HANSOL

You held Hansol's hand tightly as you knocked on the door of the king's study; despite the late hour, you knew he would be awake, worrying for his sons.

"Come in," the king's tired voice called.

You entered, smiling at the way the king's face lit up when he saw Hansol.

"Are they safe?" the king asked, obviously struggling to keep his composure.

"All of them safe and relatively unharmed," you affirmed. "Chan sustained a small cut and some bruising, but nothing serious, and he's the only one who was hurt."

"Where were they?"

You reached into your pocket and laid out the golden cup, silver twig, and a faerie's hairpin on the king's desk. "They were being held captive in the faerie queen's court, for some insult your wife gave the queen." You scanned his face carefully. "Thankfully, the curse is broken, and they need not go there any longer."

"How did you know how to save them?" the king asked quietly.

You hesitated, and Hansol squeezed your hand comfortingly. "I was a changeling," you admitted. "I was raised in the faerie court for thirteen years of my life."

"Both her curse and ours are broken," Hansol spoke up. "Father, you know how curses are broken..."

The king nodded, observing the objects on his desk carefully. "Well, Miss y/n, I have to reward you, as I promised," he said at length. "And from the looks of things, you've already decided what reward you'd like."

You blushed deeply, making Hansol laugh.

"Go," the king said warmly. "Get some rest. Heaven knows it will be our first true rest in years..."

——

You were the one to confront Hansol, finding him in the palace music room a few days after the last night at the faerie court.

"Can we talk?" you asked quietly.

Hansol looked up and set aside the guitar that rested on his lap. "Sure. Do you want to talk here, or should we go somewhere else?"

"Here's fine," you admitted, sitting down. "Um, I'm not sure where to start..."

Hansol smiled ruefully, running a hand through his wavy hair. "Same here. Uh... well, let's start with the basics." He thought for a few seconds, his fingers drumming on his thigh. "We're, uh... I guess we're in love?"

You couldn't help but laugh at that, and Hansol's face broke into a bright smile as well.

"Yeah, I guess," you chuckled. "You okay with that?"

Hansol gaped at you for a few seconds before clapping both hands to the sides of his head, ruffling his hair even more. "Am I — yeah, it's great! That's great." He laughed breathlessly. "I'm just surprised that you're really in love with me."

Yet another laugh pushed its way up your throat, and before long, the two of you were sitting together next to a huge window, Hansol's arm wrapped tightly around you and your head nestled into his shoulders, him trailing soft kisses along your hand that was entwined in his.

——

You found that Hansol loved wandering the castle and grounds; and it was on one such expedition that he proposed.

It was in the vast, sprawling gardens — he said he was fond of this particular pond, surrounded by weeping willows and irises, and with large golden koi fish glinting beneath the surface.

"I thought I'm a bit young to be taking this relationship farther," he began, dipping his fingers into the water. "I mean, I'm an adult, and princes do marry young a lot of the time, so I guess that's not an issue..."

You sat next to him, absently playing with a strand of his hair. "I won't pressure you into anything."

Hansol smiled and leaned his head against your shoulder. "I know. I don't want to pressure you, either." A koi mouthed at his index finger for a few seconds before swimming away, clearly disgusted. "But I really do love you. And I'm pretty sure I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

You laughed a little. "Only pretty sure, Hansol? I don't think that's enough to go on."

Hansol turned his head slightly to kiss your cheek. "I'm as sure as I can get. Y/n, I love you more than anything. Will you marry me?"

"Of course," you replied simply, and captured Hansol's lips with yours.

There was a brief silence after the kiss broke, heavy and a little strange.

"We'll have to wait at least half a year before the actual wedding," Hansol blurted dizzily, just as you started to get nervous. "Father's going to want to invite a million and one people, but I'd rather our wedding not be a spectacle."

You laughed in breathless relief, leaning back against him. "Me too."

——

It was nine months before you and Hansol were married — nine months of enduring endless teasing from his brothers and friends alike, and three months of preparation and negotiations with the king's council.

When the ceremony was over, Hansol brought you to another one of his favourite places; the top of the castle's tallest tower. The sun had set long ago, and bright stars were visible.

"I can only really come here during spring and summer," Hansol murmured. "I'm glad I got to share it with you tonight."

You leaned against him, shivering slightly in the cool breeze that still carried hints of winter. "Do you come here a lot?"

Hansol shrugged, casually looping an arm around your waist. "Sort of. I didn't get to for a few years, because of the whole dancing thing, and then I met you." His face transformed, his huge smile visible in the starlight. "I love you."

"I love you too," you murmured. "I'm really glad I got to marry you."

Hansol pulled you a little closer, tugging you into his chest; and you closed your eyes, warm and comfortable in his arms under the starry, moonless sky.