had to accept it because the man himself accepted everything.
After a while, Min ah went to Jang mi.
"What is all this?!" She said gritting her teeth.Jang mi scoffed at that.
"Why? Are you upset that now your mother will go to the prison at your place?" Jang mi smirked. "I know you're not. You're relieved that you're safe." With that, Jang mi moved closer to her.
"He didn't say your name because I told him not and you know why?" She narrowed her eyes. "Because, dear sister, you have a long way to go. I don't want to give you an easy defeat." Hearing that Min ah clenched her jaw, her breathing was rapid.
"You-"
She was about to say something when some assassins entered there. Minhyuk became excited like he knew what was going to happen. Everyone was shocked seeing those men when one of them approached the king with a knife in his hand.
"No! Why are they attacking father?!" Minhyuk thought."I told them to attack Jae Young"
*************
Flashback
"Master, the 3rd prince told us to attack you tomorrow in the royal palace." One of the Assasin spoke. Jae young smirked.
"So, he's willing to go far." He said. "You will attack, but not me. Attack the Emperor. Just pretend to attack, don't hurt him. Hurt me instead. I'll come in the way."
"Okay master. Then we will get caught and we will say the 3rd prince's name. We will give our lives for you." They bowed.
"No. Don't say his name. Not now. There are low chances anyone will believe you. And don't worry, I won't let you die."
"We can give our lives for you my master."
"I know you can." He said placing his hand on his shoulder. "That is why, I won't let you die ". He pat him. They bowed and left.
Back to present
The assassin approached the king but Jae young came in the way and he got hurt on his shoulder. The assassin began to run but the guards caught them. Everyone was shocked.
"You're hurt!" The Emperor said in worry. "Call the royal doctor!" He screamed to the guard. Jang mi was feeling terrible to see him hurt. His shoulder was bleeding.
"No , it's not that deep. I'll take care of it". Jae young said, standing up.
Later at night,
Jae young was in his room, cleaning the wound when he heard a voice on the door. He covered his chest.
Jang mi opened the door and entered in, jang mi had medicine wrapped in leaves in the paper in her hands.
Jae young gazed up at her while jang mi stood closer to him.
"You can use this on your wound." Jang mi said offering him the medicine. "I made this."
"You made this?" he asked, surprisingly as Jang mi nodded.
"When my mother used to become sick I would be worried about her as father won't let her see doctor. Then I learned a lot about medicines. These are Aloe vera, Turmeric, Honey and garlic. I made a paste mixing all of them. You can use it. It'll be helpful."
Jang mi had lowered her eyes while jae young was gazing at her.
"Why don't you apply it in my wound for me?" He asked leaving jang mi dumbfounded.
"W-what?" jang mi asked confused.
"Why? Are you scared of me?"
W-why would I be scared of you?. Jang mi thought.
"I'm not scared of you." Jang mi scoffed internally. With that Jae young nodded slightly, smirking. He removed the coat. Jang mi cleaned her hands and took the paste.
She moved all her focus to the wound and started applying the medicine. Jae young was sitting, staring at her. Jang mi was leaning towards him. Her eyes were only on the wound. She wasn't even glancing at him but she was aware he was staring at her.
Just focus on the wound, not the broad shoulder, the sharp shoulder blades, the exposed chest, the- NO! Jang mi thought. Why can't he stop staring at me!!! Why is he doing this?! Jang mi cried internally. She was trying her best to stay calm and cool.
I shouldn't have come here! Being nice always puts me in a bad situation!!
Jang mi was blinking her eyes continuously. Jae young was noticing how nervous she was. Covering the wound, jang mi let out a breath of relief and moved back.
"It's done. I'll leave now."
Before she could even turn around, Jae young gripped on her waist and pulled her in his lap. Jang mi gasped with her hands on his bare chest.
His warm, muscular arm wrapped around her waist. His dark gaze exploring every corner of her face. The warmth of his chest was sensual and soothing, her body pressed against his, making jang mi's heart jump into high gear.
