The King was a bit overprotective sometimes.

Actually, no. Now that Seol knew the truth about her parentage, her eyes opened and she began to notice that there were many times that he would either carefully monitor every single step of hers, or shield her from the view of anyone in the palace. He was subtle, of course, but none of his actions went by unnoticed anymore. Especially now that she was older, when she realized how, despite his subtleness, he would often exaggerate. Not even her adoptive family was as paranoid as him, and her parents were always walking one step behind her when she was a child.

Part of her could understand that behavior, especially now that she knew more about her birth mother; now that she could understand what older people meant when they used vague words. So most of the time she was never bothered when he would take her through long routes in order to avoid certain areas of the Palace, when he opted for having tea inside instead of walking around the garden. She would let him take the lead, she would sit back and wait until his body relaxed and whatever danger lurking was gone.

The other part, however, was, at times, heavily annoyed.

"I'm not approving of this marriage." It was the first thing he told her when he saw her for the first time in two months. Before she could greet him, before she could bow, before she had even caught her breath after sprinting up the stairs of the palace out to the garden and the lake Dongji. And honestly, Seol was not even a bit surprised.

But she was, again, annoyed.

"Pyeha..." She stopped mid sentence, then sighed. She wondered if she really wanted to enter this discussion, already tired of the long and relentless conversations that she had back and forth with her parents at home. She had had enough of the attempts of dissuasion, the bargaining and even the threats that had started the day she announced to her father and her mother her decision to accept the wedding offer made by Lord Kim Sun Jo.

Ever since she had reached marriageable age, both her fathers made sure to assure her that her husband would be one of her choosing, and that whatever proposals made to her parents would have to have her consent. Also, if she ever found someone on her own, that she could provide an answer to an engagement as well. She was old enough, and was wise enough to be aware of how the world worked, so she could make her own decisions concerning these matters. Ever since she was a teenager, her family's words on her future partner were ever the promise to not interfere.

Hence her annoyance with everyone for overreacting now.

"Pyeha," she started again more composed, trying not to let her anger get the best of her at such a moment, "I am afraid I do not know what you expect me to take from that statement."

"Exactly what you heard," Gwangjong replied, sounding as annoyed as she, "I do not approve of this union, so you will not marry him."

"As long as Abeoji gives his permission, I don't really need yours."

"What? Do you really think I won't use my position to interfere? I'll ban him from the country before he marries you."

Seol knew her biological father well enough to know that, unlike Jung's threats, he would actually follow through with his words. Therefore, she had to ease his mind in order to prevent him from interfering.

"You really don't have to, Pyeha. I'm alright."

"Is that what you told Jung? Is that why he's agreeing with this?"

Seol sighed again, this time in relief that she had managed to convince her father to stay behind at home. Had the two brothers been in the same room right now, they would certainly start another ugly argument, and she would have no chance of having peace.

"This union is good for me," she began to list reasons that not even her parents had managed to argue or ignore, "Lord Sun Jo is a good man, with a stable life. His clan is powerful enough that I will have a comfortable life, but not too much that will get me involved in the intrigues of the palace. He's been nice to me, and to my family. I don't see why you would oppose my marriage with him."

"You do not love him."

This time, she didn't sigh. She didn't even get annoyed anymore. She couldn't get angry whenever he would voice such worries out loud. Worries about her feelings, about her heart. About the things Seol had never allowed herself to duel too much upon so as to not cloud her judgment.

This time, she deflated. Because he wasn't criticizing her choice of spouse per se, or being overly cautious with a grand decision that would change everything in her life. She deflated, because he was just being too caring, too doting. Although she was a bit surprised at his rather naïve position towards matrimony, she deflated because it made her feel like a young child listening to a fantasy once again.

She deflated, but she did not give up her stance.

"Abeonim, I'm not openly claimed as such, but I am a noble lady. Nobles rarely marry for love, and you should know that better than anyone. I should be glad that someone as good as him found interest in me."

"You can find a better man," the King insisted, not relenting in the slightest, "And a man that loves you, nonetheless."

"I don't see how love should matter."

"It matters because otherwise, you'll become just one more wife of a rich man. You'll have a husband that only comes to you when it's convenient, who has no care for your wellbeing. I will not accept that, and neither would your mother."

He didn't have to clarify which woman he was talking about. That voice tone was only used to talk about one person. And then a silence followed, as it usually did whenever her late mother was brought abruptly to the conversation.

Usually she would take this moment to relish the memory and history of who her mother was, she would give him time to gather his thoughts — and then she would casually probe more about the woman who gave her life. This, however, was one of the rare times that she would feel awkward and out of place.

So she cleared her throat, looked down to her feet and fidgeted with her fingers. It felt bad to go against the wishes of someone who died for her, to wonder if her mother would understand the need for this matrimony and not be as adamant as the living.

"Neither of you married out of love," she retorted quietly.

"And that's why we wouldn't want that happening to you."

"I don't have too many options, Pyeha," she finally admitted, already tired of talking in circles, knowing that the King had the means and the powers to continue this discussion for as long as he wished, "And frankly, your stubborn refusal won't help any of us. If you do anything, despite not openly claiming me as yours, the ministers and the Queen will wonder about your motives, and then the truth about me will be exposed. And I'm sure my mother wouldn't want that either."

