King Hyun, Queen Lilianna and Seokjin entered the lavish throne room that was lined on either side with low-resting tables behind which people could sit on cushioned floor-level seats and down the middle was an embroidered carpet that led up to the King's throne. The room itself was glittering in silks at the edge of the doorway and wallpaper paintings that scattered the polished interior walls. Servants stood behind the lined tables on either side, bowing respectfully before raising their heads to stand as the Northern Royals made their way to their seats. King Hyun sat at the first table on the right line, closest to King Yeon. Queen Lilianna sat on the second table in the right line, next to her husband and Seokjin sat at the first table on the left line, right across from his father. They all glanced at each other and smiled. Seokjin's heartbeat couldn't contain itself, the prince felt the palms of his hands dampen from sweat. He avoided bouncing his leg, refraining to show his stress and anxiety. Trying to hold himself back from the thoughts of the Prince who proposed to him and drown the memories of the lovely nomad with the most beautiful dimple smile he had ever seen.
His thoughts were interrupted when King Yeon entered the room, his smile widening when his eyes met Jin's, a glint of excitement in them. Jin returned his smile until he saw that there was someone walking in behind the King. A man dressed in royal silver and blue garments of the Crown Prince, his head was lowered so his face couldn't be clearly seen, though when the unknown broad-shouldered man raised his head, Jin's smile disappeared into an expression of pure shock. The young Prince immediately stood up, his eyes erratically glued on the Crown Prince as he was unable to comprehend what he's seeing in front of him. He couldn't register the thought that the nomad whom he loved so dearly - who he was training his heart to move on from - was standing in front of him, only metres away, but as a Prince. As the Crown Prince who proposed to him.
After the wave of shock and surprise passes Seokjin in a few moments, he then ponders how this could possibly be true. Viewing confusion on the young Prince's face, King Yeon clears his throat and speaks up, directly King Hyun and Queen Lilianna's attention from their son to him. "Dear Prince, sit down child. We have plenty of time to talk." He smiles tightly, sealing his lips to hold back a chuckle to Seokjin's reaction. It was better than he initially expected.
Namjoon watched the shocked face of the beautiful man he loved. Oh how he missed him. The urge to run to the gorgeous man and hug him was strong but he held back knowing it wasn't the time or place to act out his wish. Instead he returned an affectionate dimple smile, oblivious to the effect it had on his soon-to-be husband, oblivious to how dearly Jin loved his smile.
Seokjin snaps out of his daze when King Yeon speaks, fluttering his eyes as he pulls his stare away from the nomad Prince who has left him muddled. He gathers himself and sits back down with his eyes aimlessly looking at the table in front of him, anxious to meet the eyes of anyone in the room. With a deep breath in as he recalls proper formalities and respect, Jin raises his head, directly meeting the eyes of his dad who seems rather amused and winks at him, raising his eyebrows as if he's saying 'like him already do you?'.
The prominent blush that emerges on his soft cheeks reveals his flustered entanglement.
By now, King Yeon has already reached his throne and takes his seat with Prince Namjoon sitting beside him. The attentive King notices his son's loving gaze for the younger prince and is delighted that both seem to relay mutual feelings of contentment and affection towards one another.
"It is an honour to appropriately welcome you into our Kingdom, King Hyun, Queen Lilianna and Prince Seokjin. I will personally tour you across my beautiful capital but first, the most important matter is at hand. The coming together of our families with this joyous proposal. However… before that I would like to explain the coronation of the Crown Prince."
The King pauses and meets his son's eyes before looking back at the royal family in front of him. "I've made the decision as the current King of Alystra to pass on the title of Crown Prince and future King to my second son, Prince Jungkook who - as you may know - led our armies to battle on the western grounds a few weeks ago. Prince Namjoon is fully content with my decision and since he himself has ambitions of his own in taking the lead of the western expansions now, he will forward both our nations to advancement and growth. It has already been formally announced to the Royal Assemblymen and citizens that the Second Prince will now be addressed as the Crown Prince and later at his coronation on the next full moon I will also announce the role of Prince Namjoon. I hope you are not displeased with this decision as when the proposal was made, Namjoon was the Crown Prince. I also hope his change in title doesn't affect your view on this marriage arrangement."