Jang mi hadn't noticed his almond shaped, deep eyes before. His dark, long wavy hair. She had never seen him so close before. He undoubtedly was the most handsome among all princes and most probably the most handsome man she had ever seen.
Jang mi came back in her senses immediately and removed her hand from his chest but his thick arm around her waist wouldn't even let her move.
"wh-what are you-"
"Where do you think you're going?" His husky voice sending shivers down her spine. There was no space to move back when you tried as his grip was effortlessly tight.
"T-to my room."
"Your room? This is your room from now on. You will live here, with me." He said which made jang mi frown in mild confusion.
Wasn't that marriage a deal for him! Why would he expect anything else then? The thought crossed her mind.
"What do you mean?" Jang mi questioned, her voice serious, trying to hide how nervous she was.
Jae Young's gaze not moving away even for a millisecond as he replied,
"What I mean is clear. Do I have to repeat myself?"
Jang mi's heart was pounding rapidly due to the closeness,words were getting stuck in her throat again and again feeling his muscular hand in her waist.
"Let go of me." Jang mi commanded. She needed to get out of that situation making her so nervous.
He smirked slightly.
"What if I don't?"
That triggered her a bit. She didn't think too much before hardly pressing her hand on his wound. He groaned and closed his eyes tightly. His grip loosened and jang mi quickly moved back, away from him, standing with a proud smirk.
He gazed up at her. A wary smile on his face and an amused twinkle in his eyes. He looked like he enjoyed it.
"You're playing with fire." He said, that smile didn't leave his face.
"People out there might be afraid of you but I'm not." That sentence came out more powerful that you expected.
That's because I haven't showed you that side of me that you'll fear. Jae young thought. And I don't know why, I like it better this way.
He didn't know why he was so different with jang mi as if he was someone else around her. His real personality was something he thought she wouldn't like.
"I don't want you to be afraid of me." He said, looking at her with his drunken eyes. Jang mi's brows came down.
"Good, then I'm going to my room. Bye.' jang mi said bowing and then headed towards the door.
"Stop right there!" Jae Young's voice firm, making her stop and turn around to him. Jang mi narrowed her eyes looking at him.
Standing up, he slowly took steps towards her making her fidget in nervousness. She didn't move back and stayed serious when he directly stood in front of her.
"It's disrespectful to leave the room when the other person is not finished talking yet." He said, his gaze quite solemn. "And didn't I tell you, this is your room from now on?"
"But why -"
"Because we are married." He said cutting her off. "Don't you know when's man and a woman get married, they live together, in the same room, in the same-"
Jang mi moved back a little while she cuts him off.
"Alright, alright! I know what they do. You don't need to tell me. But this is a sham marriage, you should remember it was a deal, how can you expect anything from me?"
A lazy smile grew on his face as he said,
"I'm not expecting anything from you. I know what this marriage is, but it is still a marriage. We are married for real and it wasn't a play."
Jang mi's mind at that particular time of her life was focused on only one thing that was, revenge. She accepted his proposal keeping in mind that you'll get power and not what more a marriage could bring.
"I....uh.."
"Don't worry, I'll not do anything to you without your consent." That made jang mi's eyes grew wider. She knew he was a man of strong character and the way he carried on the deal. He too was more focused on what he could get from this marriage,
But for a moment she thought, he was a man after all.
"But, we will share a room now that we are married."
"Is this an order?" It did sound like an order and he was firm on it.
"You can say that."
Jang mi thought how he offered to help her, he did save her that day when she was dying and he also helped her today cleaning that rumour about her. He was someone she could trust.
For a month, she lived in his mansion and he barely even looked at her. But now that she was married to him, it only made sense they should share a room.
He is a young man, I am a young woman. What if he can't control himself. Maybe I can trust him but I don't think a man can control himself in such a situation. Jang mi thought.
Jang mi let out a deep breath as she spoke,
"Okay, but- I'll make my bed on the floor."
"Whatever you wish." He shrugged, keeping his hands on his hips.