ROYALLY YOURS

Chapter Seven | Strange Heartbeats

CHAPTER SEVEN | STRANGE HEARTBEATS

"The actuality that the heart does not want to feel, doesn't negate the certitude that it once felt and will still feel."
― Itohan Eghide, The Book of Maxims, Poems and Anecdotes

— BAE JOOHYUN —

Joohyun stomps on her feet annoyingly as she hears the talks about her sister's betrothal to another spare heir from the other kingdom. It seems like their parents wanted to marry off their daughters right away. It's just frustrating to think that they can easily sell their daughter off to another man, much she wanted to storm off and tell her parents that Jisoo was not yet ready. And she'll turn into a young woman once she'll have her name day celebration.

Jisoo is just at her ripe age of 15, still a teenager but she seems old enough. Turning 16 in the next two days, her parents seem so excited about having another proposal for her beautiful sister.

And seven hells, she wouldn't want it.

"I don't know what to do, Joohyun... Mother and father wanted me to marry then so-" she cut her off angrily.

"Jisoo! You are still a child! You're not that old yet to marry a much older man! At this age, you should prepare to be a proper lady!" Joohyun lashed out, angrily telling her sister by the prospect of marriage.

Marriage is a sacred thing... Why would they even do this to us like a broodmare? She thought as she calmed down, sitting back on her bed as Jisoo watched her hopelessly.

Her sister sighed, "I guess I have to face what you experienced days ago, Joo."

Joohyun looks at her sister. She wanted to fight for her because her proposal or engagement is different. She was chosen by someone, whom a peculiar one at that, and reading the prophecy of some book made her think that she was meant to be. Well, she hopes that she'll get over it. Also, she's old anyway for an unmarried princess.

She sighed and sat beside her in the bed. "My betrothal is different, Soo. It's different... I was chosen."

Jisoo's eyes widened in shock, "You're the one who is chosen by that prince?"

She chuckled, "If you are somehow listening to that dinner when Mother talked about it, I am. I read something that someone from the other world is born and becomes a prince. He'll become a King and he'll choose someone as a Queen..." she trailed off, watching her little sister's reaction.

Well, Jisoo's mouth was agape.

"You're going to be a powerful Queen... sister."

Shaking her head, she stood up. "No, Jisoo. Until I see that prince if he's an old man or someone I don't prefer then it's over. I'll back up."

Jisoo smiled, "I guess we'll find out soon..."

—

The next day, the castle was hectic. Servants are all over the place taking care of everything and the people are all excited about Jisoo's 16th name day, which she turns into a young lady at some point and so does her betrothals are piling up. Joohyun doesn't agree with her parents selling off her sister, but she'll have to anyway. She can't see her little sweet sister with another man that she doesn't even know or love. She just hopes her parents match her up with someone deserving and has the same age as her sister.

But... Joohyun was actually... scared. She didn't know what to expect of her betrothed one. All she knows that he's from another world, someone who's the same age as her... but, she remembers someone...