After hearing what he said Soo Jin's beating heart calmed back down to the normal pace. She felt her father's hand squeeze her hand and that calmed her down even more. The King smiled as he saw the father and daughter relationship felt like he now could have that too.
"Your Majesty. The Crown Prince is here to see you" announced the eunuch outside.
"Quick, quick !! Put your veil on. Let that rascal suffer before the wedding." urged the king as his playful side could be seen Soo Jin.
Soo Jin obliged to his command smiling while slowly putting her veil on. The king noticed her smile before she out her veil, he was yet again mesmerised.
Soo Jin slowly stood up and moved to side as the crown prince stepped in.
As the crown prince came in he saw his father smiling, through his eyes he saw sincere happiness. That made him unhappy, he couldn't understand how his father was happy while he was suffering.
His frown was evident on his face, however he started relax as he could smell a strong scent of jasmine flower. He had never smelt scent like that before his father's quarters. That woman (the queen) never smelt good to him, he hated her scent. He then saw the King was looking the side and talking to someone. In peripheral vision, he could not see anyone but the king, a large pole was blocking him from seeing who his father was talking to.
He carefully looked and noticed that the great general and a girl were in the room with the king. He noticed that king wasn't smiling and talking to the great general but with the girl. She looked like she was 171cm in height whereas he was 188cm. When he reached in front of this father, he greeted the king and then general.
With a quick glance, he knew it was that girl he was being forced to marry. As he was now in close proximities, he noticed that the jasmine scent belonged to this child.
"Yong- Sun welcome, you're right on time. Meet your bride to be, Great general's daughter and MY daughter in law …" the king boasted proudly.
" This Servant, Han Soo Jin greets the crown prince…" the girl said as she bowed and looked in directly in the face of the crown prince.
When the crown prince saw her direct look, he was taken a bit back by her direct look. The depth of her eyes held nothing but pure innocence. He could see from her eyes that her beauty was her eyes, he's heard about that scarring on face and also the hideous burns and spots. But at this current moment, all that didn't matter because he was held captive by her eyes.
Seeing the crown prince distracted, the king teased Yong-Sun "Ahhhem… what has distracted the great powerful crown prince?"
"aHH … Nice to meet, I am Lee Yong-sun, the crown prince." He introduced himself while forcefully looking away from her clear, unclouded eyes. Soo Jin while staring at the prince noticed that he was handsome and cool looking. His light hazel eyes were sharp and cold looking. His eye held a kind of loneliness she could never understand.
He was tall like her brother and his physique looked like the physique of someone who practised martial arts. She was very impressed by his looks.
Looking at the Crown prince, she could see he was in deep thought. He was frowning. While looking at him she heard the king say something to her " Jin'a, I look forward to your arrival in the palace, go home and enjoy your last days at home. The decree will come tomorrow and I will personally meet you outside the gates. Go rest my child."
Reviving back to reality, Yong- Sun heard how his father was lovingly addressing a girl he met for the first time ever. He doesn't know how she managed to bewitch his father, but she will never bewitch him. He will not fall her innocent act, she was bride suggested by the queen, there is no way he will ever accept her as his wife.
He heard her reply " this servant thanks your your majesty for his grace."
'She really knows how to sweeten this old man, doesn't she.' The crown prince thought as his frown was deepening.
"Father, I have just come today to give my morning greeting. I will now take my leave as I have some work to." he bowed and left without waiting for response from his father.
" You may leave…." the king said after the crown prince while smiling at his son's reaction to his daughter in law.
" Your majesty, we will also take our leave, we have a lot to prepare for tomorrow." said Soo Jin's father.
"Yes, yes. Go on ahead. See you tomorrow, my daughter." said the king smiling ear to ear.
Father and daughter duo excused themselves and made their way home.