minutiae
| mi - nyoo - she - aye |
the small, precise details that makes one unique; the finer points and subtleties.
- - pairing: Minhyuk x [y/n]
- - genre: angst, romance, drama (???)
- - a/n: i do apologize for such a late part 2, @exomyapotheosis ! however, i do hope you guys are doing well and i also hope that you guys enjoy this part 2 of minutiae! stay safe! ♡
ps: listening to this link would definitely set the mood while reading this!
The crackling of firewood reminded you of the days where you and your cousins huddled around the fireplace as you all wait for your parents to finish their Royal Meeting before having dinner with everyone. However, that memory wasn't going to happen anymore - the fresh wound continued to linger in your mind and heart, wiping off the faint smile on your face.
"A penny for your thoughts?" Minhyuk breaks the ice with wandering eyes, casually meeting yours as he plops another firewood onto the pit. "Oh,” a small smile crosses your lips with a gently shake of your hand, “It's nothing," you pull your knees closer to your chest as you watch him with your eyes, the fake smile on your lips never leaving. Despite the fact that you keep on pushing it away, you just couldn't help but heave out a sigh as the heaviness of your heart continues to suffocate you.
"Actually," you voice out before you could even stop yourself. Minhyuk was quite surprised by your sudden outburst, however, he smiled and urged you to continue with his curious eyes. "I became a wanderer ever since the downfall of the Kingdom of Asteria. I relentlessly hid from the men of Wysteria and when I finally escaped, I got caught in the little mess a while ago."
The way your gaze lost its twinkle was already enough for Minhyuk to get the whole picture of what you've been through. The word about the fallen Kingdom and the last royalty that have escaped immediately spread like wildfire - and being a traveler, himself, it was easy to know these things and just the sight of the gold chains hidden behind your clothing fairly gave your cover way.
"If it weren't for you, I'd probably be dead by now." you bitterly chuckle whilst poking on the flickering firewood by your foot. "Thanks for keeping me under your wings, Minhyuk. I know it'd be selfish of me to depend on you so I'll probably head on once the sun rises-"
Waving his hands vigorously, he shakes his head and reassures you, "No, please do not think like that. I would be thrilled if you'd stay with me all throughout-" realizing what he just blabbered, Minhyuk sheepishly scratches the back of his head and soon his cheeks were dusted with pink from embarrassment. "I-it gets pretty lonely and I really don't mind you being with me, honestly speaking."
The sincerity of his words sent your heart into a bliss, however, it reminded you that there are still people out there who are forever willing to accept you in their lives despite what happened in Asteria. "You don't have to beat yourself up from what happened in Asteria, [y/n]. It was never your fault with what happened to your people and to your parents, however, I do understand why we tend to blame someone or something else for what happened in order for us to cope with it."
"But, [y/n]," he places a hand on both of your shoulders as he found his way beside you at some point. "You have to let it go. Your father wanted you to live on and continue his legacy. And the sight of these tears would surely hurt your parents' hearts." Minhyuk traces his fingers on your cheeks and wipes away the tears that have fallen without you noticing it.
Everything that he had said felt like the missing piece that you've been searching for these past weeks and somehow the weight on your chest has been lifted up. It was true that you've beaten yourself over and over at the death of your parents and your people but you just wanted someone to tell you that it wasn't your fault. You wanted the assurance. The key to your own prison.
"You might be wondering why I know all of this stuff," Minhyuk wipes away the last tear that brims down on your cheeks with his thumb. "It's because of the hidden fact that I was one of the sons of the King of Wysteria." The sight of his bitter smile sent your heart aching but his sudden revelation made your brain running in circles.
Minhyuk? Was once the son of the King of Wysteria? You furrow your eyebrows at him and wondered, "What do you mean?" He leans back on the log that you were resting at and looks up at the moon with his hands fumbling on to the heirloom that his mother once gave him.
"My exile was unheard of. I did something grave enough for the King of Wysteria to banish his own son, the one next to the throne. However, it's been a year since my exile. I became a traveler and lived off with the animals I hunted." he confesses with a sad smile. It was true that his exile was unheard of as if it was brushed off by his own people and family.
Taking in his hand into yours, you caress the back of his hand with your thumb. "I'm sorry," you let out a shaky sigh as you stared into his eyes, only to see his sad brown orbs. "You don't have to be sorry, [y/n]. Life can be cruel, you know. It won't always end in happy endings."
"I'm actually happy that I am able to meet you here. Ever since we were young, I've been meaning to meet you but I wasn't permitted to." he chuckles at the memory of a younger him begging his father to let him meet you. "Stay with me, [y/n]. It's nice to have someone to rely on."
You were happy to accept his offer. You nod your head in response and flashed him a genuine smile - a smile that sent Minhyuk’s heart skipping a beat. It was true that he once yearned to meet you. A foolish yet childish request that the young Minhyuk kept.
The brightness of the fire was enough to illuminate your features. Your (e/c) orbs filled with stars and galaxies, the sharp inclination of your nose that you’ve inherited from your mother, and those red, plump lips that didn’t shake off the smile you gave him.