He finished calmly, his eyes surveying the reactions of the Northern King and Queen, and when he saw their approving gentle smiles his anxious heart felt relieved.
"Oh! And I'm afraid Crown Prince Jungkook, cannot be present here at the moment as he was recently injured, nothing grave or worrisome, he just needs some good rest and care."
Finally, the Northern royal couple speak up, "Oh King Yeon, we have nothing to say except that we're very pleased with the marriage and your nation's choice about its future. Prince Namjoon, whether Crown Prince or not, is a capable and respectable Prince that will bring prosperity to both our nations. Our only concern is that both Prince Namjoon and Seokjin get to know each other and accept their marriage arrangement." King Hyun said approvingly, shifting his gaze to his son as he ended speaking. Queen Lilianna smiled and nodded politely in agreement, "To join not only hands in harmony but also create a beautiful bond as families is truly wonderful, our future together is bright."
The Kings and Queen all exchanged glances in delight.
King Yeon gestured towards Namjoon, silently asking him to pay formal respects to his soon-to-be in-laws, the King and Queen of the Northern Isles of Nysa.
Nodding in understanding, Prince Namjoon rises from his seat and walks down, in front of the couple seated. He proceeds to deep bow down in a royal manner with his hands held together outstretched in front of him, forming an oval shape with his arms. Momentarily after, Namjoon raises his head and gently smiles, displaying dimpled cheeks.
While behind him, Seokjin looked down into his fumbling fingers as tears filled his eyes. His brain is an entire mess and he himself doesn't know what to feel anymore. What should he be thinking? That the nomad who he fell for has the exact same face as the royal prince whom he is to marry? Or that the nomad is the prince himself? How crazy does that sound? The perplexity of the situation and puzzlement that clouded his mind overtook him and the stress-ridden tears silently fell.
Yet even the most silent of moments are heard. Like how walls have ears. From his throne, King Yeon noticed the turmoil in the poor, confused boy's expressions and then saw his tears. In understanding to clear the cloud of confusion, he stood to help.
"Namjoon!..." He exclaimed and continued after he got the attention of the said person, "Why don't you and young Prince Seokjin take a stroll along the water lily pond outside the chamber? Spend some time together to get to know each other well, hm?"
"Sure, appa," Namjoon replied and turned to look at his Prince with a sweet smile that instantly fell and filled with concern by the state of the young Prince who had tears streaming down his cheeks, touching the side of his plump lips. Careful to cover the view from King Hyun and Queen Lilianna, he stretches his hand forward towards Seokjin's fumbling ones and takes one in his own, lifting it up as a way to bring Seokjin out of his trance.
Flinching at the touch, Seokjin draws out from his unfocused state and recognises his surroundings, specifically feeling the tears that stain his cheeks. He looks up in shock to meet the same eyes of the person he loves. Letting himself be raised to his feet, he realises that he's in the view of King Yeon and turns to see that the old King is smiling at him pleasantly before shifting his attention back to the Prince in front of him who slowly leads him down the middle of carpet and out the wooden doors of the throne room.
↜•↬↫•↝
After what felt like ages of listening and understanding, Seokjin closes his eyes and breathes to calm himself. His nomad explained everything to him, from the beginning – from when they met – till now. It's all hard to take in, he needs to clear his mind but truly there's nothing he's questioning anymore, his worry-filled clouds have been cleared and before him kneels the man he loves so dearly, whether he be a prince or a nomad.
"I'm really sorry for all this, especially that I proposed as someone else and that you knew nothing about me as a nomad or a prince. Hells, I didn't even know if you liked me and.. I ended up giving a proposal.. I'm truly sorry." Namjoon softly spoke, caressing Seokjin's hands that were in his. He looked up to search the eyes of the younger, for any remaining signs of uncertainty and discomfort. But let out the long held breath when the younger held his hands tighter, lifting them to his lips and kissing the back of them.
"I'll tell you now.. I feel the same for you. It's just- just a lot to process but I can assure you about my feelings for you." Seokjin whispered out, his voice cracking from the tears that cascaded down his red cheeks once more.
With no second thought of who may be watching them, Namjoon pulled the younger into his chest and hugged him tightly, loving the warmth of them together. Seokjin leaned in with comfort and both sat there by the pond, in each other's arms.