Jiyeon POV

While the Royal Secretariat wrote up the decree, the King asked for tea to be served to us.

"I know that this must feel quite overwhelming" the King spoke kindly.

"A little, Jeonha" I replied.

"I'm glad my son has found a nice young lady to spend the rest of his life with" the King smiled.

I blushed a little "Thank you, Jeonha."

"I promise that I will work hard so that she doesn't feel sad or neglected, Father" Sungyeol spoke up.

"Good" the king smiled as he took a sip of his tea.

Just as we finished enjoying our tea, the Secretariat returned with the decree in hand. "Jeonha" he bowed. "I have written the decree as you have ordered" he stated as he held out the golden scroll containing the royal decree.

Minseok took the scroll and handed it to the King. The King reviewed the document carefully before saying "Excellent job!"

The Secretariat bowed "You are too kind, Jeonha."

"Minseok!"

"Yes, Jeonha."

"Call for an urgent council meeting. Also, summon the Queen to be in attendance. I have something very important to announce."

"Yes, Jeonha" Minseok bowed before leaving.

"Now, shall we go and have some fun?" the King smiled like a child who was up to no good. It seemed as though he was thoroughly enjoying the thought that he was going to mess with their plans.

We walked to the main hall and before entering the King said "Wait here until you are summoned." Then he turned to his eunuch and said "Minseok, stay by her side."

"Yes, Jeonha" he replied with a bow.

Lee Jungyeop (Sungyeol's Father) POV

When my son first said that he had found the girl he wanted to marry, I was skeptical because she seemed to have vanished into thin air. It was only later that I found out that my wife Miju had something to do with her disappearance. Knowing that she might try and harm this girl, I felt it best to have Minseok watch her until the announcement was made.

"Sungyeol, follow me" I ordered.

"Yes, Father" he replied.

Once inside, all eyes were on us as we made our way to the throne. Shortly after our arrival, Miju arrived as well.

"Forgive me for saying this, Jeonha" Prime Minister Park spoke up. "However, as your loyal servant I feel I must. It is not appropriate to have the Queen present when discussing political matters."

I smiled because I knew that they were going to say something about her presence. "Yes, I know it is unorthodox to have the Queen in the main hall, but this is something that concerns her as well."

The room erupted with murmurs between the council members. "What could he possibly have to announce that concerns her?" "It still doesn't seem right to have her here."

"Minister Kim" I called out over all the noise.

"Yes, Jeonha" he responded.

"Please come forward."

Unsure of what to do, he simply obeyed my order "Yes, Jeonha." He nervously stepped forward and came to the front of the room.

"I heard that your daughter has been chosen as one of the three young ladies who have advanced to the final stage in the selection for Crown Princess."

"Yes, Jeonha" he bowed his head a bit. I could tell he was very nervous by my statement. It was evident that the entire council already knew who the Queen had in mind for the selection.

"Tell me my Queen, what do you think of Minister Kim's daughter?" I smiled at Miju.

"She is a very lovely child" Miju replied with a practiced smile. "However... she seems to have much to learn in regards to palace etiquette."

I knew she would say something to make that child seem less than ideal for the position. "I see" I nodded.

"Please forgive my daughter's shortcomings. It is my fault that her education is lacking" Minister Kim bowed.

I smiled sadly as I watched her father humbly accept such harsh criticism even though his daughter was by far the most splendid young lady I had met. "Minseok" I called out over the room "bring her in."

The whole room turned and watched as Minseok escorted the young girl to the front of the room. Her father's eyes widened in disbelief at her presence. "What are you doing here?" he whispered urgently to her.

"I asked her to come" I said with a smile.

"Oh" he quickly cowered back down.

"Royal Secretariat" I stated with authority.

"Yes, Jeonha" he replied with understanding. He stepped forward with my decree and faced Jiyeon. "Kim Jiyeon, accept the royal command."

Jiyeon POV

"Yes" I replied as I knelt down.

"Kim Jiyeon" the Royal Secretariat began to read the royal command. "as reward for your meritorious act, the King has declared that you shall wed his son Lee Sungyeol." Once he finished reading the command, he looked up from the parchment at me and awaited my response.

I bowed low and said "I humbly accept the royal command. Your grace is immeasurable, Jeonha."

The Secretariat took a few steps forward and handed me the golden scroll on which the royal command was written.

Suddenly the room erupted in argument. "What is going on?" "He can't do that!"

Then the Queen's voice rang out loud and clear over the whole room. "Jeonha! The naming of a Crown Princess has always been the duty and responsibility of the Inner Court. It is not appropriate for you to interfere in these decisions."

"My Queen" the King smiled "I have been fretting over what to bestow on this child for quite some time. When I heard that she had been chosen for the final selection, I thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to finally reward her for her deeds."

"And what, exactly, are these meritorious deeds you keep speaking of?" the Queen countered.

"You don't need to know what meritorious deeds she has performed. All you need to know is that she has performed meritorious deeds that deserve an appropriate reward. The only reward befitting her accomplishments, would be marriage. As she has already been chosen for the final selection, she must have demonstrated and proven herself to be at least worthy of such an appointment. Also, because she has already been chosen for the final selection, it would be inappropriate to bestow her marriage to anyone other than Crown Prince Sungyeol" the King stated without room for argument.