#leeeul couple

[coreastories]

Royal Twinkle: The king and queen of Corea have a sweet secret, don’t they?

Preparations for Queens Day are almost finished

The weather is simply splendid-- the summer temperatures have gone down giving way to the first cool and crisp days and nights of autumn in Corea

This author has been informed that Queens Day will have very few photographs

The entire festival will have very little media coverage. It’s meant to be enjoyed by the people of Corea, and only the people of Corea

As such, there will be photos, but they will be exclusively distributed to local press, for local release only, for the enjoyment of Coreans 

Likewise, broadcast will be local and strictly guarded from piracy

Worry not, dear readers, this author will see what she can do, with sanction from the Royal Public Affairs Office, of course

I am very much in love with the Royal Public Affairs Office. They invited my team to enter the palace to witness some of the preparations. We were there early in the morning. 

The palace is a sensory explosion right now. It was overwhelming. 

But let’s be honest, none of you are interested in the million flowers rolling in by the truckloads, the mountains of food ingredients in hundreds of freezer trucks, or the pyrotechnics already starting to boom sporadically in the skies of Busan. 

No, we don’t care about that. All we want to hear about is the king and queen. 

While in the palace grounds, my team and I were lucky enough to catch glimpses of them. 

Here’s the king taking a walk looking very… happy. 

We asked where the queen was. From Mr Jang’s interview, we know she and the king take long walks together. We were told the queen starts her day helping with the preparations in the late afternoon. 

But wasn’t she a morning person? The palace staff we were talking to smiled politely and left. Well. 

So we waited until the afternoon. And huzzah! We came upon the queen in one of the great big marquees in the grounds. We were told she was approving the gifts for her dinner’s 999 lucky children here. 

My photographer was able to snap this lucky shot before Mr Jang caught my eye and I quickly pulled my team out of there. 

She looks so beautiful. I’m sure my dear readers know how much I admire the queen. 

And is this author only delusional or do Their Majesties look incandescently happy?  

They’ve always been happy. But there’s something different right now. Dear reader, you know all the hints and crumbs we’ve been given. We’re just waiting for the official word. And trust me, I’m with you in your impatience! 

Before our day at the palace ended, we ran into the king. Don’t believe how dignified that sounds here on paper, this author was squealing inside. 

His Majesty remembers this humble author as the one who interviewed him, and he was very gracious in his greetings. 

We asked him if he had recovered from the queen’s sudden trip to Seoul and His Majesty laughed such a delicious laugh that this author felt her ovaries imitate the fireworks in the sky. 

We asked if he had any news to tell us, and His Majesty only laughed again and wished us a good night. Well. 

And then his wish for us came true. It was our lucky, lucky night, wasn’t it, because we also ran into the queen. 

Her Majesty seemed to be having a breather, with only Mr Jang visible nearby. (Not that we thought for a second that it was only Mr Jang around us). We didn’t disturb the queen, but she greeted us herself-- oh these sweet, sweet royals-- and asked if we’d enjoyed the day. 

Oh yes, we had. 

This author asked her politely if she was in good health, and if she had her own supply of Seoul chicken by now? 

That made Her Majesty blush and giggle. She bid us a good night and said she hoped we’d come to the festival. 

Absolutely nothing can keep this author away! 

As we climbed into our van, we saw the king arrive and steer the queen toward the palace. 

The Royal Guard closed in around them at a close distance so we didn’t bother to take photos, but the sweetness of the king taking the queen’s hand and putting both their hands in his coat pocket would sustain me while we wait for the official announcement of what’s behind that twinkle in their eyes. 

[heartfi-lia]

CUTIES.

[fantasymusing]

Made a whole thread on Twitter today about the parallels I see between The King Eternal Monarch and Outlander, as I was psyched to find a TV writer who has the same thought as me...

I know Tumblr is OL’s stomping ground, so at the risk of OL fans murdering me, read on...

Watched TKEM with the husband (who also was bribed to watch OL) & he thought I was crazy to draw the comparison. Love TKEM, surprisingly even more than OL. Thematically though, there are the time travel, the which world do I belong, the “King” title (JAMMF as King of Men), the committed eternal love, the threat & pain of separation, the question about changing fate...

What surprised me was that elusive chemistry of the leads. Outlander’s claim to fame is the Jamie-Claire love story. Since watching OL in 2015, for the last 5 yrs I thought Sam & Caitriona set the chemistry gold standard. But came Lee Min-ho & Kim Go-eun and their Lee Gon & Jeong Tae-eul blew JC out of the water. A tall order given #TKEM is a foreign language series for me.

You can’t watch the way LGxJTE gaze at each other, hug, hold hands (their acting with their hands is in a class of their own) and not feel their intensity or intimacy.

If you’ve watched Outlander (especially S1), you’ll know the pedestal I put LGxJTE on. They hit me so hard with the feels without the benefit of the love scenes Outlander was privileged to have (don’t get me wrong the OL scenes were beautiful & not gratuitous).

LG&JTE’s intimacy is artiscally delivered through the details of their interactions that production invested screen time to show, the beautiful cinematography that took complete advantage of the perfect height difference between LMH & KGE, and the dedication of LMH & KGE to showing that soulmate love.

[prolestari]

The King: Eternal Monarch (2020)

Summary: Set in both the Republic of Korea and an alternate universe called the Kingdom of Corea, a modern-day king discovers a mysterious portal between the two worlds, where he meets a feisty detective somehow connected to his past.

My Rating: 9/10

Pros: Everything about this drama is top notch! The soundtrack, the production, the actors are all perfection. The acting, dear lord, the acting. It’s so good. The chemistry between all of the characters is the best I’ve seen. This show cost some serious money and it shows.

