a small happiness.

My dearest Chun-ja-ssi,

Where can I even begin? All my thoughts are scattered, but in such a wonderful manner.

I am... happy. So happy, even though that is a word that now seems too plain for how I feel. Even if I could not see the wild smile still on my face in the mirror, I would have no other name for the warmness spreading all throughout my chest when I think of the events of the day. Forgive me for sending a letter so soon but I simply could not resist. Not when you occupy every corner of my mind as you always have.

I will request that you please forget how nervous I was this afternoon, perspiring as I did. It is so unbecoming of a man, even though many do not consider me as such in my state anyway. I was afraid that you would turn me down. That you would not want to link your life with mine, considering my position and my lack. But you always accept me regardless of my nerves, my mumbled words, and my accidentally-broken utensils, don't you? Ah... I'm too lucky to have met you...

Truly, I never thought such simple words, "I will marry you," could make me so overjoyed. But then you had to add on that "of course," making me feel so foolish for ever doubting what all the care and affection you've shown me has meant. I will live the rest of my life making sure that you never regret your words, since you have brought me such bliss since that first day I met you. When you laughed so merrily at my words, as if they were really the wittiest jokes instead of the nervous mumblings of a man who fell in love in an instant. Thank you. For everything.

And as I said before, you must not worry: I will never be upset by Han-jae's parentage or by the knowledge that you had a first husband. It is all a part of your life. It has made you the beautiful, resilient woman you are, and I could never rebuke any bit of that history. I only wish to take care of you both now, as much as I can.

My love, I wish to take you to see the cherry blossoms when they blush prettily pink in the spring time. I want to be there to watch and help Han-jae grow up into the clever young man I know he will be. I'd like to witness this all as a family, if you will allow me.

Yours, forever yours,

Kim Namjoon

Oh — It is only now that I realize that I completely forgot to answer your query as to how the king and uinyeo-nim are faring, since I blurted out my true feelings in the middle of our conversation. It is all happier news, as if the world has decided to be briefly joyful along with us. Uinyeo-nim has been smiling more, laughing often, especially when she is with one of the clever scholars. It's been a long time since she has made a new friend. Her work is going well too, the last I asked, and she is determined to help the court ladies. As for the king... He is, astonishingly, behaving in a similar way, though not nearly as obvious. But when I broke a bowl last week, he even had the heart to snicker in my direction, which he used to do as a child! Why, yesterday, he even took his tea in the pavilion overlooking the pond, which he has not done since before his coronation.

These changes are certainly welcomed. I can only hope that they will last.