Hands held onto your arms as you nearly fell from the contact of walking right into someone. You looked up shocked.
"I'm so sorry...Prince Uiseong?" You said instantly recognising the boy who held onto you. He smiled seeing it was just you rather than someone else being mischievous.
"Lady Y/n, it's great to see you. Why are you running around the palace?" He asked confused as to why the whole situation had occurred.
"I had just visited the Queen and the Grand Prince's, so I'm just heading back home."
"You seem upset, was it Grand Prince Seongnam?" It wasn't a difficult guess, all the Princes and Princess' were aware of the relationship the two of you shared.
"No it's really nothing to do with him." You dismissed the idea that the two of you were arguing again.
"Well I do hope that's the truth. He has a foul mouth and it's proven more with the way he speaks at you." Now this was another obvious thing, just how much Prince Uiseong disliked Grand Prince Seongnam. The two were close in age and always had a competitive relationship.
"I won't bother you with talking about him. Are you free to walk?" He asked using his arm to signal the path that headed to the palace gardens.
"I don't want to be a bother to you Prince."
"Don't be silly, you're never a bother" He smiled at you, you couldn't help but show a small smile at his words. Prince Uiseong was always very polite to you and knew how to brighten your day with his words. The two of you started walking together just having light chatter.
"I must admit that green looks very good on you, it really makes your features stand out." He said looking at the features of your face. A smile started to creep onto your face from his kind words again. But this time a little blush did too.
"Prince Uiseong, I don't mean to intrude but do you intend on marrying soon? And I don't mean to me before you misunderstand. I'm just curious as you're older than me and many keep mentioning I should be married soon." Now it was more than clear what was bothering you to Uiseong. He knew you just like the Grand Princes did, as you had practically grown up around them. And despite him and Seongnam being older than you those two were the ones you were closest to, although one was a friendship and the other was arguments.
"I do think I will marry soon. However, knowing when that time will be is harder to know. I still need to find a bride." He laughed thinking about the fact he doesn't even know a woman he would want to marry.
"And I a groom" you said joining in the laughter.
"LADY Y/N!" Ms Kim came running towards you, "I'm so glad I found you, you had me worried." She said checking up you as she came close. She then noticed the person next to you, quickly bowing down.
"I apologise Prince Uiseong for not greeting you earlier." He just smiled. "Don't worry about it Ms Kim, I understand your relationship with Lady Y/n. I'll take my leave, the two of you get home safely and I'll hopefully see you soon Lady Y/n." You smiled watching him leave.
"If I didn't know my lady any better I would say her heart beats for a Prince." Ms Kim said a very clearly happy look on her face as she saw the way you and Prince Uiseong looked at each other.
"Oh no there are no feelings of romance, he's just a friend."
"A friend that could one day be King."
"Ms Kim! You can't say that in the palace , the crown Prince is healthy and well so saying that just wishes poor health on him."
"I don't mean it like that, I mean it by the fact our recent royal history tends to lean towards concubines." You playfully hit her arm.
"Not even I am that blunt, especially not in the palace."
"It's all jokes my lady. Let's get you home and fed." She said as you both began to leave the palace and head back to your estate.
A few days later you sat in the garden of your own home, relaxing in the summer sun. Your father walked out noticing you sat alone, not even Ms Kim was around.
"Y/n." You looked over at your father. "I'm heading to the palace , would you like to come too?" He was expecting you to get up quickly and say yes rather loudly like you usually did but instead you just stayed where you were.
"I don't think I will this time." Now this definitely confused him. He walked over to you, sitting on the bench next to you.
"Is something bothering you? Was it a member of staff at the palace? One of the Princes?" He asked as if his overprotective father switch was turning on.
"When will I be married?"
"Marriage? You're 18-"
"Everyone says I should be married by now, it's clouding my thoughts and distracting me."
"You don't need to worry about them Y/n, you're a beautiful young and intelligent woman. If you would like to get married we can announce that you are interested in suitors." He offered trying to make you happier.
"What if no one wants to marry me though?"
"Who's out that thought in your head? You are the Park Y/n, one of Korea's most beautiful and sort after women. There will be men climbing the walls to try and marry you, maybe even going to the Queen"
"No one is that desperate"
"For you they will be." He smiled, you laughed a little at this.
"Now would you like to come to the palace with me? I over heard that you and Prince Uiseong are close, will my youngest daughter be a member of the royal family?" He joked , teasing you about what Ms Kim told him about the other day.
"He's just a friend"
"Sometimes a friend is the best option. Don't worry too much , I'll find you the best husband."
Once arriving at the palace your father went straight to his meeting with the King, leaving you by yourself. You were going to meet the Queen but one of her court ladies told you she was very busy. You didn't really know what else to do, you couldn't just bother one of the princes as they had important things to do as well.
"Why don't we take a stroll through the gardens?" Ms Kim offered, you sighed before agreeing. You loved the gardens but you wish there was more you could do then just walk around.
"Why are you here again?" You heard the voice behind you and a smile uncontrollably came onto your face. Finally something entertaining. You turned around to the boy and he was already looking at you.
"Why are you so bothered by me being here?" You questioned, walking closer to him with a smile. You knew he couldn't simple state he didn't like you and he knew you knew that. That's why you were pushing his buttons.
"Grand Prince Seongnam, did you hear the news?"