"I just need to talk with Jung. I doubt he'll disagree with me."

"Because you're King, and you'd order him to do so."

"Yes."

"You're impossible."

"Just accept it."

"Why don't you accept it? I can be just as stubborn as you."

He stood still and silent for a while. For a second she wondered if he really was about to concede and allow her to wed Lord Sun Jo. But then he looked away from her, back to the distant lake, and she knew he was about to trap her in a memory once again.

"Your mother had strong convictions about marriage."

"Marriage too, huh?" She scoffed but couldn't turn the opportunity to know more about Hae Soo down.

"I did say almost everything, didn't I? Well... She would say that a commitment that lasts your entire life should be taken out of volition and affection rather than compulsion. And that you should never tie your life to someone else without properly knowing them, otherwise you might be left damaged and betrayed."

Seol couldn't really contest that. In fact, that was exactly what the little voice in the back of her head had been whispering for a while now, despite her continuous attempts to disregard it as fear — as gullible innocence. Usually the argument of marrying out of love sounds like a silly and childish fantasy to her, however, listening to her late mother's opinions makes her see it as a more mature perspective.

Then she paused, remembering how Hae Soo took so long to marry a man, and now finding that the pessimistic and overly cautious attitude was very much unlike the woman she got to know through stories. And then she couldn't help being sidetracked for a while.

"What happened between you two that made her so cynical?"

"She had her own share of heartache before me!" He frowned, defensive, and she smiled, finding his mortification amusing. But he continued before she contested his argument, "She was also against a man having multiple wives."

"And she got involved with a Prince? What was she thinking?"

"She would have been my only wife, if I could have."

"But you couldn't. And she wasn't." Seol blinked, dispersing the image of the woman from her mind, "Because that's how life is, and we have to accept it."

"You don't have to accept it, Seol-yah. Your well-being comes first for me. I hurt your mother, and in the end, I failed to make her happy. All the power I have now was for nothing then. But I can do it for you now. I can keep you safe and I can see that you're taken care of. I can see that you're happy, so please don't rush to a wedding just for stability. Let me give you stability, the luxury of choosing the man you'll spend your life with. Let me provide you with the privileges that I fought so hard to acquire."

Seol basked on her father's words for a while, feeling his devotion and care finally melt her resolve.

She had made careful calculations when she accepted Lord Sun Jo's proposal, she had observed the political and economical scenario before picking a well-off husband that would keep her safe and protected while providing her with enough stability that they would not resent each other over time. She had placed her security over her happiness, sure that any sort of feelings could make her lose focus, make her become a vulnerable, easy prey.

But not every woman in the country had the full love and support of the King. Not even the Princesses of Goryeo.

"What if I choose wrong?"

"That would be impossible."

"What if I fall in love with a man of low rank and low income?"

"I'll promote him and give him a raise."

"What if I end up deciding not to marry anyone and spend the rest of my days reading?"

"I'll build you a library and give you land and a temple."

Seol sighed. Seol allowed her rigid shoulders to fall and her resistance to crumble. Seol relented and softened, allowed herself to be vulnerable, to be taken care of by her father.

"Then, I'll rely on you this one time."

"Thank you, Seol-ah," he smiled at last, and Seol sighed again, this time a bit frustrated, growling slightly as well.

"Now I understand why Abeoji insisted for me to speak with you first."

"Because I hold perfect logic and sense"

"Because you're too stubborn and too powerful. Honestly, if you could, you would paint the clouds green just to prove a point and claim that you're right."

"I would paint the clouds green for you."

I would do the impossible for you, she heard the not so subtle profession in his words, and she felt her indignation melt on the inside and disappear in the same way her resistance did.

"Honestly... Was eomonim as obstinate as you?" Seol didn't have to specify which one, and her father now smiled at the memory of his late lover.

"She would say no, but that would be because she was too stubborn to admit being stubborn."

Seol laughed and the King chuckled softly, and she couldn't help but notice the smug aura of victory in his posture.

Usually, she would hate losing. She would hate being coddled and patronized. But — and she would never admit it to a soul — not when it was with her father. Because even though the King was suffocatingly protective at times, Seol could understand that it was because of who she was to him.

The King was overprotective sometimes, but Seol knew that it was all out of love.

A\N: Now, for my confession: The reason I took so long to resume this piece of work was that I had decided pretty early on that Seol would find out about So being her father and that I wouldn't make it messy, just a nice story about a father-daughter relationship through the constraints and conflicts left behind in Goryeo. (In fact, my first draft was of a oneshot with Seol and Jung, then So. Much of the dialogue changed, as it was written in 2018, but the vibes were pretty much the same.)

What brings me shame: I had the previous chapter written for like almost two years now. But I had no idea where I would go afterwards. Many things were drafted, many things were discarded. And I was afraid that I would go down a path that would require changes in the reveal. (Actually, I think it did happen. I think I wrote that scene two different times.)

Anyways. Sorry for being late, but if it serves any comfort, the following chapters won't have such a gap in publishing.

Thanks for reading! :)