As the days passed if you were to visit the palace you would only be with Prince Uiseong or his mother consort Hwang. It was clear there were problems around the palace especially directed at the queens quarters. But unlike you wished , you were forbid to see the queen and be of any assistance.
You sat to the side as Uiseong was being privately tutored, bored of life. This was now what you did , you never really talked to Uiseong either. You just sat there and let the days pass as if they meant nothing. You truly hated it. But one thing you hated more was that you weren't even allowed to walk the gardens without Uiseong or his mother present.
It felt as if they were draining you of your life but you had to act as if it was the best thing to have ever of happened to you.
You stood up to leave the room for some fresh air and all eyes were immediately on you.
"I will take my leave."
"Sit back down." You looked at Uiseong who was already looking back at his work.
"I would like to get some fresh air-" you were stopped due to Uiseong banging his fist onto the table to silence you.
"I SAID SIT BACK DOWN!" You went quiet hearing this. Ms Kim watched from behind you quietly, she knew this was never going to be good and she hoped it would be broken off soon. But rather than your usual way of talking back you submissively sat back down. Hours more passed and you were starting to feel dizzy, you had been stuck in a room all day with no food or water whilst you husband to be was living the full life of a prince being fed and watered whenever he demanded it. Not even caring for you as if you were a forgotten plant in the corner.
"My lady, we should think of heading back now." Ms Kim whispered to you from behind. You looked over at Uiseong. He was gone. You let out a breath you didn't realise you were keeping in.
"Let's go home" You said getting up.
"Wait let me help you-" Ms Kim came to help you but the two of you stopped in the process seeing consort Hwang enter. She looked over at you smiling. You stood up straight.
"You're still here Lady Y/n?"
"Yes , however I was about to take my leave."
"Are you sure? I was hoping we could talk, would you like some tea?" And here comes all the palace politics was all you could think to this. You agreed to her request though. The two of you moving to her quarters. Sitting across from each other quietly.
"I believe that maybe it's time the next step was made" she spoke first. Pouring tea into your cup. You looked at her. Despite doing nothing all day you were exhausted. "You and my son have been set to wed for a while now so I believe it's best if we make this official." You knew why she wanted this. You weren't just a pretty face. You were the daughter of the most influential family in the kingdom. She wanted you to be officially married to her son so he could have a greater reasoning for him to be crown prince.
"Consort Hwang, although I'm very pleased you are talking to me about this it is my father who has the power in this decision. So unfortunately I cannot speak with certainty." Her smile slightly faltered at this.
"Let's drop the honorifics." She smiled trying to compose herself. "You're your father's youngest child and he is very proud of you. I'm sure if you show him how much you want this he will listen." Silence came over the two of you.
"Thank you for the tea consort Hwang, it is time I left." You said getting up.
"Wait Lady Y/n, don't you love my son?"
"I-"
"WHERES Y/N?! I DIDNT SAY SHE COULD LEAVE!" She watched as your complexion turned pale hearing her son scream for you. He stormed through the doors. Seeing you and his expression showed his anger clearly. Uiseong didn't notice his mother until he heard her forcibly place down her tea cup. He looked at her quite shocked.
"Lady Y/n, I will see you tomorrow." She said excusing you to leave. You bowed and left quickly, Ms Kim following right behind you. You didn't look back as you walked away but you could hear the muffled shouts of consort Hwang shouting at her only son.
You and Ms Kim rushed home. As soon as you got in you practically fell onto the floor. Ms Kim ran to grab you something to drink and eat. Quickly returning and she watched as you ate to make sure you didn't eat too quickly and choke.
"My lady , if I am to speak freely. You shouldn't marry him. In just a few days he hasn't let you eat in the palace nor drink. Today he wouldn't even let you go outside. No true man is that afraid of his wife to be interacting with another male, it's crazy." She said letting her feelings out, honestly you agreed.
"But who else would marry me?"
"Lots of men!"
