The place was royal, regal, luxurious and immensely spacious. Guards and court ladies stood by the room edge, standing guard and waiting for an order. The furniture was in pristine condition, some with historical value, dating by to hundreds of years ago.
The entire decor of the room was ostentatious. Lavish hand knotted 17th Century Persian silk rugs laid on the marbled floor, dyed with all natural dyes to provide the rich and detailed color patterns.
The stately regal golden framed couches were paired with lush goose feather cushions and pure silk maroon covers, and the cream colored walls were slathered with various famous valuable Korean painting dating back to the Joseon Dynasty.
In amidst of all the grandiose furniture and the well-groomed bodyguards and court ladies, was an elegant woman with an aura befitting of the room regal status.
She was beautiful for her age, her smooth elastic skin stretching over her high cheekbones, her makeup immaculate, showing the best of simplicity. Her hair was jet black, pulled back into a low bun and fastened in place with jade pins and crystals.
Dressed in a traditional exquisite Korean royal hanbok, the bright contrasting colors of bright pink and striking blue, along with the golden leaf patterns on the hem of her dress showed off her social status.
"Your Highness," A court lady approached her, bowing in respect. She too was wearing a traditional hanbok with a dark green tinge. "The crown prince has arrived."
Queen Jang Soo Yeon sighed deeply and frowed, her lips in a tight thin line. "Send him in." She placed down her teacup back on the saucer and adjusted her posture.
Tae Hyun strolled into the room, clad in a fine tailored suit, his hair tousled in a fashionable manner. He bowed to his mother and sat down in the couch opposite of her where the palace maids immediately rushed to serve him tea.
He crossed his legs, and leaned back to the cushions. "Queen mother, you sent for me? It must have been important if you were to take me out when I am scheduled for my royal studies." He reached out for the tea and waved it underneath his nose to take in the expensive Darjeeling tea fresh aroma.
"So I have heard that you have went to take a look at her?" Her crescent shaped eyes glazed over her only son, looking for any signs of emotions or actions that could give him away. "Anything particular happened? Did you talk to her? How was she like?"
"Do the guards have to report everything I do to you?" He replied cleverly, placing his lip on hem of the cup and took small sips of the aromatic tea. "She doesn't seem to know anything and I do not have a current impression on her yet."
"Not bad looking isn't she?" She tried to encourage something more out of her son, but he remained his usual stoic expression. She sighed in defeat and her shoulders dropped. She picked up a recent picture of Kara on the table. She touched the picture softly with her fingertips. "…I know that you don't want to do this, and neither do I."
"If it's great queen grandmother's will, then I have no choice but to oblige." He plainly stated, silencing his mother from saying anything more. "Isn't this what you had wanted? A well obedient prince who would listened the elders for the sake of the royal family?"
Queen Soo Yeon dropped her tense shoulders in defeat. A shot of pain shot through her heart. Her son had always sacrificed himself if it were meant for good for the sake of the royal family, but sometimes she had wished that he would have some happiness for himself too.
But as much as hated to say it, her son was right. "I have raised you well." She smiled tiredly, her heart swelling with pride and guilt.
"I would have honestly preferred for the wedding to be pushed back." He admitted ruefully, breathing out heavily with stress. He scratched the back of his head. "I understand that is it my duty. But even if it is the will of the royal council, father just passed away a few months ago and expedient marriage at this youthful age is just..."
"Prince, you are now nineteen. You must marry; early marriage is the royal tradition. Though time has changed throughout the century – we have always kept by our strict traditions. Especially if you're the next in line for the throne, you have to marry a young virgin bride for the sake of tradition." The queen explained looking rather bitter and regretful.
"I understand that, but–" Tae Hyun interrupted, but the queen lifted up her hand to silence him before she went on with her explanation.
"Marriage now would not only further secure your position as crown prince, but it will also be a joyous occasion to the people of the nation. After the death of the king, something to take their mind off the tragic death would be good. We have to give the people some faith in the royal family to cling on at times like this. With the sudden death of the king, you will take over the throne in a few years' time. One of qualifications for that throne is to have a consort, and by accepting a young bride now, she will learn the rules and attitude of the being a member of the royal family from an earlier age. If your bride were to be someone that have spent a long time outside the palace, she will not be able to adapt to life in the palace."
Queen Soo Yeon sighed heavily, bringing her cup of tea to her mouth and taking a long slow drink. "I know that you are unwilling and you're agreeing with this purely for the sake of your duty and I feel bad enough to force you as well. But we have no choice. With the sudden death of the king, the marriage has to be soon."
Tae Hyun said nothing and his mother bit her lips. A pregnant pause skipped between then, before she broke it once again. "You… know the real reason why you have to get married. Don't you, prince...?"
His face was stoic as his next words. "Father's death was their doing, wasn't it?"
She was surprised how easily Tae Hyun had said it. It was an open secret between the two of them and they had never once aired the suspicion behind the sudden death of the previous king. To hear her son say it so easily, Queen Soo Yeon's heart ached a little as she remembered her husband and king.
"I don't know," she said softly. "I don't know and I am powerless. Even if I want to investigate it, I can't. It has been so well covered up, and the Queen Dowager would never suspect your royal uncle."
She reached out and grabbed his hand, her eyes pleading. "Which is why, we need to listen to her. We need to get on her good side, so that she'll support you to ascend the throne. Then, we will truly be safe. We need this marriage, prince."
Tae Hyun said nothing again, absorbing everything his mother said without a speck of emotion on his face. He slowly pulled his hand away from her.