Cons: The time travel/universe travel storyline is always tricky, and true to form left some plot holes that were never fixed except with some vague “it just worked out that way” explanations. The product placement gets a bit distracting.

Fanfic-ability: 10/10. When I tell you the ships in this show are so good!! You have a selection of otp/brotp that are all excellent. There is so much to work with among the characters, and you have plenty within the timeline of the show as well as before and after. I have found this series to be the most inspiring thing I’ve watched in years, and had a ton of fic ideas by the time I was done with it. 

Not gonna lie, this show owns my ass now. I’d give it full marks if it wasn’t for the plot holes it left, but they are forgiven because everything else is so incredible. It’s not a simple show to watch, and honestly it took me two viewings to fully put the pieces together, between the universe and time jumping as well as the use of doppelganger storylines. HOWEVER, this show is good enough for multiple viewings!! If you are a sucker for good drama and swoon-worthy romance, look no further. More spoiler-y thoughts under the cut!

I can’t praise the acting enough honestly. Lee Min-ho and Kim Go-eun are the absolute best. Their chemistry was off the charts, and I totally fell for them both. All of the supporting cast was amazing too, and I loved the performances by Woo Do-hwan and Kim Kyung-nam. Honestly I need more of all of them together after this.

The show could have used another few episodes, maybe make it 20 total. The story would have benefitted by showing more of Lee Gon before he meets Tae-eul, and established more of his isolation. There is a lot to infer about him that makes him falling in love with her so quickly make sense, and because of this it takes three episodes or so to find its real groove. The performances are also so good that we just needed more of everything: more Gon and Yeong, more Yeong and Shin-jae, more Eun-sup, more Jangmi, more everything.

I found the ending to be a bit unsatisfying, just because I wanted to see them super happy. It makes sense how it ends, and since you don’t really know the details you can assign whatever sort of life you want for them. I also understand that Kim Eun-sook is famous for writing these “imperfect” endings, and I can respect that. But I’m such a hardcore Leeeul shipper that I just wanted mega happy, damn it.

This isn’t a perfect show despite how much I enjoyed it. I have yet to find a show or movie that does time travel correctly in the past couple of decades, and this one certainly kept that trend. Maybe one day someone will get it right, but until then, we have fanfic for that. There were definitely some other things that could have been shortened or even cut (like the Japanese threat storyline? Or the prime minister’s doppelganger that went nowhere?) to make room to flesh out the romance even more. If I had to watch them order and eat chicken one more time, or put on face cream, or put that stupid mask on, I would have lost my mind. 

Despite its imperfections, this show is amazing and I would recommend this wholeheartedly. Episode 12 wrecked my life. The soundtrack is the best. Go give it a try and get your tissues ready.

[kaahaani]

I love you but I hate you for leaving for a week even though you deserved it because i NEED more chapters of TPC and ASOWE, and I want that soulmate au because I can't stop thinking about it since the teaser. And I also want that /childhood friends-lg is in love with her but she's oblivious/ au. Basically this is my way of telling you there is a void in my heart that needs to be filled with your LeeEul fics. LOVE YOU. Soak up that sun and come back to write. Bye.

Beaaaaaaaaa the bae! I love how you can be kind and passive aggressive at the same time, but thank you my loveeee.

I will soak up the sun and come back to write just for you because you were the one that was like “watch this maybe”. I will send you my therapy bill when I can’t cope with how addicted I am to this show and this couple - and it’s all your fault.

[thirtysixexposures]

The King: Eternal Monarch Meta

I’m just here reblogging all the meta on TKEM. I really enjoy going deeper in whatever fandom I’m involved in. And TKEM is rife with mind-boggling theories and plot twists. And then we have wonderful people like @dreamingsnowflake2013 and @dangermousie sharing their thoughts and analysis! Amazing. I won’t be surprised if fans start writing fanfiction because The King: Eternal Monarch world is so rich and complicated. The LeeEul couple. Lee Min Ho and Kim Go Eun are phenomenal actors. Their chemistry is OUT OF THIS WORLD (Please date and get married in real life, Lee Min Ho is of marriageable age HAHAHA). 

[akoreiden]

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S A M E 😭 #Repost @simply_kge • • • • • • EP 14 has got me feeling more anxious than ever — these last two episodes we will be waiting with JTE as Lee Gon is on a long journey to meet her in the right timeline 🥺🥺 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ MY THOUGHTS: I like how this episode helped answer questions about time traveling. We get to witness Lee Gon save himself and how he discovers parts to the whole story. It hurt seeing Lee Gon visit young JTE in 1994 and yet again in 2016, without her truly recognizing him. It makes me sad to see our LeeEul couple have to go through pain as they wait for each other BUT I believe that we will get a beautiful ending. Just a little more longer... #TKEM fighting 👑🤍 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ . . . . . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ vc: @hsfly3424 🙌🏼 ** Video is a preview for EP 15 ** ————————————————————————————— #kimgoeun #bhentertainment #fanaccount #fanpage #kge #arjenia #ggonekim #koreanactress #koreandrama #김고은 #金高銀 #คิมโกอึน #キムゴウン #AllForGgone #WeLoveGgone #KGEfans #KGEGlobal #GgoneNation #leeminho #actorleeminho #minoz #thekingeternaonarch #eternalmonarch #mingo #mineun #leeeul #mingocouple #leeeulcouple https://www.instagram.com/p/CBEoefClPoD/?igshid=a0oux5jgfxyr

[coreastories]

The Thirteenth Rule

Tae-eul was given an epiphany. Twice. 

That’s why she makes a decision-- destination be damned. 

