⤷ borderlands

@♧ zhou shiyu ˡᵃᵈʸ "What I said was merely the truth, my lady. And please. You're heavy? I do not think that's true. If anything, I feel like I can fly around with you for an hour without using too much power. But I get what you mean about getting a beautiful scenery when travelling by the carriage. Although, if I have to insist, let me take you for a flight around when we're back in the capital, so you can compare the beauty of travelling by the air." He stopped on his track to look at her. Her words got him thinking on the other side of the story of their engagement. While he was happy, did Shiyu felt the same? She did look like she was troubled greatly by it, but then again, when you got engaged to a royal who is expected to be the next king, a lot of expectations would be given, regardless of you want it or not.

When she said she missed him and even called him by his given name, Yunho felt his heart filled with warmth. Something that only her could bring. But he would rather not to show anyone a softer side of him. Not when they were in a rather public space. He made a mental note to show her his private tent later and maybe, he could finally tell her how he actually felt.

After Shiyu introduced herself to the group of soldiers and went behind his shoulder to hide away, he couldn't help but to let out a soft laughter. Finding the gesture was cute and adorable, and it seems like the troop agreed with what he was thinking as they were began to grin at the lady of Wolkental. One of the female soldiers stepped forward while still grinning. "I think you should take the lady somewhere else, your majesty. The sun is high up and I would rather see you two not out in the open like this. The lady must be tired from a long journey, you both should take a shelter and enjoy some light snacks in your tent." The suggestion really slapped Yunho on the face as he clearly almost forgetting the fact that Shiyu had indeed just arrived and walking around like this would have just tired her down even more.

With an apologetic smile, Yunho turned to look at Shiyu, taking her hand back in his own. "I am so sorry my lady. It was very inconsiderate of me. My tent is indeed closer than yours from here. I can ask the servant to bring some drink and light meal for you to enjoy. We can resume our walk tomorrow. Shall we go now?" After nodding a thank you to the soldier, Yunho led Shiyu back to his tent, although there was no ulterior motive than just letting the lady rest for a little bit, he couldn't help but to feel nervous as his personal tent was slowly coming in sight. It would be the very first time he ever invited a lady inside his tent. He prayed to God that his self-restrain wouldn't betray him. Once they were inside his tent, after he told the servants to bring some wine and ale, plus some light meal, the tent clearly bigger and more spacious compared to the other tents with the kingdom's insignia sewn onto it, he gestured her to take a seat at the small corner which has two chairs and one small round table in between. "I hope you don't mind we're waiting here first... And uh... I also would like to say thank you for coming here. Even though I'm sure Lingyun was the reason... but um... I'm glad I get to see you, Shiyu. I missed you too. And it would be a lie if I said I didn't think of you. One of the reasons of why I have to keep winning the battle is because I know, you are waiting in the capital... and I'd hate to see your face filled with worry and sadness if something bad ever happened. It breaks my heart for just even thinking about it."

@♧ yoo yunho ᵏᶦⁿᵍ It was the one thing that had kept her from fully enjoying the engagement announcement. Despite being born as a noble lady and having thoroughly educated as such from little on, Shiyu still didn't feel like it was enough just yet. Not with the ongoing war affecting their whole nation. Lost in her own thoughts and worries, her attention was only brought back to the present moment when she felt the gentle squeeze of her hand. Tilting her head back, she looked up at the young royal, his warm smile enough to ease her troubled mind a little bit. Quietly, she listened to his words, her own pair of plush tiers curving into a smile when he compared their relationship to flying a kite. And although it wasn't enough to fully erase all of her doubts and fears, it made her want to stay by his side and become his anchor for the rest of their lives and beyond.

"You always seem to know the right thing to say to lift my moods and cheer me up, your highness." It was now her turn to gently squeeze his hand, the look in her eyes becoming softer and full of appreciation. "But won't you get tired if you took me anywhere I wanted? I'm quite heavy, you know? So for now, I'll just continue traveling by carriage. It's a little slower than flying, but in return I get to enjoy the scenery and meet more people on the way so it's not entirely bad." Falling silent for a moment, Shiyu pursed her lips in thought. Would it really be enough to simply be herself to prove that she'd be the most suitable for him? Although she didn't think that she was lacking in too many areas, there was still room for improvement, to become the best possible version of herself. "I'll try my best, your highness. To show everyone that I am worthy of being the one by your side!" There was another moment of silence before she softly cleared , her eyes cast downwards, her voice a quiet whisper when she spoke up again. "...and....I meant to tell you before but it didn't seem right with mother and Lingyun present. I really missed you, Yunho."