"But where are they? There isn't any. There's no knight who has come to rescue me from this." You let out sadly as you nibbled on your bread. "I may be from an influential family but I'm old and many men want a young wife."
"My lady you aren't old. You can still bear children for many more years."
"Children? Why is that what matters? I hate age. I hate growing old. All I want is someone to love me. I want someone to save me from this hell, because I can't leave it without someone's help." You began to cry, just everything was becoming too much. You thought you were marrying a friend but now he's a monster in your eyes but you can't escape it. At least his mother is kind to you but you couldn't help but feel like she's only like that so you will marry her son. She seems to understand the power you have compared to him.
"Is that crying I hear?" Doyoon asked as he appeared, the eldest and most mature of all the Park siblings. He didn't have his wife or children with him , which was a rare sight as normally at least one was around.
"Why are you here?" You asked , the tone of your voice very clearly indicating that you were crying.
"Well it makes me so happy to hear that you're happy to see me." He joked, the sarcasm clear in his tone. "What's making little park so upset?" He asked sitting next to you and calling you by the name all of your family called you before you were born, the boys kept using it.
"To speak on my lady's behalf, she's quite upset with her marriage arrangement." Ms Kim said trying to make things easier for you.
"Upset?"
"The palace is currently trying to chose the next crown prince and Lady Y/n's husband to be seems to be a top contender. However..." she went quiet not sure how to put it. Because if she was honest , she would say some very foul words but if she stayed respectful she wouldn't know what to say as she personally had no respect for the boy anymore.
"Is he not treating her right?" Doyoon asked, concern clear. This just made the flood gates of truth open for Ms Kim.
"He won't let her see any of the grand princes. For the past few days he's demanded she comes to the palace however she must stay inside whilst he studies , she cannot eat nor drink. He didn't even allow her to leave for some fresh air earlier. He went crazy screaming for her-"
"Ms Kim please." You tried to get her to stop but it was clear she had already said enough.
"Is this the truth?" You looked away from your brothers question. "He is no man Y/n. He doesn't deserve anything from this family. We must call off the engagement-"
"No!"
"No?"
"I'll be alone forever if I call it off. Even your daughter is married before me and I'm older." You told your brother.
"We can find another man-"
"It doesn't matter, once we're married he'll get another wife and then I can live happily in the shadows." You said sharing your plan.
"It doesn't work like that, as his first wife you will need to attend everything with him. You will even need to bear a child to provide an heir. He may not even want another wife." Your brother tried to make you understand. "The smartest plan is to break it off."
"But I don't want to be alone, can't you all understand that? Even Seongnam has a girl he fancies enough to be his wife, why must I be the one who has no one? I want to have a happy family. Have a partner who loves me just like all of you have! To be able to have a child with him! Why must I miss out on all that?" You cried , banging your hand on your chest right where your heart is. Doyoon didn't enjoy this sight at all. He grabbed hold of your hand, stopping your actions. You looked at him as you tried to calm down your tears.
"I will not support this marriage."
"But-"
"Y/n there's a race for the position of crown prince, people must pick their sides. The Queen or the Queen Dowager. As Parks we have always been loyal to the queen but now you are marrying someone who stands strong with the Queen Dowager, you must realise I cannot support this marriage. Especially now hearing the truth of his actions."
"But-" you tried to stop him as he got up to leave. "DOYOON!" You shouted after him. Feeling that all things were lost. Although you didn't know this was intentional, Doyoon wanted you to feel like this. Not because he wanted you to hurt because hearing you made his heart physically hurt but instead because he wanted you to see it wasn't the 'safe' option that you imagined in your head. It was safer to stick with the family than anything else.
A few days passed and nothing had changed yet. It worried Ms Kim greatly as it was becoming clearer and clearer. Your skin was becoming paler , losing its colour that it used to be filled with. You had also become skinnier, although your body was fully covered it was clear with your cheeks.
