Soyoung's POV

I and Taehyun were enjoying our time together when a veil flew in our direction and landed on my lap.

"Oh...I am sorry...it is so windy today!" A lady came running towards us and grabbed the veil.

As soon as the lady looked at us, her eyes widened and Taehyun stood up and, in utter shock, said, "YOU?!"

"Uhh..."The lady turned around quickly and started to walk away but Taehyun screamed, "SECOND MOTHER...WAIT!"

She was indeed Jeongguk's mother...I've seen her portrait.

Taehyun wait near her, "Mother, I knew you seemed familiar.....you were alive all this long?" His eyes became teary.

"Y-you must have mistaken, young master-"

"Mother, Jeongguk's memory was sealed....not mine. Even though it was 15 years ago, I still can recognize your face, your cooking...your everything." Taehyun kneeled down as tears started to flow from his eyes.

Finally, she turned around and crouched down to hug him, "Taehyun..." She sobbed.

My eyes became moist too seeing this beautiful reunion. What a pleasant surprise it would be for Jeongguk.

"Second mother.....how? W-why?" Taehyun couldn't find words. He was overwhelmed with questions and emotions.

Jeongguk's mother sniffed and patted his back, "I'll answer everything but now that my secret is out, I-I want to h-hug my little boy, kiss his forehead and tell him how much I love him...." She broke down into tears.

"YES YES! Jeongguk will be so happy..." Taehyun said.

She wiped her tears and then looked at me, "But before....let me greet my beautiful daughter-in-law."

As she approached me, I bowed with a smile.

She embraced me and said, "I am your second mother-in-law....and I welcome you to the family, my daughter." She smiled at me and continued, "All my daughters were killed by that insensitive man but seeing you...I feel like I have gained back a daughter."

"I am flattered, mother. I have heard many things about you from everyone and it is a pleasure to meet you but I believe that we should make haste and reach Jeongguk." I said.

"Yes....let's go..." An excited Taehyun grabbed her hand and mine and started running. Thanks to his powers, within seconds we reached home.

We found Jeongguk inside the kitchen drinking water.

"JEONGGUK! LOOK WHO WE BROUGHT WITH US!" Taehyun yelled.

"Who?!-" As Jeongguk turned around, his eyes widened and the glass fell from his hand.

The second mother-in-law opened her arms as tears flowed from her eyes.

"M-m-m-mother?!" Jeongguk couldn't believe his eyes. He looked at Taehyun and Taehyun nodded.

Jeongguk ran into her arms and started crying like a baby.

"Oh, my boy..." She caressed his back, "How much I wished I could hug you....you were there in front of me but I couldn't hug you or kiss you." She broke the hug and kissed his forehead.

"D-do y-you k-know how much I cried? D-do y-you know much my heart ached? I-I m-missed you e-every s-second...I-I refused to eat and sleep w-without y-you and t-that's why father asked m-master L-Lee to seal all my m-memories of y-yours....I-I felt darkness e-everywhere w-without y-you...w-why did y-you l-leave me...why??"

"Jeongguk? Did you regain your memory?" Taehyun asked in surprise.

Jeongguk nodded while still crying and pointed at his heart, "P-probably t-the s-seal b-broke as soon as I h-hugged her....." He pointed at his heart, "Mother, i-it aches h-here..."

Jeongguk's mother wiped away his tears and kissed his forehead, "I am sorry baby...probably I would have been dead if unnie hadn't helped me that day." She sniffed.

"Mother helped you?" Taehyun asked.

"Yes...that day after I again gave birth to a daughter, that inhuman husband of mine got mad and ordered the servants to kill her at once and also kill me. But thinking about the children, he decided to kill me away from home. As I left the house, the servants took me to a valley and I thought that they would push me off there but to my surprise, they gave me some money and said that Lady Cha gave that money and asked them to escort me safely out of the town. I shall not live away from the capital in secret and not come back...." She explained and we all were so shocked.

"Oh my god!" Jeongguk's eyes widened, "That means elder mother knew everything?? But she never said a word."

