CHAPTER THREE
COACH

"Hoseok?" Enya peeked open the door to Hoseok's room. The male looked up sleepily from his bed. His dark hair was disheveled and off his forehead in tufts. Enya herself was dressed down in her nightgown and her own hair falling out of it's braid.

"What is it, Enya?" His voice was soft and low, the familiarity of it almost bringing Enya to tears. He had been with her for five years. They had never been separated for anything. Now Enya had to leave for multiple months at a time without seeing him.

In a moment of vulnerability, Enya crossed the room and sat beside Hosoek in his bed. "I don't want to go," she whispered.

She had reason to be so distraught. In the morning, a royal guard would come pick her up and take her to the castle, where she would have to play the best game of thievery she has ever played before. She would have to feign everything, pretend to go along with everything. Just the thought of having to marry a guy she doesn't know, for money no less, hurt her pride.

She really was that poor. Not to mention she wouldn't see her best friend for months.

Hoseok sighed softly and sat up, gathering the small girl close to him in an effort to comfort her. Now it's like they were young again, when he would let her curl on his lap and hide her tears in his chest.

Right now it's what she needed. Hoseok's clothed chest was warm and smelt like wood and smoke, but hardly ever the alcohol he served daily. Instead, he smelt like home.

"It's okay, Ya-ya." he said, using the nickname he gave her when they first met. "The inn won't change. You'll come back to it the same way you left it."

"What about you?" Enya's voice was muffled against his lithe chest. "Will you stay the same?"

"I will." Hoseok promised. Then, with mischief in his voice, he said, "You should watch yourself on that, Enya. Since you'll become princess and all. You might forget about the little ol' pauper you left behind."

Enya giggled, already feeling better just hearing the teasing in his voice. If Hoseok believed in her, she would do this. For a better life.

"Come on," Hoseok mumbled, easing her down onto the mattress. "You can stay with me tonight."

Enya smiled as she cuddled closer to him.

.

Perhaps the atmosphere of the castle that morning should have been excitement, or nerves. Anxious giggles from the maids who were eager to see their new princess. Shy blushes when the prince was asked about his future wife.

However, the atmosphere was quite gloomy and as business-like as usual. Jimin got dressed in his nicest clothes and even offered Jeongguk an outfit of his choice. After all, Jeongguk was Jimin's only real friend, and it only made sense that they should look good together.

Jeongguk brushed his bangs back nervously. He had never been so dressed up before. He spared a nervous glance at the prince, who was busy messing with his cuff links. "Are you nervous?" he asked.

Jimin let a sigh escape his lips. "No. I don't plan on gaining an emotional attachment to her. This is just a business transaction."

"She's not business, though, she's your wife." Jeongguk reiterated.

Jimin licked his lips and looked out of his bedroom window. "I wonder why it's a law."

"Its been the law for decades," mumbled Jeongguk .

"But why?" Jimin rebelled. "Why would marrying a poor woman stop poverty? It's not like the Krull is high-class."

"Maybe it's like the lottery, you know? Offer a poor girl the chance to become princess. I would reckon that is anyone's dream."

"Maybe," Jimin shrugged. "I just think there's more to it sometimes."

"I guess you'll have to ask your father about that." Jeongguk said. Although he acted nonchalant on the outside, the young guard felt anxious to wonder if the kingdom really did have some kind of second agenda. Jimin wouldn't bring it up if he didn't think it was important.

"We should go." Jimin said, strutting passed his guard towards his bedroom door.

As they walked through the castle in silence, Jimin couldn't help but feel trapped. All his life he had been expected to do things, but marriage seemed like something he would've liked to choose for himself.

Since he had no choice on the matter, however, he obeyed tradition and went to go meet his future wife.

.

Upon arriving in the slums of Eden, Jimin stuck his head out of the coach's window and gazed around.

"This is rough," he breathed as he made eye-contact with a child, barely-clothed, sitting on the side of the dirty road.

All his life, Jimin could hear his father talk about the low lives and the scum that lived furthest away from the castle. The young prince had no other witness than his father's.

Yet now, seeing it with his own eyes, his heart felt heavy watching the freezing children play with a nearly-deflated ball.

"We're here," Jeongguk pulled Jimin out of his dark thoughts.

Jimin stepped out of the coach and looked up. In front of him was a shabby inn with terrible roofing. The brown shingles were practically falling from the roof.

Jimin could make out some faded lettering on the sign hanging above the door.

"Jung's Inn." Jimin said aloud. With his eyes narrowed, the young prince looked around.

Soon his faithful guard was right beside him. Jeongguk let out a low whistle. "Did she really say to meet her in a bar?"

"An inn is a bit classier than a bar, right?" Jimin bit his lip in worry.

Jeongguk shrugged. "I think they're the same thing. There's only one way to find out."

"Right," voiced Jimin, whose shoes felt like lead as he slowly walked to the door.

The anxiety came at him like a wave. He was about to meet his future wife. What if she was a horrible person? He didn't have to fall in love with her, but what if they weren't even friends? That would kinda put a damper on the whole happily ever after thing.

