Chapter 9 : Trip

The morning air was crisp when Yeonjun arrived at Jungkook’s chamber.

Jungkook had been sitting quietly by the window, staring at the pale morning sky, when Lady Ji announced his arrival.

She turned, mildly surprised.

It was rare for Yeonjun to visit her directly.

When she saw his expression, calm, but unreadable, her chest tightened.

Something felt different.

"His Highness has received permission to take you to the temple at Mount Shan," Yeonjun informed her.

Jungkook’s lips parted slightly. She froze.

He continued, voice even, "You are to pray for the country’s prosperity. Lady Ji and Lady Soo have been asked to prepare for the journey."

Jungkook stared at him.

She hadn’t expected this.

She hadn’t expected him.

Especially the concubine ceremony is in a week. Lady Haeyeon would be entering the palace.

She struggled to understand.

A temple visit—just the two of them.

Away from the palace.Away from the concubine.Away from everything.

For the first time in weeks, something stirred inside her chest.

Was this real?

Why was he doing this?

Had she misunderstood everything again?

Yeonjun, seeing her hesitation, spoke again.

"His Highness gave this order himself."

Jungkook swallowed, heart hammering.

And then, finally, she whispered.

"When do we leave?"

---

Jungkook’s steps were steady as she approached the palace gates, but her heart was anything but.

She had spent the morning trying not to think too much.

She had convinced herself this was simply a duty, a traditional visit to pray for the country.

Nothing more.

But as she reached the awaiting carriage, her breath hitched.

Standing next to Crown Prince Seokjin was Lady Hoseok.

The beautiful gisaeng.

The woman whose presence had always lingered between them like an unspoken ghost.

Jungkook’s fingers tightened at her sides.

Her expression did not falter, but she could not hide the way her heart stilled in confusion.

Why was she here?

Lady Hoseok lowered her gaze respectfully.

"Your Highness," she greeted with a graceful bow.

Jungkook nodded stiffly.

Before she could say anything, Seokjin reached for her hand.

His fingers were gentle but firm as he helped her step into the carriage.

Jungkook’s pulse jumped at the touch.

Her thoughts were spinning.

Nothing about this made sense.

Why was Lady Hoseok here?

And why was Seokjin acting so normal?

The carriage door closed, and soon, they were on their way.

Jungkook sat in uneasy silence.

The small, enclosed space forced them into close quarters.

She expected Seokjin to sit beside Lady Hoseok.

But instead...

He sat next to her.

Jungkook felt her shoulders relax the slightest bit.

Jungkook had prepared herself for discomfort.

She had braced for an unbearable journey, for moments where she would have to watch Seokjin with Lady Hoseok, feeling like an outsider in her own marriage.

But strangely, that never happened.

If anything, it felt as though Hoseok was more there for her than for Seokjin.

It started with small things.

A well-timed remark when Jungkook sighed at the bumpy road.

A comment about how the carriage’s cushions must have been made of bricks instead of silk.

And then...

A joke about palace life that made Jungkook press her lips together to stifle a smile.

But Hoseok noticed.

And she smirked.

"Oh? Was that almost a laugh, Your Highness?" she teased playfully.

Jungkook blinked, not realizing that she had, indeed, smiled.

Seokjin, who had been sitting beside her, remained silent, but Jungkook could feel his gaze briefly flicker toward her.

It wasn’t much, just a glance.

But somehow, it made her heart stir.

She quickly turned her focus back to Hoseok, who was still watching her with an amused glint in her eyes.

"I didn’t laugh," Jungkook said quietly.

Hoseok only grinned.

"Not yet," she said. "But the trip is long. I’ll make sure you do."

And strangely enough, she did.

As the carriage rolled down the path, Hoseok filled the silence with light conversation, weaving humor into her words so effortlessly that Jungkook found herself enjoying it.

And before she knew it...

She laughed.

Not forced. Not strained.

But real.

Even Lady Soo, who was sitting near them, smiled at the rare sound.

Jungkook caught herself too late, placing a delicate hand over her lips.

But Hoseok only winked.