"For your, mine, her, and everyone's safety!" She clarified.

"B-but that grave?" Taehyun asked.

"The servants arranged an unrecognizable corpse and buried her there in my name so that your father doesn't suspect." She said.

"How did you end up here, mother?" Jeongguk asked.

"I took the money and left the capital but I didn't know where to go...I was roaming around from this village to that until one day, Master Zhan, the former chief of this village found me. He brought me to this village and treated me as his daughter. He taught me self-defense, leadership, and everything we outcasts need to survive. The old man used to live in this village with his grandchild, Seojun.....apparently, Seojun's parents had died in a massacre. Master Zhan passed the leadership of this village to me before he passed away." She explained.

"Thank God and that kind master Zhan...I am just glad that you are safe....this feels like a dream come true." Taehyun went and hugged Jeongguk and second mother-in-law. Their beautiful reunion made me emotional and I couldn't stop my tears.

The second mother-in-law extended her right hand towards me and gestured for me to come and join them in the family hug. Without a second thought, I joined them.

"I know even you didn't have the love of your mother." She embraced me in a motherly hug.

"How do you know?" I asked.

She broke the hug and we three looked at her curiously.

She smiled and said, "Last time during Jeongguk's exile when I first you and Donghyung...I was really confused so I sent Seojun to the capital to gain information about Soyoung and Donghyung...that's how I came to know about you and your marriage to my 7 sons." She looked at Jeongguk and continued, "Seojun goes to the capital every now and then to bring me news about our family....that's how I always knew when we were exiled and about everyone's wellbeing in the family."

"So Seojun knows everything...I see....but why is he so dear to you?!" Jeongguk crossed his arms, "You treat him like your son..."

She giggled and replied, "That's because he is like one of you....he is like my son."

Jeongguk frowned, "So he got all your love till date instead of me?!"

Second mother-in-law pinched his nose, "Someone is jealous"

"Ouch!" Jeongguk rubbed his nose as Taehyun and I laughed.

...........................................

At the palace,

Hosung's POV

The palace was flooded with guests for the royal wedding. Kings and queens, princes and princesses of different kingdoms were making their grand entrances on their lavish carriages with so many extravagant gifts. Knights, ministers, and generals would be accompanying their respective kings and queens in their shining armours. Jin hyung, Yunki hyung, and the rest of the council of ministers were busy greeting such guests along with his majesty and sir Eunsang. The maids and servants would guide them to their respective guest rooms and, me, Namjun and Jimin were looking after the safety and security of the royal guests.

"This is so tiring.....they keep on coming-HEY YOU! YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE! PLEASE KEEP THAT SIDE EMPTY...IT IS FOR THE WESTERN KING'S ARRIVAL." Jimin yelled at a servant and he quickly emptied the area.

"Who kept this flower basket in the middle of the path?" Namjun picked up a flower basket, and as soon as he did, the basket broke somehow.

"Oh God, Namjun!" I facepalmed and took it from him, "Just put it aside and don't touch things!"

"But...I didn't break it, Hosung..trust me!" Namjun defended himself.

"You have broken 1 wooden sword, 2 hand fans, and three baskets till now. Please don't touch any decorative items....they are too delicate." I told him.

"Alright! I won't touch anything." He put his hands behind his back and I giggled.

"Sir, do you know where the performers are supposed to go?" A violinist came and asked. Behind him, I saw that there were other musicians and dancers.

"Performers....." I took out the list that sir Eunsang gave me earlier today. I scanned the list and replied, "Performers must go to the south wing! Eunuch Lan, come here and guide them to the south wing!"

Eunuch Lan came immediately and bowed.

"Thank you, kind sir!" The performers bowed and followed Eunuch Lan to the south wing.

"Sir, where can I Soyoung?"

"She-FATHER?!" I turned around and saw father.

"Finish the sentence, son!" He said.

"She is somewhere that you'll never get to know!" Namjun came and replied.

"Why are you here, father? You and mother are supposed to be enjoying your vacation" Jimin frowned.

