Chapter Text
🐇
— W.J
To the Northern Hare Prince, Jinhyeok,
I hope this letter finds you well despite the northern winter.
Forgive me for writing so suddenly. I also regret not thanking you properly before leaving the palace. Jisoo dragged me into the carriage before I could think, and by the time I realized I should have spoken to you, we were already past the lower roads. That was rude of me. So I am writing instead.
First, thank you.
Before coming north, I was terrified. Everyone said hares' customs are so different than ours. So when my fathers sent me north for marriage, I truly believed my life was over. Looking back, that was so dramatic of me and I apologize.
But you, Northern Hare Prince, were kinder than I expected. Kinder than anyone I have met in such a situation. On our first meeting. I stared because you were taller than I thought. You looked shorter sitting down. I regret telling you that again. Please forget it. Also remember how patient you were when I only answered a single word during the banquet. You kept talking to me anyway. Thank you for making the north less frightening.
Then the wedding night. I was very scared. But you never cornered me. You slept on the floor for my sake, even though you are a crown prince. You said you did not want your husband to be afraid of you, I appreciate that.
Also… may I ask something inappropriate? The cloth left in the chamber the next morning—was the blood yours? You left before sunrise, and Jisoo said you spoke to the elders so I could return south. If the blood was yours, I apologize. You did not need to hurt yourself for me. But I am grateful, more than I can write.
When I returned home, my fathers kept asking if the north treated me well. I think they expected tears. Strangely, I did not. I missed home very much. But after leaving, I also missed certain things about the north. The quiet nights. The eastern gardens. Snow against the windows.
And… Well. You, Northern Hare Prince.
Writing that is embarrassing now that I see it. Please pretend you did not read it carefully.
I hope your clan matters go well, and your injury—if there was one—is healing. Please do not sleep on cold floors too often. Even a Northern Hare Prince should not live like that.
Respectfully,
The Southern Rabbit Prince, Wooje
🐰
— J.H
To the Southern Rabbit Prince, Wooje,
I'm glad you made it home safe. You really don't need to apologize for leaving in a hurry. I told your attendant it was fine and please don't overthink your time up here. You weren't difficult. You were just getting used to everything. That's all.
About the wedding night and that cloth, don't worry about it. Nothing bad happened. You don't owe me any thanks or apologies for it. I slept on the floor because I wanted to, not because I had to suffer through something. Please don't make it into a bigger deal than it was.
I'm also glad to hear you miss some things about the north. If you ever come back, you'll be welcomed properly, and happily, as fore personally.
One more thing. You don't have to write to me like I'm one of the elders. I'm your husband, write to me like I'm your pal. Tell me everything, Wooje. I want to know even the most trivial thing you do. What did you you do the first time you stepped out the carriage?
— Jinhyeok
🐇
— W.J
To the Northern Hare Prince, Jinhyeok,
I still feel bad that you had to go to such lengths to help me, yet I was too cowardly to ask about your whereabouts.
I unpacked my things first when I arrived home. It was still as warm as I remembered—perhaps even warmer, dare I say. But do not believe everything I write in this letter, because I tend to exaggerate everything I cherish.
Right now, I am eating my favorite candy. It is made from maltose, and the people here love adding brewed flowers and leaves for flavor and scent. I love the jasmine and dandelion ones the most. I will send you every flavor I can get my hands on, and please tell me whether they suit your taste or not, Crown Prince.
Father also asked the cooks to make spinach noodles to celebrate my return. I never thought I would miss that dish so much, especially since I’ve never liked vegetables much. But the aunties here are truly skilled with their hands. They make the dough so well that I can barely taste the spinach at all, so I’ve always eaten it happily. Today it tasted even better, perhaps because I had not eaten it for three whole months.
I wish you could try it too. I asked whether the noodles could be sent to the Northern Hare Palace, but the cooks told me they would spoil before arriving there.
Now that I think about it, I realize I barely know anything about you despite spending all those months in the Northern Hare Palace. So please tell me more about yourself, Crown Prince Jinhyeok. Tell me what kind of food you like, what tea you drink most often, or even what you usually do before going to sleep. I want to know.
I am not very good with words, so I hope this letter does not sound too dull.
I’m writing this in the dark, so forgive any ink smudges you might find. My room is only lit by a small lamp, and my eyes do not work very well after sunset. Still, I wanted to finish writing this tonight.
I hope you are doing well, and I also hope you like the candies I sent with this letter. Please do tell me your favorite ones.
Respectfully,
The Southern Rabbit Prince, Wooje
🐰
— J.H
To the Candy Loving Prince, Wooje,
The candies arrived. The jasmine ones were nice, but I prefer the ginger-honey more, and surprisingly, the licorice. I know you'll hate them since the younger servants said they taste like medicine bark. I know you'll say worse.
Now since I already wrote the opening, I'll continue with a confession that I don't like vegetables either, and only eat them when the palace hides them in soup. So I understand your spinach noodle betrayal more than you think. I do have favorites, like meats and cheeses. Regardless, I still want to try them, though. As I got mature with age, I think I can finally grasp the meaning of acquired taste as one of the elder ministers overheard me asking whether more jasmine candies could be brought from the south and now believes I have developed refined tastes after marriage.
Since you've sent us candies, I sent you smoked mountain cheese and dried beef from the north. The cooks insisted those are the foods I ask for most often, which is apparently embarrassing information for a prince to have exposed. But, you are my husband. We should know each other very well, one step at a time.
Also, Wooje, stop writing letters in the dark. I am serious about that part. If your eyes already struggle after sunset, straining them longer will bring more harm than good. Take a rest. My letter wouldn't go anywhere.
— The satisfied prince who tasted maltose candies, Jinhyeok