However, this day you weren't stuck inside as Uiseong studied. Instead you two walked around the gardens, this wasn't because he tried to treat you nicely but instead because his tutor was a member of those on the trial jury. A jury to find who's guilty for the previous crown princes death.
"Prince Uiseong would it be okay if we stopped? It's a hot day and my lady is-"
"Don't you dare speak to me."
"Prince Uiseong-"
"Shut up! How dare a lowly lady in waiting talk to a Prince with demands!" He shouted at Ms Kim.
"Prince please-" you moved your hand to try and get him to turn around so the walk could continue but he just hit it away.
"Are you not going to put her in her place?" He shouted at you. "She's talking to her future king as if he's nothing more than a lowly peasant!" His shouting started to gather attention from others within the palace. You looked around and saw staff already whispering to each other.
"She never did such a thing. She asked you politely if we could stop and take a break." You said calmly only due to the fact you had no energy to shout.
"Never did such a thing?!" He let out a laugh. "Maybe you're the one who really needs to be taught a lesson."
"Pardon?"
"You heard me. And with all this time we've wasted standing still we have had our break. Let's hurry this up, the trial should be over shortly." He said walking ahead. Ms Kim came to check up on you, making sure your arm was okay - a bright red mark had already grown.
As the walk continued you came across the sight of the crown princess and her children being banished from the palace.
"Ha...I guess they found out who was guilty then." Uiseong said quietly to your side. Everyone watched quietly as they were being escorted out. That was until Seongnam appeared and untied his nephew.
"Uncle..." the young prince cried as his uncle held his hands.
"I promise uncle will come to get you." He smiled at his nephew. Viewers couldn't help but feel sympathy watching this heartfelt moment. However it was cut short as they were forced to leave. Everyone watched silently as they left the palace.
As you stood there your legs started to feel numb , no longer aching like they were earlier in the day. It was still really hot, the summer sun still standing strong. You moved your hand to your forehead, feeling dazed as you tried to wipe some sweat.
"My lady you don't look too good." Ms Kim said looking at you and watching you carefully.
"I'm fine, the heat is just starting to get to me." You said trying to reassure her that it was nothing for her to stress over.
"Let's go, my tutor should be back now." Uiseong said moving before he even finished his demands.
"Here let me help you."
"It's okay." You said taking a few steps. But you were stopped as the three younger grand princes appeared.
"Y/n we haven't seen you in days!" Muan said quickly trying to start up a conversation.
"How have you been?" Gyeseong asked, quickly noticing the change in your appearance.
"I'm so sorry but I have to go. Prince Uiseong has a lesson I must attend." You said trying to leave , whilst trying to keep the chat formal rather than friendly.
"What's with that? Why are you speaking so formally?" Muan pointed out, confused just like his other brother. And although you felt bad you really needed to get out of this sun.
"You know what, despite the weather being so bright you're very pale y/n." Ilyoung said looking at you closely.
"I really must-"
"MY LADY!" Ms Kim screamed to your side as you fainted , she quickly tried to grab hold of you. The boys all watch shocked as you fell down.
"SOMEONE GET THE PHYSICIAN!" Muan shouted, the loud noises attracting the attentions of others to watch the scene. Seongnam looked over not having much care until he saw you lying on the ground with your maid holding you up. He ran over, a panic setting into him.
"Y/n! Y/n!" He said coming over to you, lightly shaking you to see if you would wake up. "Ugh..." he groaned as you didn't react. He acted without thinking. Pulling you into his arms and running straight to his quarters, not a care in the world about others opinions. Ms Kim tried to run along with him. "Go get a physician , I'll make sure she's resting comfortably." He said as he continued to his quarters. Ms Kim ran the other way to get someone immediately.
As soon as he walked into the area of the palace he, his mother and brothers shared his was met with his mother.
"What's happened to-" he didn't wait to talk and ignored her, heading straight to his room. He didn't mean it rudely at all, he just had a clear priority. You.