Standing there in front of Joon Wo's door, waiting for him to get dressed. Tari's heart was slamming inside her chest because of several things, one of them was the excitement to see how the outfit she picked will look on him, and the other because she saw him half-naked, not a big deal…
"What is taking him so long!" she mumbled tapping her feet on the floor at a constant rhythm. Not even a minute after, the double door was swung open leaving Tari shocked to her bones with the sight in front of her.
Her eyes scanning the Joon Wo who was standing in between the opened door with an obvious pink tint spread across his face. The outfit that she chose was perfect for him, the purple color along with the navy gradient that the clothing had made his raven-black long hair pop out complimenting his masculine features.
The deep red flush was reaching all the way to her neck with her mouth agape yet no words would come out. The whistle that Azar gave in satisfaction as he stood behind Joon Wo with his arms crossed over his chest. "You did have a point Princess, the black was indeed not the perfect fit for this man." He nodded his head as he talked.
"D-doesn't it looks weird?" Joon Wo said as he examined his clothing with wondering eyes getting paranoid that all eyes where on him which he was partially right about, indeed everyone around them had their eyes on him, but the fact that maids were literally drooling on him is what he missed to notice.
"Y-you look h-handsome," she forced herself to say. "better than the black at least!" she almost yelled trying to cover up her embarrassment.
"T-thank you," Joon Wo cough straightening his posture back to the tall and proud man he is…except in these situations that are.
Azar looked like a proud father as he stole glances between the two love birds knowing that they are clueless to their feelings towards each other. "How wonderful youth can be," he sighed like a grandfather even though he is in his 30's. "I'm sorry to interrupt your moment but the ritual is about to start in 10 minutes."
"Damn it! we will be late again, come on!" Tari without thinking took hold of Joon Wo's had and dragged him with her as she ran away with Azar taking his time following them.
Joon Wo was already starting to get used to being dragged around by her, he got so lost in the moment that they shared that he forgot the events that are going to happen.
He smirked thinking of how his mother would react when she sees him stepping forward instead of Yu Jun. 'It will be like she is assassinating her own son' he said to himself.
"Can you please move those long legs! We are late!" she yelled at him as she was struggling to drag his weight making him snap out of his daydream.
"S-sorry," he said and hurried after her but this time she was the one being dragged and her weight didn't cause him any trouble.
~~~~
The temple was decorated with banners and court ladies and lords aligned next to each other as they all stood behind the Royal family. The kind sitting on the couch-like chair with Ashkan and Nefertari sitting next to him as guests of honor, his two queens sitting on either side of them, and a couple of steps below them the princes sat on less fancy chairs.
The king rose up with the façade smile on his face. " Let's thank the Gods for this harvest, may they be on our side for many years to come," he said raising his voice, "Let the Chuseok Ritual commence!"
As he finished his short speech, the drums started roaring in a deep husky low rhythm, the wicked smile was spread across Queen Eun Ae's face as she looked at her made, the maid nodded, knowing what her Queen meant. The preparations were done for them to carry out their sly plan.
"Yu Jun shall lead the ritual, right Your Majesty?" Said the First queen feeling proud of her son.
"Eh," the king said, "didn't I tell you that this time it shall be Joon Wo who leads the ritual?" he faked ignorance.
"No, Your Majesty," she said tilting her head, "but, I guess it's alright that he leads this time. It's been a long time since he was home. She didn't look bothered by it at all, only shocked by the sudden change in plan.
On the other hand, Queen Eun Ae was in complete horror as if she has just seen a ghost. She looked at her head maid who shocks her head signaling that there is nothing she could do since everything has been planned and set in place if she made even the slightest hint about an attack against the prince, all fingers will point at her.
She turned to look below her as her son rose up to head to the table that has been prepared for the souls of their ancestors, trying to keep the focus on everything around him and anyone that might seem suspicious. He was followed by his brothers who were shocked by the sudden change in plans but went along.
Servants appearing out of nowhere handing the princes their swords so they can perform the traditional dance of the ritual. Joon took the sword and stood in the middle of the ring made of marble that was a step above the floor and his brothers around him.
And so, the dance begins. The princes moving just how they practiced moving with grace in rhythm with the instruments playing and the drums hammering. With every twist or turn, Joon Wo was ready for anything to happen an arrow to come out of the sky, a madman with a sword in hand charging at him, he wasn't sure. But he knew now that the probability of it happening is low because he was the one in the middle and the other princes had their face covered with masks, it was impossible to pin out the crown prince.
"Are you sure you placed the cup in front of the crown prince's seat?" Queen Eun Ae asked her maid in a low voice while faking a smile.
"I did it myself Your Majesty," she said.
"I hope the king doesn't make any more surprises tonight," The Queen sat back in her chair wondering why the king made such a weird change without saying anything this time.
She looked out on to the dance that was happening in the marble ring finding it impossible to recognize them with the masks that covered their faces along with them moving all over the place.
'Thank goodness I didn't choose a hitman.' She said to herself exhaling.
As the music stopped and the dance came to an end, the king praised his son for the wonderful performance that he gave and thanked the others as well.
"Why don't you head first, I have a word with my son," he said placing his hands on Joon Wo's shoulder.
The Queen glared at her son but obliged to the king's words and left followed by the others.
"That was amazing,". Joon Wo heard someone say in a low whisper and when he turned to look he found Tari smiling at him with a wave, he felt his heart soften up at that gesture but it was soon gone when his father began to talk.
"Are you okay? Did anything happen that we couldn't see?" he scanned his son making sure he is not hurt anywhere.
Joon Wo was taken aback from the concern that he saw in his father's eyes, wondering if he really is the same person that he met by chance during his stay here and his father wouldn't even spare him a glimpse.
"I'm alright," Joon Wo said. "Nothing happened at all, but I feel this is not the end, Your Majesty."
He rubbed his gray beard. "You are right the night is yet to begin, we shouldn't let our guards down."
Joon Wo nodded at his father. "We should go before anyone gets suspicious,"
The king led the way to the place the feast was going to take place in and once they were in and he took his place at the end of the table.
"Oh, my boy," he said, "Why don't you let your brother sit here this once? It's been a long time since I saw him, I want him to be close to me on this beautiful evening." He smiled at Yu Jun who was sitting on the first seat on his right.
Yu Jun caught up with his father's plan rather too quickly. He smiled brightly and got up. "Shall we do that?" He looked at his brother as they exchanged seats.
'No!' the Queen almost snapped out loud as she saw them exchange places. While Nefertari and Ashkan took the first two seats on the king's other side opposite to Joon Wo.
Tari's Eyes shot up with excitement as she that Jooni was now closer to her, feeling her stares he held his head up to get locked in her gaze for a while before giving her a weak smile.
Tari had a very weird feeling inside when she saw that smile. 'He looks nervous' she thought.
The Queen was panicking eyeing the small green-marble cup in front of her son.
"Mother, is something a matter?" Jae I said tilting her head to look at her mother when she saw that she was acting too strangely, but her words fell on deaf ears. following her line of gaze, she saw that she was staring at her brother 'Why is she staring like that?' she mumbled in her head but then shrugged the thought off.
"Now," the king exclaimed joyfully. "Shall we have a toast!"
The laughs and giggles continued, all of them raising their small cups to have a toast. The queen held her cup with her hands trembling not able to say anything.
"To the Harvest!" the king said and they followed in unison.
Joon Wo held the cup up to his pink-tinted lips and drank the whole thing down.