Companion to Three Hours for Chicken and Seo-ryeong vs Lady Noh

Chapter 5 of Days and Nights of Forever

April 2020: Tae-eul was a detective. Her training had taught her three hundred sixty vision, spreading her logic and hypotheses far and wide in all directions to try to predict and identify the motivations and ripples of a crime and a suspect trying not to get caught, or trying to weasel away. 

In the normal, non-criminal side of life, it meant she stopped her dad from wasting money on excess groceries, and got Eun-sup out of trouble before he even landed himself in it. She collected evidence and knew how to gather intelligence with or without informants. 

So when she was stabbed in the stomach, her detective’s brain went on a three-sixty degree identification of all threats, conscious and subconscious. 

“Is there-- Is there any way you could tell if I’m pregnant even if it’s too early?”

The doctor and nurses clutched around her in the ER looked stricken. They all stopped what they were doing. Tae-eul tried not to sob or hurl-- she didn’t know which one was making her stomach churn and her throat tight. Luna had stabbed her and that was… it was too horrifying to think of if she was...  

“How early?” the doctor asked, squeezing Tae-eul’s arm as if she knew Tae-eul needed the touch to ground her in the present. “How many days has it been since your period should have come?”

“Um, I think-- I think ten days--two weeks--” 

“All right. We’ll check.” The doctor turned to someone. “Run to the lab. Add the test to her vial. Prioritize it so we know what to do.” She turned back to Tae-eul. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you in the meantime as if you’re pregnant.” 

Tae-eul tried to stay awake, tried to wait to find out, but her detective’s brain had done its job and shut down. 

She woke up in her private room. Everything rushed back-- there was no pause, no blinking into consciousness, only instant, real fear which she didn’t even understand. Her heart rate sped up. She looked at the tube curled and attached on the back of her wrist, followed the line to the bags on the stand. What was in those bags? Was she--

“Hi Lieutenant Jeong. It’s me. I’m Dr Bong.” Tae-eul turned at the voice and recognized the kind intern or resident who had treated her in the ER. “You’re all right. Thankfully, there was no major trauma, and you avoided a laceration on your liver by two centimeters.” 

The intern paused and smiled hesitantly. “You are not-- were not-- pregnant.” 

Just like that, Tae-eul could breathe again. The doctor seemed to understand. She reached out to pat Tae-eul’s hand. “You’ll be fine. You’re on antibiotics and opioids for the pain.”

Tae-eul wiped the tears she didn’t even realize had tracked down her cheeks. “Gomapseumnida.” 

The doctor nodded, smiling. “If you’re hungry, you can eat. We’ll bring you food in a little while.”

Tae-eul thanked the doctor again and turned her head to look out the window. She tentatively felt her side-- stiff with thick bandages. There was a sore, tender feeling deep beneath the skin, nothing like the pain she’d felt when she was stabbed, but still painful even if it was currently a dull pain. 

Not pregnant. Was not pregnant. Good. That was really good. She had plans for Luna, and Tae-eul was relieved she didn’t have to kill Luna, because she would have if Luna had-- 

It would be ridiculous to-- she sighed, swallowed, and tried to stop her lips from trembling. It was ridiculous to want, to love a-- 

She didn’t even know where Gon was. 

She didn’t know where Gon was. 

That was exactly the reason the possibility of being pregnant had both terrified and comforted her. 

If she never saw him again, she wouldn’t be alone, wouldn’t really be without him, if she had a-- 

She couldn’t even mention it in her head. 

She sighed. She swiped at her eyes and appreciated that the hospital people had placed her phone within easy reach. She dialed. 

“Hyeong-nim. Where are you? I need you to find the other me. Luna. I’m fine, I’m good. Okay. Good. I’ll come.” 

Tae-eul was glad for her detective’s brain anyway. It can compartmentalize. First, get out of bed. Then, get Luna. 

And if Gon came back to her, she wasn’t letting him go. 

--------------------------------------

June 2020: 

She very vividly remembered the weekend she had called their life a melodrama. 

It was one of those May days that made you sure of summer. It wasn’t wet, and it wasn’t cold. 

That was also the first time they were sent to present-day Corea-- since the reset anyway. 

That was also the time Gon told her about Kang Shin-jae, the real Kang Shin-jae in the Republic. She’d cried. She had missed him. The Shin-jae she’d known became Kang Hyeon-min of the kingdom and she remembered and missed him.  

That May night in 2020, Gon told her that he had met Kang Shin-jae, had actually changed Shin-jae’s life by delaying his walk to that deadly curve in the street. And then Gon had later seen him, a chaebol heir with all the trimmings, bowing underlings and chauffeured luxury vehicle. So that was what his life was meant to be. She had embraced Gon in tears and was truly glad the manpasikjeok also made that right. 

“I think that’s the last time we went to the past,” Gon had said, smiling ruefully at her tears. 

“No, no, we went to 2016, too. I think that’s the last.” 

“Oh, you’re right. But that was a bust, wasn’t it? We didn’t do much. Well, we did a little.”

She’d giggled while swatting at his hand, which had burrowed under her pajama top to stroke her back earlier while she cried, and now started wandering. 

They’d arrived at the kingdom of 2016 and they had stayed in his study, with Gon distractedly signing off on the various petitions on his desk. She had protested at how careless he was being, but he showed her they were harmless, miscellaneous documents that really only needed the king’s signature, referrals and recommendations and certificates of merit. 

And then, back on that night in May 2020 while recalling their trip to 2016, Gon had stopped moving and stared at her. “I suddenly remember one of the papers I signed. Unless I’m mistaken, I think I signed Koo Seo-gyeong’s recommendation to the Interpol.” 

“Really?”  

