Chapter 20
Siyeon stared down at the silk ribbons that tied her wrists with Minji’s and didn’t know what to think. She wasn’t sure that she would’ve ever made it this far into her life at the palace. But she was very happy she had.
She wasn’t entirely paying attention throughout the ceremony, only listening to key parts when Minji would squeeze her hand to pay attention. The only thing the alpha could focus on was how beautiful Minji looked. How perfect everything was around them. How everyone in the palace was actually happy for them.
Yes, the alpha had a very rough start when she was dragged into their world… But now they didn’t look at her as a threat. They all understood where she came from and how she acted purely out of fear. Now, they all respected her and treated her as their equal rather than a wild animal.
When the ceremony was over, Siyeon could barely hear herself think over the cheering, happy that she was going to stay with Minji forever. At least she hoped she would. She really hoped she would.
It seemed as if the entire palace was partying, celebrating the binding of the eldest princess. Siyeon looked out of the windows, seeing the nearby villages lit up with lanterns and fireworks. She watched the night sky get illuminated with various colors and designs, completely in awe of how everything looked.
“Aren’t you supposed to be with your mate?”
Siyeon looked up, seeing Yoohyeon for the first time in a while. She had run into Bora and told her how happy she was, but she had yet to find Yoohyeon.
“I kind of lost her in the chaos,” Siyeon admitted. “I needed quiet…” She whispered.
“Us too,” Yoohyeon smiled, looking down at her little pup. “I know Bora says you’re happy… But how do you really feel?” She asked, settling down on one of the chairs near another window.
The alpha looked over, watching as Gahyeon’s eyes lit up at the different colors, standing on Yoohyeon’s lap. It was adorable to watch the pup react in such a way, watching her squeal and try to hit the glass as the fireworks continued to go off in one of the nearby villages.
“I feel a lot of things…” Siyeon whispered. “I know… a lot of things now… and… I don’t know what to exactly feel…” She frowned, looking down at her hands.
“Binding ceremonies are difficult emotions… When I was bound to Bora… I had so many emotions running through me. I was scared, happy, a little annoyed… But mostly happy,” Yoohyeon smiled while getting Gahyeon settled on her lap. “I’m sure you feel the same,” She whispered, finally looking up at the alpha.
“How do I know Minji isn’t making a mistake?” Siyeon blurted out.
“She isn’t. Trust me, she isn’t,” Yoohyeon chuckled. “She would’ve cried by now,” She smiled. “And not the little tears she had earlier. She would’ve been on her knees, screaming and crying at how much she was ruining her life. And she hasn’t done that yet. So, no mistakes,” Yoohyeon shrugged her shoulders before adjusting a now wiggly Gahyeon. “I’ve never seen her so happy… With you… She’s the happiest. She smiles more, and she laughs more,” she smiled. “I hope you don’t think it’s a mistake to be bound to her,” She frowned.
“Never… I love her so much…” The alpha sighed. “I just want her to be happy,” She whispered.
“And she will be. As long as you stick by her,” Yoohyeon stood up from the chair, placing the pup on her hip before walking closer to the alpha. She placed a free hand on her shoulder, trying to reassure her. “And you and Bora need to stop worrying so much about influencing Gahyeon…” She whispered. “You’ve barely even seen her or touched her since she was born,” Yoohyeon chuckled.
Siyeon frowned at her, seeing the pup already reaching out for her. Yoohyeon gave her a knowing glance and allowed the alpha to hold her.
Gahyeon was tiny, despite being the daughter of a tall princess, she was tiny. Her cheeks were round, her eyes were bright and big, and her nose was adorable… Siyeon couldn’t help but coo over her, touching her little cheeks and watching her smile the biggest smile in the world. She had two teeth growing in on the bottom and Siyeon couldn’t help but smile at her.
Minji trailed up the stairs, following her sister’s scent through the palace. She wanted to talk to her about Gahyeon’s status but didn’t want to interrupt the scene in front of her. She never saw Siyeon hold a pup, or even be that cuddly with someone. Yes, she was cuddly with her, but this was a different cuddly… Her voice was different, making the little pup squeal with joy… It warmed the princess’ heart to see everything going on. To see the alpha being like this just made her heart flutter.
“I see you finally held the pup,” Minji smiled while stepping closer to them.
Siyeon barely glanced at her, but when she did, she couldn’t help but smile. She was being trusted by someone else to hold a pup. Someone who was an omega. Someone who was a royal for crying out loud. Yoohyeon trusted her more than enough.
“She’s cute…” Siyeon whispered.
“She really is,” Minji laughed, catching the pup’s attention. She watched the little pup giggle and smile, happy to see her so happy and excited. A good pup.
The next few days were blurred, Minji got herself back into a work schedule with her parents while Siyeon wandered the palace freely without any kind of worry. She learned new pathways that led to new areas, mostly different courtyards she only saw from windows. She was having a great time until she saw Bora seated in the garden with a little carriage. She made her way over, happy to see the other alpha. At least until she saw how exhausted she looked.
“Didn’t sleep?” Siyeon asked when she got closer.
“No, Gahyeon was fussy all night…” Bora mumbled. “Her teeth are coming in,” She sighed.
“She seemed happy the other night…” The younger alpha whispered.
“She was with her mother… The woman could calm an angry tiger…” Bora chuckled. “How is being bound?” She asked.
“Not entirely different from not…” Siyeon muttered while looking at her hands. She wasn’t sure what the difference was, but she was happy nonetheless. “Is it supposed to feel different?” She asked.
“Maybe to them, but I didn’t really feel much…” Bora shrugged before checking on the little bundle in the carriage. Gahyeon was fast asleep with a blanket in her little hands, completely relaxed from the world. “Maybe… It’s just meant for omegas… I don’t know… But you feel happy still right?” She asked, turning back to the younger alpha.
“Very much so,” Siyeon smiled. “I love Minji so much…” She whispered.
“You guys are sickening cute,” Bora chuckled. “But I imagine Yoohyeon and I were too… At one point at least,” She shrugged. “You two should figure out a pup soon. I need to make fun of you guys for not sleeping,” She smirked while nudging her with her elbow.
“I can’t sire pups… We would have to adopt…” Siyeon muttered. “Or…” She shuddered at the thought, shaking her head.
“You know it has to always be an option for you two… Especially since they want an hier…” Bora whispered.
“It wouldn’t be my pup,” Siyeon growled.
“You have to be opened minded. No more angry alpha,” Bora pointed. “If she tells you she needs to have a pup, you’re going to have to accept it. Even if the servants raise that pup for the both of you. You don’t have to accept it as your own, but you need to be there for your mate,” Bora explained. “Before Yoohyeon found out I was able to sire pups, she knew she would have to deal with that side of it all. But they told her when she purchased me, so it was all fine,” She shrugged her shoulders, looking away from the younger alpha.
Siyeon let out a scoff, shaking her head. Minji wouldn’t have to have a pup… Yoohyeon had a pup, it made sense… Not really but she wanted it to make sense… It wouldn’t have been her pup. But having the servants take care of the pup… In that scenario… sounded ideal… Ideal to her.