"What news?"
"Hmm I'm not going to tell you." You smiled
"You're very annoying." He said walking away. You decided to follow.
"Don't go, this is fun." You said running to walk beside him.
"Fun? You can't come with me."
"Why not?"
"You're a girl"
"Uh excuse me, you're a boy. You don't see me putting you down because of that."
"Whatever. Just go back home."
"Why can't I come with you?"
"Because I don't want you to come with me!" He shouted at you. Your smile disappeared. "Wait I'm sorry okay I didn't mean to raise my voice-" he paused feeling your hand hit his arm. His sympathetic look disappearing quickly to turn shocked.
"I'm a grand Prince!"
"Well I'm annoyed!" You said hitting him again. And again. And again. And again.
"Y-yah!" He let out in between hits. "S-stop!" He said trying to get away from your hits and stop you. After a while you stopped, mainly due to exhaustion. You let out a heavy breath whilst Seongnam glared at you whilst holding his arm.
"You can't hit me like that."
"Oh I'm sorry I thought you were a grand Prince not a baby."
"Don't talk to me like that"
"Then don't act so pathetic"
"Pathetic? I'm not the one who started hitting the other"
"You deserved it"
"Why?!"
"You just did."
"That's not a reason"
"No. It is a reason. And it's my reason." He just looked at you astonished. Not understanding why you were like this with him. However he knew he wasn't the nicest to you either but he couldn't be nice when you were like this and you were the same. You couldn't be nice when he was like this.
"This is why you are single and will always be single. You'll grow old alone."
"Ha says you, you're older than me and still unmarried"
"It's different. I don't need to be married. You're a woman-"
"Stop right there. Don't say anything like that to me, who cares that I'm a woman? I don't NEED a husband." You said very annoyed about what he was trying to say.
"You just say that because you can't get married."
"I've not tried to!!" You raised your voice shouting at him.
"Whatever. Just leave me alone. Maybe you should start trying." He said walking off. To let out your anger by kicking the dirt with your feet muttering curses at the boy who got further and further away.
"Lady Y/n you really shouldn't have done that. What if someone saw?" Ms Kim said beside you.
"Oh who honestly cares? People would probably be happy to see that child put into his place" you muttered, annoyed by the boy. He was a good source of entertainment for you until he started to talk back.
"But still, you must be careful. Who knows , he may be the one you marry."
"Nonsense, everyone knows Grand Prince Seongnam won't marry unless he loves the person."
"Why do you say that lady?" Ms Kim asked, unaware of this fact.
"I just know it. And you've met him haven't you? You'd have to really love that man to marry him." You said as you walked ahead. Ms Kim followed behind, and the two of you walked through the gardens. Looking at the flowers and scenery of them.
"Lady Y/n, I believe it's more common to find you in these gardens than your own home." You turned around hearing your name mentioned and saw Consort Hwang. She was Prince Uiseongs mother, you didn't have a negative opinion on her mainly as she always treated you quite well. It was clear you still preferred the Queen over consort Hwang but the two of you were still acquaintances.
"Consort Hwang, it's lovely to see you today" you said greeting your friends mother. She smiled at you. She , just like all the other consorts and concubines was a fan of you. After all you currently were the most desired woman in Korea , and although you were getting older you were the perfect age for many of the princes and nobles to wed. Some families were waiting for the announcement that you were looking to marry so that they could pounce and one of them was the Hwang family.
"I heard your father talking to the King earlier, is it true you're looking for marriage?" You were a little shocked she was already approaching you about this, she must have come straight from the conversation to get a head of others who were interested. You just smiled at her.
"Yes , I talked with my father and we decided it was time that I pursued a relationship."
"Oh that's wonderful news, I hope whoever you marry you find happiness with." She smiled. "Would you like to come on a walk with me?" Nobody needed to be told your allegiance was with the Queen if any sides needed to be taken but they all wanted you to marry their sons. Consort Hwang was especially fond of you, you were the daughter of one of Koreas wealthiest families and Prince Uiseong already liked you. It benefited Consort Hwang in more than enough ways to try and have you marry Uiseong.
"I would be delighted to join you on a walk" you said walking over to meet her. The two of you began walking through the gardens, Consort Hwangs route rather than your own. This meant you were able to view a different side of the gardens, although you knew every single detail.
"It's a shame that winter is already approaching, the flowers are beginning to wilt." Consort Hwang said as she looked at her favourite flowers beginning to wilt.
"Although many plants die, new ones bloom. There's always a flower that can survive in the harshest of winters." She smiled at your comment.
"You remind me of a flower Y/n, you have started to bloom into a woman . A beautiful at that. No wonder the princes are head over heels for you." She smiled as she took your hand in hers, you couldn't help but smile at her compliment. Although you knew the last sentence wasn't fully true.
"I understand I cannot give the full consent for you to marry Prince Uiseong but you have my support." And there it was. The true meaning of all this finally was said. Prince Uiseong. You tried not to let you smile fall after all that's the only way you could react to that comment.
"My father hasn't even announced anything, and it is his decision."
"Your father loves you more than any of his other children, he will agree to whatever you ask." Not even the stupidest person could miss her intentions. You were actually frozen in terms of what to say. If you said anything it would come off rudely. But luckily your saviour was nearby.
"Lady Y/n, you should come with me."