Gon looked incredulous, amazed. “I can see it clearly in my mind’s eye now, but it didn’t register with me at the time. You were distracting. You laid down on that chaise by the fire and I wanted to get to you.” He grinned at her unimpressed expression. “Is that what we were meant to do that time? Because I usually don’t sign those documents. I just grabbed random stacks of papers from Secretary Mo’s office for something to pretend to do in the study.” 

“What do you mean you don’t sign them? So those people who need your signature usually go without?”

“We have stamps. Secretary Mo’s staff just use stamps. Those papers don’t even go to me. I’m not really needed..” 

“Ahh.” Tae-eul smiled. “Well, don’t be too full of yourself. I’m sure your signature didn’t matter much. Seo-gyeong is too cool not to get into Interpol.” 

Gon grinned. “You know what else? Kang Hyeon-min followed her there.” 

“Wow. They make a cute couple.” 

And Gon had made an unimpressed face that made her laugh and tickle him with her own hands under his pajamas.  

So that May weekend was memorable for her. It was full of revelations. 

It was also the last time she had her period. It was June now. She should have had her period over a week ago. The only time she was late, it was understandable because she’d been running on high levels of anxiety. 

Otherwise, her cycle had always run like clockwork. She’d been feeling some tenderness so she thought her period might come today. She had just come into Gon’s bathroom to check again. She looked down at her clean underwear. Nothing. 

Maybe tomorrow. 

She left the bathroom lost in thought. She didn’t register the childish chatter she could hear so she gasped when she rounded the corner and something collided with her knees. 

“Noona!” 

“Look who’s here,” Gon said belatedly. 

Tae-eul chuckled and went down on her knees so she could hug little Woo-jin at his level. He was at that age when he didn’t appreciate being scooped up any more-- except when he wanted airplane rides and piggy backs. 

“Are we kidnapping you again?” Tae-eul asked, pinching those cheeks. Woo-jin laughed. It was an inside joke between the three of them, kidnapping Secretary Mo’s son and escaping from the palace. 

“Yes, yes! Let’s go kidnapping! Let’s go bounce!” 

Tae-eul looked up at Gon, laughing. “Did he just use slang with me?” 

Gon knelt down beside her, grinning. “He means Vaunce. It’s a trampoline park. You want to go?” 

Tae-eul looked between them, and Gon imitated Woo-jin’s pouty-pleading face. She couldn’t help laughing. “Let’s go bounce then!” 

Gon changed into his incognito outfit. T-shirt, light denim jacket, jeans. He also washed his hair to remove the mousse and let his hair dry just lying naturally on his head. 

Then he changed Woo-jin into a similar outfit. Secretary Mo liked dressing her son like a little prep school boy, and in previous kidnappings, he and Tae-eul had to buy Woo-jin clothes he could play in. 

Tae-eul had changed too. Her detective outfit-- her usual shirt, vest, jacket and boxy jeans combo-- didn’t fit a trampoline park, so she picked skinny jeans and a pullover she wouldn’t have to keep hold of if she decided to go all out on a trampoline. 

“Right, Yeong says the getaway car’s on its way to pick us... up--” Gon trailed off, looking from Woo-jin to her, and smiled that boyish smile she loved. “You look nice.” 

She wrinkled her nose. “Maybe we should cut your hair.” 

Gon looked exasperated. He picked up Woo-jin. “There. See? Here’s my disguise.” 

Woo-jin giggled. 

They were off, and Tae-eul tried not to be nervous. Being out in the open in present-day Corea made her feel exposed. But thankfully Gon’s disguise worked. The first time it worked they were so stunned they laughed for three minutes straight, disbelieving that it was that easy. 

It was ridiculous but it was effective. Sans bodyguards and trademark hair and long coats, and with Woo-jin in his arms, Gon didn’t look like the king. No one expected it would be the king. They had gone about their day in Busan without anyone making a fuss. 

Or Coreans were simply not too nosy about other families. 

That made her stomach flutter. She knew how they looked. Gon knew how they looked. Woo-jin even called them Omma and Appa in these kidnappings, so they wouldn’t be “caught by the police.” It was part of their inside joke. 

Gon smiled at her in that happy, satisfied way, tucking her against his side with his other arm while holding Woo-jin in the other as they walked from the car-- an ordinary car he drove himself-- to the park. 

Then they were inside and Tae-eul laid a hand on Gon’s arm when he was buying the tickets. 

“What is it?” he asked.

The smell of rubber and disinfectant spray, the noise from the kids, and the colorful interior of the indoor park all churned inside her head, making her chest pound, because a single thought stood out starkly like a big monument amid the swirl of color and sound. 

“Omma--” 

Woo-jin’s voice-- and what he said-- brought Tae-eul back. Her heart was still racing. 

“What is it?” Gon asked again, looking concerned now. “Are you alright? Do you want Viewing Only?” 

Tae-eul shook her head, as much to clear it as to answer Gon. “Of course not. I’m fine. Sorry. Go ahead. Let’s bounce!” 

There was no way she wouldn’t be okay bouncing on a trampoline park. Even if-- even if she were-- it was too early, and she knew women did so much more and they were fine. 

God. 

-----------------------

Gon turned down the blankets for her and then immediately caged her with his arms and legs, maneuvering her to face him with her head pillowed on his upper arm.   

“What’s wrong? You’ve been distracted all day.” He stroked her hair and cupped her cheek, fingers gently stroking her ear.

Tae-eul stared into those eyes, looked at that face, sank further into his arms, and forgot why she was scared in the first place. 

“I need to take a pregnancy test.” 

She watched his face and loved what she saw there. The movement of his eyes and cheeks and lips made her heart speed up and she felt like she’d been jumping on trampolines again. He was surprised. He was stunned. He wasn’t unhappy. He opened his mouth but nothing came out at first. Tae-eul waited. 