Finally, it was Jeongguk who pushed the wooden door open. He gestured for Jimin to go before him, then he followed the prince at a diligent distance.

The smell of pipe smoke and alcohol startled Jimin. Not to mention that the place was only lit by candles, save a few lanterns scattered here and there. Smoke wafting in the air paired with a lack of windows made it hard for the prince and his entourage to see.

Once he found the bar counter, Jimin sat on a stool beside a cloaked figure.
He ordered a simple glass of water, positive that his stomach wouldn't be able to handle the alcohol. Jeongguk, however, ordered himself some mead and sat afar off so that Jimin could do what he needed to do.

The man behind the counter handed Jimin his glass. Then he set a bowl of plums in between Jimin and the cloaked person.

"Wow, Hobi," a feminine voice drawled from under the hood. "Managed to get fresh fruit? How'd you manage that?"

The man smiled at the girl as she picked up a plum. "Practically sold my arm to Farmer Sam. Just for you, Ya-Ya."

"I'm flattered."

She took off her hood and Jimin noticed how young she looked. For some reason, he didn't think she should be in an inn like this.

Jimin finished his water and cleared his throat softly. The man behind the counter (Hobi?) glanced at him with the ghost of a smile still on his face. "What do you need, sir?"

Never feeling more awkward in his life, Jimin looked down at the counter. "I'm here for an Enya Rune."

The girl behind him immediately started choking on her plum. Jimin looked over at the startled girl as she composed herself.

"That would be me," she said timidly.

.

Hoseok was surprised to see the two travelers who came into his inn. For one thing, they were dressed in rich clothing that Hoseok knew probably cost more than his rent.

He had never seen the prince, but looking at the men who came in, he made an educated guess that one of them were him.

Then he had said the fated words,
"I'm here for an Enya Rune."

Hoseok laughed as Enya choked from beside the lavishly-dressed man.

Enya gave Hoseok a nervous glance before softly confirming, "That would be me."

The man beside her broke out into a soft smile and reached his hand towards her. "I'm Jimin."

Enya looked from Jimin to Hoseok, the latter of whom kept mouthing "It's the prince!" over and over.

Hoseok watched his friend reach out and take the prince's hand. "I'm Enya," Then as a nervous afterthought she gestured to the bartender, "and this is my friend, Hoseok."

Rolling his eyes and smiling fondly, Hoseok tsked, "He isn't marrying me, Enya. I doubt he cares."

Jimin looked up, his brows knitting together, "I care. I mean, it's not like you guys are going to stop being friends just because we're married, right?"

"Really?" Enya asked, skeptical.

Jimin shrugged, "I don't see why not."

Soon, Jeongguk walked over and placed a hand over Jimin's shoulder. "If you guys are ready to go..."

"Right. Where are your bags?" Jimin stood up.

Enya looked down and grabbed the small burlap rucksack from the floor.

As Jeongguk took the bag from the future princess, Jimin looked at her in shock. "That's it?"

Enya shrugged as an answer.

As Jimin walked out of the inn, he couldn't help but notice how the girl kept glancing back.

He sighed. "Go tell him goodbye."

"Okay." Enya obeyed his kind demand and practically ran back inside.

"Prince Jimin, are you ready?" Jeongguk asked as he moved to sit in the drivers seat of the coach.

"Ready as I'll ever be," he replied before climbing into his coach and getting comfortable for the ride home.

.

Enya had never felt more awkward in her life. Not only was the prince very handsome, he was now her fiancé, and he was sitting right across from her.

Enya wanted to gag. She had never been as overwhelmed as she was in this moment.

This was the biggest task she had ever been given.

She eventually zoned out, trying to list all the places the kingdom's documents might hide. Two months was all she had. What would happen if she couldn't get it by then?

"What are you thinking about?" Jimin's soft voice made its way through Enya's head.

Play innocent, Enya. He can not catch on.

"I'm nervous," she replied, which wasn't entirely false.

"Me too," admitted Jimin. "I hope you don't get too overwhelmed. All of the maids are excited to meet you and dress you up."

Enya grimaced, causing the prince to let out a chuckle. "You can always run to Jeongguk if they overwhelm you. He'll help you find some peace and quiet."

Enya wanted to ask him why she couldn't go to him, but he seemed to read her mind. "We'll both be very busy during the next few months preparing for the wedding. We won't see each other much save for parties we have to attend."

"Oh." He said it so matter-of-factly that it sounded to Enya like he was reciting some kind of speech.

A horrible thought came into Enya's mind. What if the plan failed, and the king and prince weren't assassinated? Would Enya have to become a princess?

"Stop the coach." Enya ordered.

Jimin took one look at her green face and obliged, yelling for his guard to halt.

Then Enya threw open the door, ran onto the dirt road, behind some bushes, and threw up.

.

a/n
my iPod auto corrected Enya to Ebay so that's fun.

also say goodbye to hobi for awhile.