"See? I told you I’d win," she whispered mischievously.

Jungkook shook her head in quiet disbelief.

She had spent so many months believing Hoseok was someone to fear, a rival, a threat, an enemy.

And yet, here they were.

For the first time since stepping into the palace, she felt like she had a friend.

---

By the time they arrived at the inn, the sky had deepened into a rich indigo, stars flickering like distant lanterns across the heavens.

The journey had been long, and though she did not complain, Jungkook’s body felt the toll.

The moment she stepped down from the carriage, weariness settled in her bones.

The innkeeper, an elderly man with a welcoming smile, bowed deeply when he recognized the Crown Prince.

"Your Highness, we are honored to receive you," he said. "A room has been prepared."

Jungkook assumed, as was custom, that she would have separate accommodations from Seokjin.

But when they reached the second floor of the inn, Lady Hoseok and Lady Soo turned to her with knowing smiles.

"Rest well, Your Highness," Hoseok said, bowing lightly before disappearing into her own chamber.

Jungkook froze.

Then, realization settled.

The Crown Prince had arranged for them to share a room.

Inside, the chamber was modest but comfortable, a warm contrast to the cold walls of the palace.

A simple bedding was prepared, lanterns casting a soft glow against the wooden panels.

Jungkook stood in the doorway, hesitant.

Seokjin, already accustomed to travel, unfastened the outer layer of his robes, rolling his stiff shoulders.

"You should rest," he said, voice steady yet softer than usual.

Jungkook nodded and turned toward the side table where a small copper basin was placed with warm water for washing.

But as she reached for it, a sudden wave of dizziness struck her.

Her vision blurred, her fingers barely catching the edge of the table as her balance wavered.

A sharp intake of breath...

Then a strong hand grasped her wrist.

"Careful," Seokjin’s voice cut through the fog.

Jungkook barely had time to process before he steadied her, his grip firm yet cautious.

Her heartbeat stuttered.

She had never seen him this close, this concerned.

"You’re exhausted," he said, frowning as he guided her to sit on the edge of the bedding.

Jungkook tried to wave it off.

"It’s nothing."

But Seokjin was already kneeling before her, reaching for her hand.

Before she could react, he pressed his fingers against her wrist, checking her pulse.

Jungkook stilled.

The warmth of his touch was unexpected, his expression unreadable.

"You didn’t eat much today," he murmured, almost to himself.

"I wasn’t hungry," she admitted quietly.

He exhaled through his nose, clearly displeased.

"You need to take care of yourself."

The words carried something unspoken, something deeper than simple duty.

And for the first time, Jungkook truly saw it.

Beneath his cold exterior, beneath the months of distance and silence...

He actually cared.

Not in the grand gestures she had once foolishly hoped for.

But in the quiet, unspoken ways.

Seokjin stood, reaching for the tray of food left by the innkeeper.

He took a small bowl of warm broth, lifted a spoonful, and held it out to her.

Jungkook’s eyes widened.

"Eat," he said simply.

She hesitated.

This moment felt too fragile, too unreal.

But when she reached forward, Seokjin did not pull away.

Their fingers brushed, a fleeting touch, but enough to set her pulse racing.

Slowly, she took the spoon from him.

And for the first time in a long time, she felt something stir in her heart.

Again... Hope.

Jungkook set the empty bowl aside, her body feeling warm and light.

Not just from the soup, but from the way Seokjin had cared for her.

It was something she never expected, something that left an imprint deep in her heart.

Without a word, she lied down on her side, letting exhaustion take over.

She felt safe.

She felt wanted.

And then...

"Come closer," Seokjin’s voice was gentle yet firm.

Jungkook blinked up at him, surprised.

But when she hesitated, he reached out, guiding her toward him.

The warmth of his body against hers was steady, grounding.

Then, something even more unexpected happened.

Seokjin smiled.

Not the distant, unreadable smile she had seen in court.

Not the carefully crafted one for diplomacy.

But something softer.

Something real.

"I apologize for the long journey," he murmured, his fingers lightly brushing over her hand.

Jungkook felt her breath catch.