“Are you-- do you-- how do you feel?” 

And Tae-eul fell more deeply in love with him than ever. In her head, she’d imagined him saying or asking so many other things, his scientific brain demanding facts, but no, the first thing he asked was how she felt about this. 

She wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled her face against his chest, kissing him there through his pajama top. 

When she spoke, everything she’d been holding back all day spilled out. The one big thought that had haunted her all day, until now. “I didn’t want to go on the trampolines-- I just suddenly realized it when we were getting tickets. It suddenly terrified me if it might hurt the-- but lots of women do much more while they don’t know they’re-- and I’m still okay and--”

His arms tightened around her. She felt the shudder that ran through him. She stroked his back to soothe him and he mirrored the action, and kissed her hair. 

She knew he understood. That was how she felt about this. She didn’t even know yet if she was really-- but she was already terrified about hurting it. 

That was all that mattered, that was the important thing, that she hadn’t hurt it. 

Everything else-- the fact that they lived in different worlds-- it was all inconsequential. 

“We’ll go first thing tomorrow,” he said, his voice a little gravelly. 

She nodded against him, and they fell asleep like that, after what felt like hours of just quietly holding each other. 

--------------------------------

They went to a clinic in the republic. He helped her look for a specialty clinic with its own lab, so they wouldn’t have to wait days for the results. He was adamant that they didn’t go to an outright hospital with an OB-gyne department, because she would have been unnecessarily “exposed to something.” 

The OB was a cute woman with a bob. Tae-eul liked her immediately. She explained the options to Tae-eul, and Tae-eul chose the blood test without waiting for the doctor to finish explaining the vaginal sono. 

The doctor laughed but said she understood. No point having to go through that when Tae-eul hadn’t even taken a home PT. She wanted the blood test to give her a definite answer. So Tae-eul peed in a cup and her blood was taken and that was it.

They did have to wait two hours so they could have the results of the urine and blood test together. They went to a cafe and sat in a booth tucked away near the back. 

“Let’s not get our hopes up.” 

He grinned and took her hands, just wrapping his fingers over hers around her mug of hot chocolate. “So you hope for it, too, do you?”

She shook her head at him and tried to stay rational. “We’re careful. The chances are point zero zero three percent.”

“I’ll take those chances. We’ve always been exceptional.”

Tae-eul just looked at him sardonically. He laughed. 

They ordered food and ate, talking about everything else but what they were waiting for. 

They both knew they couldn’t discuss anything yet until they knew. 

And Tae-eul was glad about having him this time, anchoring her, being the giddy one so she could be the calm one, and she was able to eat just fine, all her nerves calm and steady because he was there with her and everything would be just fine. 

That she wasn’t pregnant was an anticlimax she didn’t know what to do with. 

They’d thanked the doctor and she had smiled at them. “Keep trying! It won’t take long. I hope to see you again and give you the good news.” 

They got in the car and just sat there for a few moments, with Gon looking at her and her looking at her hands in her lap. 

“Tae-eul?” 

She looked at him and smiled. “Let’s go back to the bamboo forest.” 

He seemed to understand--he always did-- and started the car without pressing her further. 

Tae-eul leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes, meditating on what she’d just discovered about herself, and what it meant for them. 

The rest of the drive to the bamboo grove, they stayed silent. At some point, Gon reached for her hand and brought their hands up to stroke her cheek for a moment. 

“Saranghae.” 

She enclosed his hand with both of hers, resting their hands on the center console and turning to him a little without opening her eyes. She smiled. “Nado.” 

When they sat on a bench in the bamboo grove, Tae-eul was resolved. 

Since she met him she’d had to take several leaps of faith and he had always proven worth it, everything about him was real, true, pure-- well, not pure, because she’d seen him kill and purity wasn’t important anyway-- and he was home to her. He was her home and they were both living and loving this strange and wonderful fate but she was ready if that fate meant so much more. 

She wanted so much more. 

She’d been through this twice now and both times had shown her what she wanted, what her heart absolutely ached for each time it happened. 

She looked at him and she didn’t have to tell him to look at her because he already was, peering at her face, looking worried. She smiled and smoothed her thumb on his forehead. 

“Don’t look like that. I’m fine.” 

“Are you sure?” 

She nodded. She took a deep breath. She placed both hands on his shoulders, then slid them up and cradled his cheeks, squishing them and making him grin before moving her hands to that jawline she loved so much. 

“Lee Gon. Here’s the thirteenth rule. If we ever get married, I’ll stop being on birth control and let’s just see where that takes us. Are you alright with that?”

He blinked at her and in a matter of two blinks his eyes sparkled with unshed tears. She smiled and felt tears run down her own cheeks. He wiped them and then just held her cheeks, too. They probably looked ridiculous to passersby but she didn’t care. 

“Well,” he said, then exhaled and took a deep breath. He slid his arms around her and held her tightly. “Well, I always follow your rules, don’t I?”  

[coreastories]

Three Hours For Chicken

Companion to Corea News: Royal Panic! The queen was lost--and found-- in Seoul 

The queen of Corea wants chicken, and she goes after what she wants, even if the chicken is in Seoul and she lives in Busan. 

“Not arrive together anywhere?”

“Queens Day is for the queen. The focus is on her. The king can watch and visit, but everyone is supposed to see the queen, not the king.” 

Seung-ah made notes. Separate cars. No. Separate times of arrival. This wouldn’t be too difficult, just complicated. She had to prepare for two scenarios: if the king followed tradition, and if he dismissed it and escorted the queen everywhere. 

Lady Noh was saying, “Ah my head,” so perhaps the old woman was also thinking the same thing. Their king and queen were the opposite of predictable. 