Who would’ve thought Minhyuk would meet you here in the forest? In addition, having you by his side despite whatever was happening in the world. It must’ve been a dream but somewhere deep inside Minhyuk begged to differ.
A pat on your head was enough to have your smile wiped off, only to be replaced with a slight part of your lips. “You should rest up. I’ll keep watch for any thieves.” And with that, Minhyuk hoists his body up, hands dusting off the dead leaves on his pants.
“Good night, Minhyuk, and thank you, once again, for accepting me.”
His gaze softened and with one look over his shoulder, he meets your (e/c) orbs, “You’re welcome, (y/n).”
Ever since that fateful night, Minhyuk and you were inseparable. The whole journey with Minhyuk was enough to replace the hole in your heart. Laughter, smiles, and even tears were shed, however, as days pass by, you soon realize how your heart has grown fond of the lad.
Sure, he can be mischievous but he is definitely someone you can rely on. The way his brown orbs would twinkle at the most random moments, or how his nose would crinkle at the sight of bugs, or how his lips would always turn up into a smile when he sees you goofing around always had your eyes captured.
The soft wind dances through your skirt, gently lifting them up as they continue on to twirl the dry leaves on the ground. A crunch underneath your boots was enough to keep you sane but it was not enough to stop you from glancing over the young man walking right beside you with his hand taking a hold of his horse’s reins.
“Are you somehow enjoying your view, (y/n)?” a startled yelp escapes your lips the moment your eyes met Minhyuk’s. The heat from your neck immediately rises to your cheeks and up to the tip of your ears, rendering you a flustered mess. “W-what are you blabbering about? I-I was just enjoying the trees!”
Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump. Ba-dump.
All you can focus on was the beating of your heart. It pounded against your chest, begging you to let it out under the scrutiny of those brown orbs. “Are you sure? It does not seem like it, (y/n).”
“But, do you want to take a rest first before we continue on to the next town?” noticing how you’ve fallen silent was enough for him to change the topic. A small nod was all it took him to lead you and his horse to a nearby lake. “Shall we sit under that tree over there?”
As you take a seat on the grass, you lean back on the trunk with eyes taking in the beautiful sight of the lake. Ducks peacefully swam, and birds flew by. The water sat there peacefully- filled with tranquility as if it was a place where one can truly escape from reality.
The soft crunch of leaves came closer and soon, Minhyuk resides beside you, seated a little closer to you. “You know,” he starts as he stares off in the distance, your eyes immediately turning to look at him.
“We can settle down in the next town.”
W-what? you couldn’t follow what he was trying to say but somewhere deep inside of you told you to let him continue. “We can build our own house there and live there without any worries.”
Since day one, you’ve never really thought of meeting anyone else. It was always Minhyuk, the person who you can only see by your side in the years to come. However, the proposal had you speechless. “Yes, our house.”
“I know we’ve been through a lot but I just...” his dulcet voice trails off as he bends his body forwards, his slender fingers playing with the tiny sticks and leaves as he sad smile crosses his lips. “I just couldn’t seem to see a future without you in it.”
Minhyuk has always thought of spending the rest of his life with you but due to the circumstances of having just met each other for almost a month or two, Minhyuk couldn’t seem to shake of the feeling of dread the moment those words left his mouth.
An exasperated sigh soon leaves his mouth, followed by the shifting of his eyes from the twigs and leaves to your own (e/c) orbs. “It is quite a surprise for me to fall for someone as good as you.”
Those days spent with you was a bliss. Minhyuk has never felt so much joy in his life ever since he was banished from Westeria and yet, with a smile from you, it was enough to wash away all the pain he felt. The sight of his trembling hands caught your attention, only to have it stop the moment your hands wrapped around it.
“I know whatever might happen between us is forbidden, however, we can always start anew together, Minhyuk.”
A princess from Asteria and a prince from Wisteria? It was looked down upon. Never in a million years would you imagine seeing yourself falling for a prince from Wisteria and yet here you are, unable to stop yourself from calming the prince down. “I, too, cannot picture myself with someone else besides you, Minhyuk.”
“Ever since I was young, I’ve always seen pictures of you,” Minhyuk confesses as he entwines his fingers with yours, thumb carefully caressing the back of your hand. The faded picture of you in the arms of your mother and father flashes before Minhyuk’s memory, only to be followed by his outraged father tearing down the picture- a reminder of how he has drifted far from his dear old friend.
In his eyes told a million stories, and yet, all you could see was the glint of sadness that lingered. “Whenever I brought you up to my father, all I ever received was a slap on my face, telling me to never mention your damned name in our kingdom.”
“At a very young age, you’ve already piqued my interests. I query about you through my royal tutor and I’ve learned what a beautiful girl you were.” a faint smile only to be wiped off when he remembered the mere reason for his exile. “I presume you do know the well-known proverb curiosity killed the cat?”
“I do know quite about it.” you respond, eyes never leaving the sight of his thumb unconsciously drawing circles. “When my father found out about my doings, it sort of lead to my exile.”