Once they exited the tent, Shiyu was quick to fix her expression, curious eyes taking in the new surroundings, a coy smile appearing on her lips whenever she crossed looks with anyone. Following along, the young lady felt her heart beating faster again when they stopped by the cavalry tent, the introduction enough to make her realize how important these soldiers seemed to be to the prince, their jests indicating how close their relationship was. Nodding her head, she let go of Yunho's hand to pinch her dress' skirt, gracefully greeting the men with an elegant bow. "Nice to meet you. I am the youngest daughter of the duke of Wolkental, Zhou Shiyu. Thank you for your hard work to keep our kingdom safe. And for being such good and trustworthy companions to my f-future husband." She could feel the heat creep up her neck, a faint blush soon dusting over her cheeks, turning her usually pale porcelain skin a rosy pink. It still felt strange to openly call him her betrothed, her future husband and she couldn't help but feel shy whenever uttering those words. Slightly shifting her position, she scooted closer to the prince, halfway hiding behind his shoulder, her introverted and shy side getting the best of her.

@♧ zhou shiyu ˡᵃᵈʸ At her words, a frown formed on Yunho's forehead. But then again, her fear was a reasonable one. She had every right to felt like that and it's his job to reassure her that no one shall look down on her. Giving Shiyu's hand a gentle squeeze accompanied by a soft warm smile, Yunho shook his head lightly. "Then you are perfect. Think of it like a kite? Without someone who hold the rope on the ground, it will drift aimlessly and get wasted. You are my anchor." His words coming out very sincere, almost as if he is pouring out all of his feelings for her. "You need not the ability to fly. I can take you to wherever you want to go. As for the air magic, I think you have it in you. You just need to find it within you, and if you let me, I will do my best to assist you with it. If they don't like you, you just have to show them that you are the best one for me to be with, meaning... just be yourself, my lady. Everyone will fall in love with your charm." He smiled 'Just like I did' those words were left unsaid, at least for now. Maybe when everything is in perfect situation, he would finally tell her how he felt about her.

Finally leading her out of the tent, Yunho led her towards the cavalry tent. There they could see the soldiers chatting among themselves before they noticed their presence there which immediately stopped them from talking and greet both of them. "Oh, is this the lady who unfortunately become your betrothed, Prince Yunho?" one of the soldiers teased which resulted in him getting a smack on the head by his fellow soldiers, but Yunho just laughed it off instead of feeling insulted by his words. "Haha I was very lucky to get such a beauty as my future wife, Maxwell. You better find one too when we return to the capital, or I might get married first before you." He teased the soldier back before returning his attention to the lady beside him. "Do you want to introduce yourself to them? They are the people who is directly under my command. People whom I trust with my life."

@♧ yoo yunho ᵏᶦⁿᵍ Having known him for so long, she could tell that all the praise was making him feel shy, the tell-tale blush quickly spreading on his cheeks until it reached the tip of his ears. Although having seen it so many times before, it was still endearing. Unconsciously, Shiyu's lips had already curled into an adoring smile. There he was again, being all humble, trying to deflect the praise towards the soldiers. And even though she agreed that in an army, every single soldier was important, it was still his brilliance and leadership that unified and strengthened them, pushing their troops past limits and to new heights.

But before Shiyu could respond, her brother had already let out a groan, pulling the attention back to him. Quietly, she watched him grab their mother by her shoulder, unable to hide a smile when she saw his eyes full of mischief as he ushered the duchess towards the exit of the tent. Of course she was aware of his intentions. And although his methods might have seemed a bit brazen and cheeky, she still felt thankful. Still, she playfully rolled her eyes at Lingyun, faintly shaking her head in feigned disapproval. "I'll see you later in our tent, mother."

Her watchful eyes followed her two family members as they exited the tent, before she turned towards Yunho when she noticed him moving from her peripheral view. She cast a shy glance at his hand, hesitating for just a second before she placed her fingertips into his palm. Just for a second, the thought of pulling him into a hug for a proper greeting crossed her mind, but she was quick to dismiss it. He was right, this wasn't his personal tent, so the chances of anyone just walking in any second were too high. Perhaps later, though. If he decided to show her his tent....

Leaving that last thought unfinished, Shiyu looked up at the royal with soft , gracefully nodding her head in response to his question, trying her best not to appear too flustered. How could a single word make her heart beat so fast? Despite it having been announced for a few weeks now, there were times when it still felt so surreal. For the longest time, marrying her prince charming had only ever been something reserved for daydreams, a fantasy she could only indulge in when no one else was around. And yet, somehow their stars had aligned, forging a future where their paths would be intertwined as husband and wife.

"I...I would love to meet them. But...I would be lying if I said I wasn't afraid, too. I don't want to disappoint anyone. Or worse, what if they don't like me? I can't even wield any air magic. I can't even fly. What if they think I'm just holding you back, dragging you down?"

@♧ zhou shiyu ˡᵃᵈʸ "Wherever we went, everyone was speaking very highly of you."