Seung-ah could soon hand this over to the Royal Household and the logistics would be their problem. She just had to sign off on everything first, with Lady Noh’s advice and approval, because everything about the Queens Day was under the domain of Public Affairs. 

Her note-taking was interrupted by a text message. Only four people were set to come up on her screen with a pop-up.  

Hey Seung-ah. Can you come to the study, please? Conf. 

Tae-eul. The queen. “Conf.” stood for confidential, which meant not to say anything if Seung-ah was with anyone. So she pretended to be preoccupied with the arrangements and bowed to leave Lady Noh. 

It was 7pm. Tae-eul probably wanted to eat together. And probably didn’t want Lady Noh’s currently overzealous guarding of what Tae-eul ate. 

When she arrived at the king’s private study, she found Tae-eul pacing on the rug. 

“Ma-- Tae-eul, what is it?” Seung-ah was still learning to use the queen’s name when they were alone as the queen requested. It helped that Seung-ah now used it in her head when she thought of Tae-eul. “Did you ask for dinner already?” 

“Can we take your car?” 

“What?” 

“I want to eat banban.” 

“Banban?”

“It’s chicken. Half plain. Half seasoned. And a hundred percent making my mouth water.” 

“All right, I’ll ask for--”

“No, we’ll take your car.” 

“Mwo?”

Tae-eul sighed. “I already told Jangmi. Just get your car over here.” Tae-eul pointed outside the French windows. “But don’t say anything. Even to Jangmi if you see him when you get your car.” Tae-eul tapped her ear. 

Mollified that Jangmi knew even if the rest of the Royal Guard wasn’t supposed to, Seung-ah did as she was asked. Then she got a funny feeling in her stomach when the queen came out of the French windows and went to the car at what seemed like a very specific angle from the wall, got in, and promptly laid down in the backseat. 

“What-- what are you doing? Are you feeling ill?”

“Yep. But I’m fine. Just don’t say anything. Jangmi is meeting us there.” 

“Meeting us where?” 

Tae-eul didn’t answer. 

The palace gate staff knew Seung-ah’s cars, knew her face, and let her pass through without inspection. About a hundred meters from the gate, Tae-eul popped up in the backseat like a rabbit nosing the air. 

Seung-ah’s stomach roiled. It was no longer a funny feeling. It was more of a realization now. 

“Tae-eul. Did you use me to sneak out of the palace?” 

“Yes.” 

“Is Jangmi really meeting us?” 

“No.” 

“Does Jangmi really know?”

“No.”

“I’m turning the car.” 

“Oh no, please,” Tae-eul rubbed her hands together in apology and pleading. “I just need some time away. Please? I would have gone with the king, but he’s in Seoul. That’s it. I can meet him there. No harm done.”  

“WHAT?!” Seung-ah shrieked. “We’re going to Seoul?!”  

“Yes.” 

“It’s three hours away by train!”

There was a pause in which Seung-ah’s hope that they weren’t really going to Seoul soared. Then the queen grabbed that hope and tossed it to the ground. “Oh. Right.” 

“What do you mean oh right?! Did you forget the distance to Seoul?!” 

“Calm down. It’s only three hours.” 

Only three hours! Seung-ah wasn’t religious but called out to God just then. She swallowed. Her mouth was dry. She supposed she could clutch at the reasoning that the queen wanted to go to the king.  

“Let me tell Jo Yeo--”

“Later. We’ll tell him later when we get there.” 

“Are you trying to get me killed?”

Tae-eul snickered. “Yeong won’t kill you. He loves you.”

“Stop that! What about the king?” 

“Don’t worry about him.” 

Seung-ah snorted. “At least tell Jangmi then. Have mercy on Jangmi.” 

“He’s fine. He’s asleep. He took medicine for his toothache.” 

Seung-ah groaned. 

“I’m sorry. I just… I need to go to Seoul. The chicken place at Misa Lake Park.” 

Seung-ah groaned again. All right. She would tell Yeong when they arrived in Seoul or way sooner than that. Hopefully, the king and queen’s room remained undisturbed by palace staff or Jangmi stayed asleep, whichever would get them past this with the least fuss. 

She looked at Tae-eul through the rearview mirror. The queen wore a Nova Shirt, a Cabello pullover, and a Harris Tweed wool blazer Seung-ah loved. The total cost of the ensemble was over a million won, not counting the jeans and shoes. Not the cheapest in the queen’s wardrobe, but not that expensive either. Not by Seung-ah’s standards. And the queen looked deceptively casual, so they could probably get on the train without attracting attention. 

Tae-eul chose that moment to squeeze her way to the passenger seat through the center console and Seung-ah concentrated on not killing them both and not cursing out her queen. Seriously. 

Tae-eul settled in with her seatbelt on and Seung-ah took deep breaths. 

Then Tae-eul turned to her and said, “So what are we talking about on the three hours on the train? Did you and Yeong go past any bases yet?”

Seung-ah stopped breathing. She felt her face go searing hot. “Stop that. Let me drive. Maybe you should get back to the back seat. But I’ll stop the car so you can get in there using the door like a normal person.” 

Tae-eul just flapped her hand in dismissal. “Do you know Yeong is ticklish in his ankles?” 

“Mwo?” She was saying that so much tonight. 

Tae-eul laughed. “Yeah. I saw it at the gym. They were doing judo and Jangmi was about to grab Yeong’s ankles but Yeong dodged--danced away, really. That was weird. So I whispered to Jangmi to keep going for Yeong’s ankles, and I told him to touch it, not grab it.” Tae-eul curled in on herself, giggling. “I’ll show you the video later. I think getting kicked in the face is why Jangmi has a toothache.” 