"We came back to attend the king's wedding. How can I miss the royal wedding?! Also, my eyes are always on you all!" He narrowed his eyes at us and went towards the king, "YOUR MAJESTY......"

Jin's POV

Today is such a busy day that we didn't even get to sit for once since the morning and not to mention, the king's attitude, personality, and behaviour seemed like he was a totally different person.

"I am so happy to receive you in my kingdom. I hope you have a great time, your majesty." He smiled brightly at the Southern king.

"Oh hello princess...." He kissed the princess' hand and I could see her blushing.

"Your majesty, you're such a handsome and humble king." The southern king smiled, "It's such a shame that you already found your queen else I would have given my daughter's hand in marriage to you. But...if you wish to find a chief noble consort for yourself, then consider my proposal...hahaha."

"Hahaha...of course, your majesty," Sian replied.

"Here is a small gift for you, your majesty." The southern king gestured for his servant to give it to Sian. The servant came forward and presented a box full of blue diamonds. The beautiful diamonds were so brightly glistening under the sun that it would be blinding anyone.

"You know right how our kingdom is famous for blue diamonds?! Hence I am presenting some of them to you....the most beautiful diamonds for the most handsome one."

"You flatter me, your majesty." Sian laughed

"Guards, take the gift carefully and keep it in the royal treasure." I called few guards and ordered them. The southern king looked at me, Yunki and Eunsang as we were standing side by side.

"Looks like not only the king but also the general people of this kingdom are handsome. Does it run your genes?" He came towards us and all the three of us bowed.

"May I know who are these three young men?" He asked.

"That is sir Jin, our minister of war and first knight. Next to him is sir Yunki, minister of justice and second knight and this is sir Eunsang, my advisor." As the king introduced us one by one, we bowed.

"Are they available for marriage?" He asked.

"Well yes! The knights are available for marriage." Sian said, "There are 5 more knights...three of them are there..." He pointed at Hosung, Namjun and Jimin at a distance,...."and the other two are out of the kingdom for some work."

"Amazing! They all are so handsome1 I shall consider them for the marriage of my second daughter." He said and Yunki looked at me, unsurprised for this has been the 100th time that we, along with the king, received a marriage proposal.

"What about your advisor? Is he not available for marriage?" The southern king asked.

Before Sian could say anything, Eunsang spoke up, "Your Majesty, I do not wish to marry because my life is devoted to serving my king."

"A very loyal one...hahaha I like that." The southern king patted on his shoulder.

"Your majesty, I believe that you should go inside now for you must be tired with all those journey." Sian proposed.

"Yes Yes! You are right!" He smiled and went inside.

"YOUR MAJESTY....." I turned around and saw father.

"What on earth is he doing here?" Yunki whispered.

"Must have came back for the event." I replied.

"Oh! Lord Cha...welcome!" The king smiled as father bowed.

The other council of ministers greeted him while me and Yunki focused on receiving the other guests.

"Welcome, to our kingdom, lady." I bowed as a woman passed by me. She stopped and extended her hand. I became confused.

"Well, aren't you going to kiss as a welcome? I heard that the men of this kingdom are all handsome and gentlemen. Handsome is true but gentlemen? I guess not-"

I kissed on her knuckles softly. She smiled and went inside.

"What am I even doing here?!" I rubbed my temples.

"Don't even get me started...one lady stepped on my toe just to get my attention because I was focusing on their king instead of her." Yunki sighed, "Should have worn a veil or something to hide our handsome faces."

"Hyung....the Western king has arrived." Namjun came and informed.

"Ok! We have one task....not let Sian have the spiritual stone at any cost." I whispered.

"Yes hyung!" Namjun and Yunki said in unison.

"THE WESTERN KING HAS ARRIVED." The guard announced and the Western king entered. As he passed by us, we bowed and welcomed him. He went straight to Sian.

"Welcome, your majesty." Sian smiled.

He smiled back and then whispered but it was loud enough for me to hear, "Sian, you can't marry the one you've chosen...."

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