Chapter 10

"Tell me again why we invited Yul to have dinner with us?" Shin asked his wife as he was folding his sleeves to help Chaegyoung set the table, while in the kitchen Choi Sang gong was busy preparing for their dinner.

"Because he is your cousin and we haven't seen him in a long time. Isn't it nice that we met in a foreign country?" Chaegyoung reasoned with her husband then looked curiously at him and asked, "Don't tell me you're still jealous?"

"What?" Shin was dumbfounded at her question; he couldn't look straight at her, am I that obvious, he thought. "It's not that. It's just."

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Last night when they went to Real Jardin Botanico de Madrid, bumping into Yul was not even in Shin's thought as he and Chaegyoung were strolling the garden with their hands entwined with each other.

"Look at this." Shin called for Chaegyoung's attention while pointing at a tree with a very wide trunk.

"Oowaahh! It's so big."

"It's a sequoia tree. Sometimes they call it giant sequoias, and in the US, it's commonly known as California Redwoods. Because of it's redish bark. It can live up to 2,000 years, but it's an endagered species now. It says, this one is more than a hundred years old, one of the trees planted when this botanical garden opened." Shin informed Chaegyoung.

"Wow. I wonder what kind of stories it would tell if it could talk. 2,000 years is a very long story." Chaegyoung wondered, which made Shin smile and shook his head at her. "But what kind of name is sequoia?"

"Well legend say that it was named after a Cherokee Indian chief."

"You really know a lot of things Shin goon." Chaegyoung said with pride for her husband.

They moved on to the next trees just beside the sequoias.

"Shin goon look at this! It looks like bigger version of my grandfather's bonsai." Chegyoung excitedly said as she pointed out at the trees with wide branches of yellowish leaves.

"That's a ginko. It's commonly made into bonsai."

"My grandfather told me that one should be like a ginko, uncorrupted and pure." She said remembering her granfather's teachings.

"That's because ginkos are known to be tolerant of pollution, and is famous for being the first that sprouted after the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima." Shin explained to her, then turned to her and said, "I wish I have met your grandfather. I wanted to thank him for being the former King's best friend and for bringing you into my life."

"Me too." Chaegyoung admitted and blushed when Shin gave her a kiss on her cheek. She's not yet used to this public display of affection from Shin.

After seeing twelve species of trees, Chaegyoung felt tired and sat down on one of the benches near the cypress trees while Shin walked to the nearby set of trees.

"Chaegyoung?"

Chaegyoung heard her name called, the voice was familiar but it was not Shin's. So she looked around to see who it was. It was Lee Yul, standing nearby next to the cypress tress.

"Yul?" She said standing up and approaching him.

"What are you doing here?" Both of them said at the said time and laughed at themselves.

"You first. What are you doing here?" Yul asked Chaegyoung. He was trying hard to mask his excitement at the thought of fate bringing them together again.

"I'm studying here. How about you?"

"I had some vacation time before starting college in London, so I used the opportunity to visit Madrid." Yul explained to Chaegyoung.

"Of all the places, why Madrid?"

Yul was startled with the question, he turned around to see who was the owner of that familiar voice. Shin smiled at Yul when their eyes met. He walked straight to Chaegyoung and put his arms around her shoulders. A sign that Yul immediately understood.

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Yul arrived five minutes earlier than the agreed time for dinner. Park Sang hyo opened the door for him and led him to the living room. He sat down and looked at the interior of Shin and Chaegyoung's apartment. It looks comfortable and homey. There were framed pictures on the console near the entrance of the living room. Yul went to look at the pictures. There were pictures of family and friends. Chaegyoung's family and the Royal Family. There were also pictures of Chaegyoung and Shin's wedding day, not the grand royal wedding, but the one where Chaegyoung was wearing a simple white gown and wreath on her head. They looked so happy in the pictures.

"Lee Yul, you're here." Yul turned when he heard Shin's voice, but before he could respond, Chaegyoung's voice was heard from the dining room, announcing that dinner was ready.

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All throughout the dinner, Chaegyoung was her bubbly self. She kept on asking how was Yul, how his mother was, and how London was. Yul would answer her queries and tell stories of how he was doing. Shin would comment occasionally, but his comments were mostly directed to Chaegyoung, giving the impression that his attention was only on Chaegyoung - making sure that she has enough food on her plate, telling her to slow down with the talking and the eating. Chaegyoung on the other hand was also very attentive on Shin. She would put food on his plate, asking him if he wants some more, and if he likes the taste.

Yul noticed all these between the couple. He noticed that something that wasn't present before was now very much alive between Shin and Chaegyoung. Is this what they call love? Yul thought. He never saw a couple so in love like Shin and Chaegyoung. They were both glowing and their eyes have this twinkle in them whenever they look at each other.

"Choi Sang gong unnie made delicious dinner, didn't she?" Chaegyoung complimented Choi Sang gong.

"Mama, excuse me, but I will just get the dessert." Choi Sang gong said.

"Ah, no no. I will get it." Chaegyoung said. She stood up and went to the kitchen.

"Tada!" Chaegyoung said when she came back with a cake. "I made this myself." She said proudly said.

Chaegyoung sliced a triangular piece and put it on Shin's plate, wherein she dipped her finger in the incing and trying playfully to put it on Shin's nose. But Shin was quick and caught her hand and put her finger in his mouth. Choi Sang gong and Park Sang hyo just looked at them and smiled at their silly behavior.

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"You look happy Shin." Yul said.

After dinner, Shin and Yul went to the balcony, where Park Sang hyo served them tea. Chaegyoung was in the kitchen helping Choi Sang gong with the dishes.

"Yes I am." Shin said. "How about you?"

"Looking at it differently, I just now realized that I was only slightly touched by Chaegyoung's bright personality. But she was willing to give you all her bright self."

"You see, that's the difference between us, I never asked for it." Shin said.

"But you also gave that warmth in you to her. I see that she is very happy, and that is enough for me." Yul sighed and looked at Shin, who was looking down listening to him.

After helping Choi Sang gong, Chaegyoung went to look for Shin and Yul. She passed by the living room where Park Sang hyo was talking quietly on his mobile phone.

"Park Sang hyo ssi, where are Shin and Yul." Chaegyoung asked, which startled Shin's assistant and immediately turned off his phone.

"Oh, they're in the balcony, mama."

Chaegyoung was surprised at Park Sang hyo's reaction, it was the first time that she saw him nervous like that. When she reached the balcony, she stopped short. They look like they're having a serious conversation. Chaegyoung thought. Both men turned to look at her when she opened the door. She went to Shin's side and put her arms around his waist.

"What were you two talking about." Chaegyoung asked them.

"Nothing that concerns you." Shin answered.

"Aissh!" Chaegyoung playfully pinched him.

"I'm sorry but I think I have to go." Yul interrupted them. He doesn't want to witness anymore of their affectionate behavior. It's getting cheesey enough. "Thank you for inviting me."

"Thank you for coming too Yul goon." Chaegyoung said.

Shin and Chaegyoung walked him to the main door, where Shin and Yul shook hands before Yul turned and leave the royal couple behind.