Seung-ah laughed despite her nerves at this insanity she was currently dragged into. The queen’s laughter was infectious like that. Yeong was ticklish in the ankle. Hmmm. But poor Jangmi was kicked in the face. “Poor Jangmi.”

“I know, I’ll make it up to him.” 

To Seung-ah’s horror, tears spilled from Tae-eul’s eyes. 

Shit. What the hell. So she said, “Yeong likes to be kissed on the neck.” 

Tae-eul wiped her eyes and perked up. “Really?” 

Seung-ah was relieved. She grinned. “Yeah. He sorta shivers and goes soft in my arms when I do that.” 

“Awwww.” 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Status.” 

“Good and quiet here, Captain.” 

“You sure?” 

“Her Majesty is in her bedroom. Lady Noh is in hers. Time is 2100. I’ll update you again at 2200.” 

“All right.” 

Captain Jo hung up and Jangmi sighed in relief. But his cheek felt like it still had a phone against it. Oh man, it was swollen. Wasn’t the medicine supposed to be anti-inflammatory? 

He rooted through his medicine bag for other meds. What he took earlier had stopped the pain and knocked him out but apparently wasn’t good for much else. 

When he turned back around to face his bedroom’s bank of monitors that came with being Unbreakable Sword to the queen, a court maid was waving to the camera. 

Jangmi swallowed his new pill dry and flew out of his room. 

He got there in under a minute but the court maid had already multiplied into three and Lady Noh was there. 

“What is it?” Without waiting for an answer, he entered the king and queen’s chamber. No queen. Ahhh shit fuck balls. 

“Is the queen in the kitchen?” he asked the maids. They shook their heads. 

Lady Noh said, “I already called the Control Tower. Her Majesty isn’t in the palace and the grounds. She was seen going to the study a little before seven, and then Seung-ah went there as well. Could they have been together? But Seung-ah was seen going home alone.” 

He dialed Seung-ah’s number. She didn’t answer. Probably asleep. Shit. He called another number. “Go to Myeong Seung-ah’s house then call me when you have her.” 

With a cold pit in his stomach, he called the captain next. 

“Captain. I don’t have the queen. We haven’t had eyes on her since seven. We’re retrieving Myeong Seung-ah. She’s the last to have seen her.” 

The captain was quiet for three seconds. Jangmi didn’t breathe. Then Captain Jo Yeong spoke in his quietest, sternest voice. “I’ll try to get Seung-ah on the phone and let you know. Do your job. There’s protocol.” 

“Yes, sir.” 

Jangmi made a gesture for the maids to leave, and Lady Noh swept them away. Jangmi dialed 8877. The voice on the line only said, “Yes?” 

“Crimson Pheasant. Two hours. Myeong Seung-ah, Royal Public Affairs Office.” 

“Confirming receipt.” The line went dead. 

He hoped Seung-ah wasn’t in the bath or anything, because as the last person to have seen the queen, the Royal Guard and the Corean Armed Forces were about to break down her door. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

“I should tell Yeong now. Look, Jangmi and Yeong both called and you didn’t let me answer it.”

“Sure, go ahead. I don’t want them to worry.” 

Seung-ah stared at Tae-eul. “I know you’re my queen but you’re an idiot right now. If you didn’t want them to worry, you shouldn’t have gone to Seoul in the first place.” 

Tae-eul didn’t reply. The server had arrived just then, so Tae-eul only probably heard, “Here’s your chicken.” Seung-ah rolled her eyes and sent a quick text to Yeong. 

And then, because Seung-ah had been hungry for dinner since six pm, and the chicken was right there all beautifully golden, she also ate her share of the fricken chicken. Could be her fricken last meal, anyway. 

There was a loud hum outside, overhead, and then a whoosh and thunderclap that had nothing to do with the clear skies. She had an idea what that was. Yep. Probably her last meal. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gon was a little surprised that he actually managed not to panic. He was getting better. His life with Tae-eul wouldn’t be quiet, but it wouldn’t be doomed either. He had an assurance about that, and he was getting better in his faith and trust in that assurance.  

Jangmi had arrived by chopper, and he hadn’t straightened since. He was still bent at the waist, reporting to Gon. 

“Her Majesty had a headache so she went to bed around three pm. We didn’t disturb her. She hadn’t come out until 6:42pm when she was seen going to the study. We can’t reach her because she left her phone on her bed. We couldn’t reach Myeong Seung-ah either and she’s not home.” 

“Jangmi, please straighten up. I’m not blaming you. She probably went somewhere with Seung-ah. You need to add another camera in the patio of my study. There’s a blind spot.” 

Yeong looked at him. Yeong knew Gon had used that blind spot before. Before Gon could call out Yeong for glaring at him, Jangmi straightened and Gon recoiled at the sight of his face. “What happened to you? Did the queen do that to you?” 

At the same time, Yeong said, “Did I do that to you?”

“No, no, Captain, you kicked me here.” Jangmi touched the opposite cheek. The one that wasn’t twice its size. Then he touched the swollen cheek gingerly. “This is a toothache.” 

Gon was torn between amusement and sympathy. He turned his snort of laughter into a grimace. He was about to ask if Jangmi had taken medicine when Yeong made one of those showy, smooth movements, taking his phone out of his coat pocket and checking it. 

“Pyeha. We have the queen. She’s with Seung-ah. They’re at Chika Chika by Misa Lake Park. The car is ready.”

Gon sighed in relief and exasperation. Chika Chika. As in chicken. Misa Lake Park, as in Hanam-si. Tae-eul went to Seoul for chicken? “You two. With me. Now. The others can follow.” 

