Spring Snowflakes

❄️ chapter 45: the calm before the storm

chapter soundtrack: kang chungya - yoon chae young

The Queen's chamber was dominated with dark maroon colors— it was almost as dark as blood.

Nam Taeil brushed the tip of his nose as he smelled the thick scent of amber as he entered the chamber, walking further into the room while the guards outside pulled the door closed from the outside. This scent always greeted him every time he stepped into the chamber. It perfectly suited the dimmed room inside.

"Your Majesty."

With a single polite bow, Nam Taeil greeted the monarch who was seated on the middle of the chamber. Across him, the Queen hummed while waving her hand towards the maid who stood in the corner of the room. Obediently, following her simple gesture, the young maid nodded her head curtly and walked out of the chamber from the side door. Then, the chief minister and the Queen were left alone inside the vast chamber.

Nam Taeil made sure that the maid had really gone away from the room, as he eyed the figure walking out of the room. As he heard the door completely closed, the old man left out a tensed sigh.

"I told you we should have met at my study room." Taeil grumbled, plopping down to the floor where he found the nearest floor cushion. "Or your study room. I don't like sitting on the floor like this."

"Well," the Queen raised an eyebrow. "It's up to me. You need me, anyway. You should come visit me whenever I call you, wherever it is."

The corner of Nam Taeil's mouth curved up, showing a simple smirk on his face. "Alright, alright." He sighed. "I need you, Your Majesty. And I'll follow your choice no matter what. Now, why are you calling me in? I thought you were giving up with the plans after the whole marriage thing happened."

Even from afar, Nam Taeil could see the Queen's white knuckles as she balled her fits in silence.

"It has to be happened. We can't stop it. No matter what we do, the King and Queen Dowager were all in for it." She whispered. "What matters is, the next things we should do."

Nam Taeil raised both his eyebrows, waiting for the Queen to continue.

"I have persuaded the girl to get birth control pills. The other monarchs won't know about this for now." She said in a cold tone. "That way, we wouldn't have any heir coming from the girl anytime soon. So we're safe. For now."

"Whoa."

"But we don't have much time."

When their eyes made contact with each other, Taeil cleared his throat. "I know."

The Queen clicked her tongue. "Come to think of it. Gosh. You should have done better. It would be much easier if she accepted the proposal."

"You don't know how hard it was, persuading my niece. Chungya is one stubborn woman." Nam Taeil grunted, putting his defense. "I did my best, yet she didn't even give any interest in marrying the prince. Although she loves him so much."

In response, the Queen shook her head. Hoping it would clear the dark clouds in her mind. "One thing for sure, we have to move fast. We never know when the next coronation... for Sooho, will be held." She hissed, her eyes turned colder as she said, "I can't stand seeing my son with that girl. He will regret it later in the future. Everyone will regret it."

As Nam Taeil saw the woman in front of her fuming with anger, he shifted from his seat and moved himself forward, approaching the Queen. As he got closer to her, without any hesitation, he reached out to touch the Queen's hand with his. "Hey, relax." He whispered. His thumb was brushing the Queen's knuckles slowly. "We will make it. Sooho will get his true love back." He said. "We will have a fine woman for the next queen."