Tae's muffled yawns the next morning from the constant knocking at his chamber door interrupted his peaceful dream of sitting beneath a peach tree, his beloved laying in his lap as cherry blossoms danced and floated in the soft breeze. Dreams were dreams, could be anything whether fiction or reality.. "Taehyung!!" Seokjin called from the other side of the chamber door, Tae groaned in response and lifted himself up from bed, "Yes hyung.." he replied sleepily, his voice fading out to the depths of slumber. "Quickly get ready and come to Mother's Spring chamber, we're all having breakfast and an important discussion there together. Remember how I told you about the 'surprise' hm?" At that Tae's falling head which was soon to meet his pillow lifted, he blinked away the sleep in his eyes and untangled the coiled cotton sheets pulling himself onto his feet. "Yes hyung!!" He called out energetically before sliding open his chamber door to let in his maids. Seokjin had already turned the corner of the sunshine-filled hallway that was decorated with fresh tulips by maids each morning.
After having his bath prepared, Taehyung soaked in the hot water, his long hair hanging outside the lining of the tub, strands sticking to his golden mellow skin whilst he gently played with the floating rose petals. His mind was soon to drift off wondering what surprise his hyung was so insistent about but he pushed aside the thoughts and rose out of the tub, the sudden cold making his body quiver. He chose to dress himself in a pale green and pink today, his layers of folds of clothing neatly fixed by the maids, some fitting his hair and headwear whilst others seated him down to wear his boots.
The Queen's Spring chamber was on the east wing of the palace that looked out towards the royal gardens that connected to the royal lake with a small grey stone bridge. Tae arrived at the doorway of the chamber, meeting his older brothers, parents and sister-in-law seated at the table waiting for his arrival to begin the breakfast together. "Sorry I'm late, everyone." Taehyung bowed and entered the room, hastily sitting himself down next to Seokjin who softly smiled at him and shook his head because of the younger's sleeping habits that kept them all waiting, in return he received a cheerful yet goofy smile from Tae.
"Now now let's begin eating" Queen Lilianna started to speak, her small red lip smile lifting her pale cheeks. She was dressed casually for the day, casual by royal standards at least, with a red and dark blue royal hanbok. Her hair was pulled back neatly and arranged in a braided bun with a golden pin going through horizontally. The golden embroidery of the dragon beautifully designed the shoulders and front of her top, she looked stunning.
The King cleared his throat and began to speak, finally relieving the curiosities of the young prince. "Hoseok, Ami and Taehyung... Your mother, Seokjin and I have some news to share as you all may know. One moons ago we received a proposal from the King of the Southern Isles of Alystra asking for Seokjin's hand in marriage for his eldest son, Crown Prince Namjoon. " At that Taehyung froze and swivelled his head to his older brother who sat next to him who met Tae's shocked sight. He knew well how much his brother valued love and wouldn't possibly accept the proposal of a man he's never met before regardless of whether he was the Crown Prince of the Southern Kingdom or the Prince of the Moon. His father continued, "We are all beginning journey for the Southern Kingdom this afternoon to reach the Southern Palace by tomorrow before sun down." Before Taehyung could open his mouth to argue, Hoseok spoke up calmly, "I'm afraid I can't go Appa, I have matters to tend to at our western border to ensure our lands are protected from any rogue attacks after the recent defeat of the barbarians opposing the Second Prince of the South." His father nodded in agreement, "I'll stay back as well, father. I don't wish to leave his majesty alone here and travel to a foreign kingdom without him. I have no exact purpose to visit and here I can keep him company." Princess Ami said softly, her eyes moving from her father-in-law to her husband seated next to her, her softening eyes displaying love. "Taehyung you are definitely coming! After all you have to meet your brother-in-law" Seokjin said, patting the younger's shoulder. "But hyung-" Tae objected rather sternly. "No buts Taehyung, I am going to get married soon and you are coming with me." Seokjin said in annoyance, turning his head to face their father smiling. Tae held his disapproving gaze on his brother.
Breakfast continued with everyone talking but Taehyung remained mostly silent unless being questioned, his thoughts were nowhere but on the sudden change in his hyung's decisions of marriage. Did he not want to speak up against it? Was it because the Southern Kingdom was more affluent than theirs and could be set off on bad terms if he didn't agree? Was he trying to sacrifice himself, his beliefs in love and his entire life to avoid political unrest? What was going on?