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chika Chika was deserted, thankfully. Not that Gon wouldn’t have gone in even if it was full of customers. He saw Tae-eul from the tall windows, and saw her see him and her face soften in greeting and happiness at seeing him. 

He would never get tired of that. If he had felt any anger at all, which he hadn’t--not really-- it would have evaporated right then. He was standing by her table in a few strides. Seung-ah looked at him pleadingly, so he smiled at her in assurance. The poor woman sagged in relief. She deserved a raise. 

“Are you done eating?” he asked Tae-eul. 

Tae-eul wiped her mouth, drank water, and then got up in a too-bouncy way that made him wince. But she was fine. She was fine. He took her hand and he let her pull him to the railing by the lakeside. He saw Yeong and Jangmi on their phones coordinating with everyone. 

They deserved a raise, too. Though he had made certain years ago that the Royal Guard would be rolling in money so they couldn’t be bought. Maybe he could give them something else. 

They arrived at the railing and he watched Tae-eul take deep breaths of the night air. 

“Pyeha. Mama.” 

They turned to Seung-ah. She was holding her phone up. “Let’s do this. For something sweet in the morning. People were asleep in their beds, you know.” 

He saw Tae-eul smile so he smiled and that was the photo done. Seung-ah left them alone. He put his arm around Tae-eul and felt his smile grow when she leaned into his side. 

“I’m sorry.” 

“You don’t look that much sorry.”

She smiled wider. “The banban was really good.”

“Yeah? You didn’t even get me takeaway.” 

“I forgot, I’m sorry.” 

“Did you really forget the distance between Busan and Seoul?” 

“Did the air force really fire warning shots?”

He pressed his lips together and looked at her as sternly as he could, when he knew his eyes were soft for her, this side of her he was seeing for the first time. 

She laughingly sighed. “I knew I was in Busan but I also thought I was in Seoul, that driving here would only take about 10 to 20 minutes. Can you believe it?” 

“I can believe it. They say that happens.” 

“It’s crazy. You should have seen Seung-ah’s face.” Tae-eul laughed. Gon couldn’t help grinning back. He loved that she was happy. She looked so beautiful when she laughed or smiled this way. 

He tightened his arm around her. “I was already on my way back to you. You just beat me here.” 

“I didn’t come for you. I came for the chicken.” 

They laughed. 

“You’re insane. Are you all right now?” 

She snuggled against him, nodded, and squeezed his waist. “Let’s go home. I want to go to bed.” 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Crimson Pheasant Code Green. 2300. Pheasant and Dragon taking off for Busan 2300.”

Jangmi hung up with the Royal Armed Forces palace switchboard and nodded at Yeong. That was the end of it. Yeong nodded back. “You need to get to a dentist, hoobae.” 

“They can’t do anything until that swelling goes down anyway,” said Seung-ah, joining them on the bench. “Try this, Jangmi.” She rummaged in her purse and gave Jangmi a whole bottle of pills. 

“You have that in your purse?” Yeong asked dubiously. 

“Of course.” 

“You all right?”

“Yeah. I’ve had time to recover. The worst was when I realized the queen intended to go to Seoul and we were already outside the palace.” 

“I think we need to get more of that chicken,” Jangmi said. 

“What’s the difference between that chicken and the chicken in Busan and in the palace?” Yeong asked, truly mystified. 

Seung-ah tilted her head in that way she did when she was thinking or about to make an observation. She had no idea Yeong tilted her head that exact same way when he kissed her. 

“I think there’s a hint of some sort of caramel in the coating. Then it opens up to this--” 

“OH!”  

Yeong and Seung-ah both jumped at Jangmi’s exclamation. 

“Oh no. Noona. They probably broke down your door.”

“MWO?!”

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[heartfi-lia]

me reminding myself that TKEM is a fictional drama and i shouldn't get too emotionally involved:

[fantasymusing]

The Two: Chapter 5 Made for Loving You

Hold me close

Through the night

Don't let me go

We'll be alright

Touch my soul and hold it tight

~ on repeat in my head while writing the chapter… turned me into a puddle for them 🖤

[kaahaani]

Hello hello hello! I read the new smut fic and all i could say was DAMN. Like wow. You're awesome! Can i ask you for more mineun fics? Would it be too much to ask for? You are currently my favourite author and you really do justice to the whole show and the couple(both the on and off screen couple).❤️

Helloooooo! Thank you so much for your kind words, I am so touched!

I do plan on writing more MinEun, but I always need “inspiration” to write them. Whereas, LeeEul come easier because we are privy to their whole lives essentially. Hopefully I can think of something soon because I really do enjoy writing them - which is surprising because I was so hesitant to ship real people just a while ago!

Thank you again!

[kaahaani]

I’m so obsessed with your fics!! I love LeeEul couple so much, I miss them so reading your fics helps out 😌

Aw, thank you so much! I am glad you like them!

Omg, yes, the withdrawal is real which is why I am so obsessed with writing about them.

[kaahaani]

Ive read a couple of leeEul fics and yours has been theeee best!! 🖤🖤🔥 what I like most about it, is that you capture both characters personality in this TKEM happy ever after! I can imagine them doing it in the drama if it was part of it! LOL! But seriously, I love how you capture Lee Gon’s personality (his humor, seriousness, and his kingly manners) its sooo good that I thought this is still part of the drama! lol. I love the interaction and the banter between him and Tae Eul. Please keep writing Miss K! More power to that epic brain of yours! More MinEun content too! Oh and TPC update when? :)))

Hello! Thank you so very much, I am glad you like them! And it means the world to me that you think it’s consistent with their characters! I am smiling like an idiot right now because you’re so sweet! Thank you so so much!

TPC was just updated earlier today! Lemme know what you think once you get the chance to read it! 😉