She never imagined he would apologize for something so small.

But before she could even think, her lips moved on their own.

"I actually… enjoyed it," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

His smile deepened.

"I’m glad."

And then, he tilted her chin upward.

Before Jungkook could process it, his lips met her forehead.

A soft, lingering kiss, warm and tender.

Her chest tightened.

And just as she thought it was over, his lips moved downward.

A ghost of a breath between them...

And then, he kissed her lips.

It was slow, unrushed, yet it ignited a fire in her veins.

A warmth she had never known.

His thumb brushed against her jaw, deepening the kiss ever so slightly.

Then...

She felt it.

The heat of his tongue against her lips.

A slow, deliberate movement, slipping inside, teasing, exploring.

Jungkook shuddered, her fingers instinctively grasping onto the fabric of his robes.

She felt warm and excited at the same time.

The space between them disappeared completely.

He was gentle and she was inexperience, ignorant even. But she loved every second of how he touched her. How he ignited something inside her that she never knew. She felt the thirst... hunger... the more he touched her... she wanted even more. Until it was skin to skin.

His chest pressed to her breast.

He licked her skin from her neck... her shoulder... her breasts...

After a lick, he sucked...

She felt lighter... when his warmness was leaving... she pushed herself to him.

Made him chuckled and kissed her lips.

Then he felt intrusion between her legs. It was forced and hurt.

Seokjin stopped when she tried to hold it in.

"Look at me..." he said.

She opened her eyes.

"I know it hurts, bear with me," he kissed her lips gently, "we'll do it slowly."

Then she felt it, sharp pain.. but then... after some time, she wanted more... it wasn't pain... she liked it.

Seokjin smiled knowing she was feeling pleasure now. Jungkook felt him moving faster and faster. She then felt waves of pulsing sensation until she felt explotion of pleasure through out her body.

---

The night air was cool against Jungkook’s flushed skin, her body still humming from the intensity of their first union.

She lay against him, her head resting lightly on his chest, her breath still unsteady.

It had been unexpected.

The gentleness in his touch.

The reverence in his gaze.

The unrushed patience with which he claimed her.

She had braced herself for something cold, something distant, an obligation rather than an act of love.

But Seokjin had shattered every expectation.

A shift in the bedding pulled her from her thoughts.

Jungkook felt his hand move, reaching for the silk coverlet.

She instinctively tensed, the raw vulnerability of her bare skin making her heart race.

But Seokjin said nothing.

Instead, he covered her.

With care.

With warmth.

As if protecting her from the world itself.

Jungkook’s cheeks burned as she lowered her gaze.

She had been exposed in every possible way, physically, emotionally.

She should have felt ashamed, flustered, uncertain.

But then...

A hand brushed against her jaw.

Fingertips tracing softly, coaxing her to look up.

Her breath hitched.

Seokjin’s eyes were tender, his expression softer than she had ever seen it.

She had spent months believing he was cold, distant, unreachable.

But now...

Now he looked at her as if she was his world.

A single tear slipped from her eye.

Not from sadness.

But from realization.

This was it.

This was the moment.

The moment she chose.

The moment she gave him her heart.

Not because it was demanded of her.

Not because it was expected.

But because she wanted to.

Because he had shown her that she was worth loving.

She leaned into him, letting herself be held.

Letting herself belong to him.

Seokjin’s arms tightened around her, as if sensing the shift within her.

Then, his voice, low, steady, full of something unspoken.

"My wife, I need you to be strong"

Jungkook stilled.

The words...

The same ones she had once dreamed of hearing.

She pulled back slightly, staring at him in silent awe.

Seokjin traced his thumb over her cheek.

"Ahead, there will be many obstacles."

"My wife, please trust me."

"Only trust my words. Not the rumors."

Jungkook felt her chest tighten, her throat clogging with emotion.

It was a plea, a promise...

And for the first time, she wanted to believe it.

She swallowed hard, her fingers tightening over his.

"I will."

Seokjin exhaled slowly, as if relieved.

Then, he kissed her.

Soft.

Lingering.

A silent vow.

That from this moment on, she was truly his.