Those words successfully turned Yunho's face into a bright tomato-colored like. He was never good with compliments even though maybe people were speaking the truth about his ability, but he never thinks that he would be good enough like that. Clearing his throat, he gave the beautiful lady in front of him a small smile. "They gave me too many credits. I am nowhere near that good. It's all thanks to our brave soldiers. I am nothing without them."

Lingyun who stood by all of this time letting out a groan as he grabbed his mother by her shoulders, leading the older woman out from the tent. "Come on, mother. It's too stuffy inside here. Let me take you back to your tent while Zhiyu can accompany the prince for his round to check the preparation of our troops!" He said while giving Zhiyu a wink, leaving behind a flustered Yunho. He knew that Lingyun could be very mischievous but never in his wildest dream he would leave him alone with his sister like this. Not that Yunho would complain but he just wished that at least the other male would give him a warning next time.

After regaining his senses back, Yunho turned to look at the lady. Suddenly feeling very nervous and despite that he had spent enough time alone with her back in the capital, it would be their first time to walk around outside the castle ground. But at least in here, he didn't have to worry of anyone would try to harm her or scam her. In all conclusion, giving her a tour around the compound is better than walking around the town center without any guards. Holding up his hand, Yunho offered a soft smile as he stepped closer to her but still maintaining the personal space. "Well then, I am not so sure if we have enough things to see but I guess it would be better than staying inside this tent for too long? Since it's just the tactical meeting tent and not my own. Shall we go around? These people are going to be your people too once um we get married... And I'm sure they would love to see you too."

@♧ yoo yunho ᵏᶦⁿᵍ There it was again, the loud rhythmic thumping of her heart, this time accompanied with the sound of blood rushing through her veins, almost so loud that it drowned out everything else. But only almost. Despite his voice sounding rather quiet, Shiyu could have picked it up even in a crowd of hundred of people, his warm timbre easily recognizable. After all she had heard it for a million times now. Even in her first memories of early childhood, it had always been there, accompanying her. And then, there was another voice she recognized. Or rather a booming laugh. Loud and free, just unapologetically Lingyun. Unconsciously, the smile on her lips grew wider, happy to hear the two of them healthy and getting along well as ever.

Though, as soon as the curtain flaps at the entrance of the tent were pulled aside, Shiyu lowered her head, reminding herself to greet his highness properly first. No matter how close she was to the prince, he was still a royal first and foremost and therefore had to be treated as such. Gracefully, she entered the prince's tent, always two steps behind her mother, letting the older woman lead the way.

And there he was, in his full glory, looking regal as ever. She barely even noticed the simple wardrobe, as all her attention was drawn to his handsome face, her dark orbs tracing along the familiar features, the sharp edges of his jawline, the expressive arch of his eyebrows, before they settled on the piercing blue of his eyes. Quietly, she stood by her mother's side, simply admiring the young prince as he exchanged a few words with her mother. His little jest didn't go by unnoticed, a chuckle falling from her lips as her eyes moved over to her brother. Tall, handsome and proud, eyes full of mischief when they met hers.

"My apologies, your highness, if this troublemaker of mine has caused you any grief. Although he has grown taller and more mature, I can never not worry for him."

As the prince approached them, Shiyu was quick to lower her head again, tightly pinching the skirt of her dress as she politely bowed to greet the royal. Only when he addressed her, she straightened her back again, lips curving into a wide smile. It just came naturally whenever she was around him.

"You need not worry, your Highness. My father made sure to prepare our most comfortable carriage for our journey. Although it took a little longer than through airway, it also gave us a chance to see more of our kingdom. Everyone along this journey has been very welcoming and kind. It is all thanks to your Highness and all our brave men and women at the frontlines that everyone back at home is feeling safe and protected!"

Of course it wasn't just all sunshine and rainbows, after all a war would sooner or later take its toll on the people of Aerion, especially the poorest of the population, but still it seemed the majority was trusting in the young prince and his superb leadership. It made her feel proud to be friends with such an outstanding person.

"Wherever we went, everyone was speaking very highly of you."

@♧ zhou shiyu ˡᵃᵈʸ With the war still raging on, it was Yunho's duty as the first prince to serve his kingdom by going to the war and lead the army himself, although many voiced out their disagreement, but after he showcased his skill in both swordsmanship and leadership, no one dared to questioned him again and some of them even turned out to be his loyal companions. For that, Yunho couldn't be even more grateful to have formidable allies in the battlefield who will always have his back.

One of them was being the duke's son, who had been his close ally aside from Jaewook, Zhou Lingyun was someone that Yunho trust fully with his heart. The young lord possessed a great skill that really helped Yunho out of the pinch for couple times already. The two shared a long history before as the both of them were childhood friends and been training together ever since they were young, considering each other as rivals and that helped them growth to be a better swordman and it was proven during the battles they've faced so far.