“I went against his beliefs and ideals. I couldn’t simply grasp his reasoning as to why we can’t be at peace. Out of all my brothers, I was the one who defied him- to an extent where I proclaimed to him that one day, I would prove him wrong about what he thinks about the kingdom of Asteria.”
Looking up to meet your gaze, he chuckles before ruffling your hair with his free hand- shyly bumping his shoulder against yours. “But, I would also presume you know the saying after the proverb.”
“Curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back.”
Raising your entwined hands up to his lips, he plants a soft kiss at the back of your hand before continuing, “If I was exiled only to meet you, I must admit all the pain I’ve went through was worth it.”
“From the bottom of my heart, I do genuinely love you, (y/n).” he confesses with eyes unwavering. “If you do not feel the same way, I will respect it-”
“Who says I do not feel the same way?” Nine words were enough to cut him off. The confusion was written all over his face but it didn’t stop you from addressing the elephant in the room. “Just as I have said before, I, too, can’t see myself with anyone else besides you.”
“Throughout the days we’ve spent together, you were the only one who accepted me without any regard as to who I really am. You treated me as an equal and at some point, you’ve eased away all the pain in my heart.”
Taking the amulet your father gave you before his last breath in your hands, you couldn’t help but smile. “You made me feel that I was not alone. I do want to spend the rest of my life with you, Minhyuk. It doesn’t matter if we’re both from different kingdoms... I’ve realized throughout our time together, you are worth every risk I can take.”
You bring up your hands up to his cheeks, cupping them as you bring your face closer. “Shall we continue to the next town now?”
Both of your hearts were heard. The two of you arrived at the neighboring town and decided to settle down there. The new life you both planned was hard at first, however, the two of you managed. A small cottage was enough for the two of you, with a big yard for the two of you to plant your crops and a small barn for your livestock.
“Good morning, sweetheart.” Minhyuk whispers against your ears, arms snaking around your waist as both of his hands land on your growing belly. “Did you sleep well, perhaps?”
Months have passed and now you are carrying his child. The two of you neither gave up on each other, spending each and every day to the fullest- loving each other wholeheartedly.
“Good morning to you too, Min, and yes, I did.” you chuckle at the soft kisses he left on your shoulders. “Did you sleep well, too?”
With hands busy with the crops right in front of you, knife skillfully chopping them for the soup you were about to make for breakfast, however, you stop your tracks when Minhyuk grew silent.
Odd, you thought as you settle your knife down on the cutting board, turning around to face him with hands finding their way to his cheeks. “Is something the matter, honey?”
“Say, (y/n),” there was something troubling Minhyuk, and for one, you couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle as you knew what was about to leave his mouth.
A hum follows as you wait for him to continue. “Do you ever regret starting a family with me?”
Shaking your head in disagreement, you plant a chaste kiss on his lips, locking your (e/c) orbs on his. “Why would I ever regret such a thing?”
“Minhyuk,” you say as you search for his eyes, “you’re the best thing that has ever happened to me and there is nothing in this world that could compare to you and to the happiness you have given me.”
Somewhere deep in Minhyuk’s heart questioned everything. Everything felt like a dream; scared to mess up and wake up in the woods, only to find himself to where he was several months ago.
“I love you,” you whisper loud enough for the two of you to hear, “with all my heart and with all my soul.”
“Fate may have been cruel for the both of us, but listen,” taking his hand into yours, you gently placed them atop your chest, where your heart resides. “Can you feel my heart pounding against my chest?”
Underneath his palm was the soft vibrations of your heart, rapidly beating against his calloused skin. “This isn’t a dream, right?” The sight of you shaking your head was enough for him to crack a smile.
“Thank you... and I love you too, with all my heart and with all my soul, (y/n).”
Gently tugging you in for a passionate, yet deep kiss, all Minhyuk could think of at that moment was to thank the gods and goddess for bringing you into his life. Tongues entwined, tasting each other’s sweetness, and bodies were pressed closer to each other. That kiss served as the reassurance Minhyuk needed. Pulling away to break the kiss, Minhyuk caresses your cheek with eyes lovingly staring right into yours.
“Shall we cook together?” receiving a nod from you, he pulls away before taking the knife in his hands, proceeding in chopping the rest of the crop. “I’ll be right back. I’ll go and get the beef stock ready.”
“Mmm.” Minhyuk heaves out a relieved sigh as he gazes up at the sky through the window, watching the grass dancing with the wind. Whatever may happen, he promises to keep you safe in his arms even if it may cost him his life. Glancing over his shoulder, he watches you place the pot of beef stock on top of the stew stove.
You definitely are a gift from above and no matter how much he tries to deny it, he sure is one blessed man. Returning his gaze back on the vegetable he was cutting, he couldn’t help but smile in contentment.
Thank you, (y/n)... even in another life, I’d still choose you over and over again, (y/n).
“Honey, can you bring me the vegetables? The stock’s boiling already.” your honeyed voice was enough to snap him out from his own train of thoughts, only to reply with an “mmm”.
With the chopped vegetables in his hands, he carefully pours them on to the soup before wrapping an arm around your waist, bending down only to stop his lips by your ear.