Today marked the fourth day after the last battle took place, Yunho was busy planning the tactics for the next battle that God knows when will come back in full force. The last time they were able to push the enemy forces back from the borderline and suffered minor causalities, but he knew better than to slack off, because it would be dangerous for the solders if they were all unprepared. Dressed in his blue tunic cotton shirt and black pants that was meant for comfort as he went through the maps and battle plans with Lingyun and Wooseok, he was very surprised when the servant outside announced the arrival of duchess Zhou along with her daughter.

Zhou Shiyu. The lady who had been promised to be his future wife. The thought alone was enough to make the redness creep up on the young prince's face. Even though it was mostly because of the political benefit, Yoo Yunho couldn't deny the attraction he felt towards the young lady of Zhou. Shiyu was extremely beautiful, smart and not to mention very gifted in healing, something that would benefit the kingdom greatly when she took the position as high healer of the kingdom, helping the other healers to come up with new medication to help soldiers like himself in the front line of war. Although he wished that it would never need to be like that. He wanted her to live in peace, without having to go through nightmares of seeing gravely injured soldiers.

Yunho casted his eyes to Lingyun who, in return, shot him a teasing grin. He had to remind himself that he needed his best friend's aid in the battle so he wouldn't blow him away because of the teasing. Clearing his throat, he called "Come in" to the women outside his tent and dismissed the Marshal from the meeting, as it wouldn't be right to continue to discuss about war matters in front of the noble ladies. His blue eyes set on the tent's entrance and all of the sudden he began to panic as he felt like he's under dressed but with the ladies just few steps away from entering the tent he had no time to change into something that is more...regal compared to his current clothing. "Lingyu! Do I look presentable?" He asked his best friend with a hushed tone which replied with loud laughter from the young lord of Zhou family. "You look fine, your highness. I'm sure my sister would still think that you are the most handsome man in the whole realm. You don't have to worry." The teasing did nothing to ease Yunho's red face, on the contrary it just made him looked like a boiled lobster. But before he could do anything else, the Duchess and the lady were already inside the tent so he quickly schooled his expression, while hoping that at least he looked just as fine as what Lingyu said. "I would say that I am completely surprised by the visit, dear Duchess. But I guess, with a worrisome kid like Lingyu here, you have no choice but to come and see him for yourself." He chuckled before getting up from his seat, walking over towards the two women. "I apologize for any inconvenient you may have during your stay here but I will make sure all the servants help you with everything you need." Yunho's smile turned softer when his eyes landed on Shiyu, taking in her appearance that he had been wanting to see, though he would never admit that out loud. "My lady. I hope your journey here was at least a comfortable and enjoyable one?"

@♧ yoo yunho ᵏᶦⁿᵍ [ 5 years prior ]

Thump. Thump. Thump.

As the carriage skidded to a stop with a rattle, the young lady of the duchy of Wolkental jolted awake, heart beating wildly in her chest as she took in her surroundings. It took her a second before she recognized her family's carriage, plush velvet and silky satin, the sweet scent of her mother's perfume hanging in the air. Turning towards the older woman, she looked at her with hopeful eyes, a calming deep brown ocean speckled with the faintest hints of blue.

"Have we arrived, mother?"

A soft smile formed on the duchess' lips as she nodded in response, gracefully lifting her hand to push aside the thick pastel lavender colored curtains, revealing a sea of white tents, each one adorned with Aerion's coat of arms, their kingdom's flag proudly waving in the wind.

"We have, my dear. Come on, let's freshen up first before we greet the prince and your brother."

Nodding eagerly, the young maiden patiently waited for their coachman to open the carriage's door, the captain of their family's guards already holding out his hand to aid the two noble ladies in exiting the vehicle. Carefully placing her gloved hand into his, she granted him a thankful smile before stepping out of the carriage, a delighted sigh falling from her lips. Although it had been a mostly comfortable journey, Shiyu was still glad to be finally walking on her own two feet.

Exchanging a few greetings, the duchess and her daughter were soon lead to one of the many tents, this one additionally marked with their family's crest, a white caladrius proudly spreading its wings, white feather coat contrasting the azure blue background. While their entourage started to unload their luggage, their maids went to fetch some water, helping the two nobles to freshen up and get changed. Since the war was in full swing, especially here at the borderlands, they had left most of their luxurious and pompous dresses at their residency in the capital, opting for a simpler and more durable wardrobe. Still, she wanted to look presentable for the prince. After all it had been months since she had last seen Yunho.

Eventually, after having changed into white linen dress, a thick cloak draped around her shoulders, they were finally on their way to the royal's tent. With each step closer, Shiyu could feel her heart beating faster and faster, cheeks flushed in a rosy pink by the time they arrived at their destination. With bated breath the young lady stood completely still as a servant announced their arrival, waiting in anticipation for his voice to allow them entry.