The sound of drums reached its peak, and the mizmar pierced the sky.
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!
Tweeeeeet!
And then all the music suddenly stopped.
The entire banquet hall held its breath.
Taeho stood at the center of the stage. Hundreds of pairs of eyes were fixed on him.
At that moment, the doors on the opposite side of the banquet hall opened.
The grand banquet hall of the Abu Dhabi royal palace was dazzling beneath the light pouring from a thousand chandeliers.
It was time for Amira to appear from the women-only banquet hall.
Taeho turned and waited for his bride.
Prince Faisal returned to the royal seats on the high dais and sat down.
In the women-only banquet hall, decorated with silk curtains and fragrant Arabian roses,
the royal women and distinguished guests, adorned in traditionally embroidered abayas and splendid jewels, were waiting for the new bride to appear.
At that moment, Amira appeared in a pure white dress, her henna-adorned hands folded gracefully together.
Amira took her first step. Beyond the fluttering veil, diamonds and gold embroidery shone brilliantly, and at her waist, the golden falcon emblem symbolizing the UAE royal family was embroidered in diamonds.
The sight of the new bride walking over the red carpet was dazzling.
Gasps of admiration and sighs flowed from all around the banquet hall.
The princess, renowned as the most beautiful in the Abu Dhabi royal family, was walking step by step toward the young man from a distant foreign land.
“Brother Faisal.”
Prince Rayan, seated beside him, whispered softly.
“Are you all right?”
Faisal nodded. He was trying hard to act as if nothing was wrong, but his heart was surging.
As if I could be all right…
He had been sixteen.
That day, Faisal had been arguing with his cousins at the horse training grounds as they mocked him. They jeered that Faisal would never be able to ride a horse for the rest of his life.
“What kind of man can’t even ride a horse?”
“You’ll spend your whole life shut up in your room embroidering like the girls.”
“…”
Faisal was furious, but he had no words with which to retort. Because even he believed that was how he would end up living.
Then nine-year-old Amira came running over and stood in front of the fifteen-year-old cousin who had been mocking Faisal.
“Shut up!”
Her voice was so sharp and clear that everyone was startled.
“Don’t bully Brother Faisal! He’s more outstanding than anyone, and one day he’ll become the king of this country!”
“What’s this little shrimp saying?”
The cousin immediately raised his hand.
Amira did not so much as blink.
“Hit me, then! I’m not scared of someone like you at all!”
When the little girl charged at them like a fighting cock, the cousins lost their nerve and eventually backed down.
That was when Faisal realized it for the first time. A fight was not won simply because one’s body was strong.
“When I become king, you will be my closest aide.”
That was the promise Faisal had made. That was why he had been the most passionate about Amira’s education, and why he had supported her from behind so she could safely finish university.
And now that child was about to leave for a faraway foreign land.
With every step she took, she was growing farther from Faisal’s side.
The ceremony began.
The imam recited verses from the Quran.
“Now the bride and groom shall take each other’s hands…”
Faisal watched as the two of them clasped hands.
The happy smile spreading across Amira’s face.
The firm yet gentle look in Taeho’s eyes.
Ah, that child is happy.
Faisal’s eyes grew hot.
Without anyone noticing, he slowly closed his eyes. A single tear slipped down between his lashes. Fortunately, no one saw the tear as it fell along his beard-covered chin.
The meal ended, and the reception began.
Congratulatory gifts befitting the dignity of the UAE royal family were placed before the bride and groom.
Every one of them was rare and precious.
It was time for the gift Faisal had personally prepared. With a face that had grown somewhat melancholy, he opened his mouth.
“I wanted to buy the two of you a newlywed home. But no matter how much I searched, I could not find anything in Samcheok that I truly liked. So I simply bought the Samcheok Grand Hotel, where Amira and I stayed.”
A contract decorated in gold leaf was unfolded.
Taeho’s eyes widened at the unexpected gift.
The Samcheok Grand Hotel was a five-star hotel completed just last year.
Since Faisal had told him not to worry because he would prepare the newlywed home, Taeho had imagined something like an apartment in the city center—but he had never expected him to buy an entire hotel.
“And this is a royal decree personally signed by His Majesty the King.”
Faisal unfolded a parchment scroll tied with red cord. Arabic and English were written side by side in gold leaf.
“Princess Amira bint Zayed Al Nahyan is hereby appointed Royal Special Envoy for Global Health Diplomacy of the UAE royal family.”
“Wow!”
Exclamations burst from among the guests.
Special envoy was one of the highest diplomatic posts among the royal family, appointed directly by the king himself. It was not a mere honorary position; it carried the real authority to represent the nation and negotiate directly with the leaders of other countries.
Faisal continued reading the decree.
“The special envoy shall concurrently serve as chairwoman of the Amira Medical Cooperation Foundation and exercise authority regarding international health cooperation and medical diplomacy. She shall also possess diplomatic immunity and shall have the authority to cooperate with international organizations such as the WHO and the UN on behalf of the royal family.”
Amira’s eyes widened.
This was not simply giving her a pretext to stay in Korea. He had entrusted her with real work.
Faisal looked at his younger sister and said,
“You are now the face of the royal family and the person responsible for the Amira Foundation. Together with Dr. Kang Taeho, you must build medical cooperation, and if necessary, negotiate directly with heads of state around the world.”
Amira immediately realized that Faisal had created this position for her.
“Ya akhi…”
“Amira, I believe in you. You will do more than well enough.”
As Amira’s eyes filled with tears, Faisal patted his younger sister on the shoulder.
Faisal smiled.
Now he could truly smile.
So that Amira could become a bridge connecting the Middle East and Korea.
So that this child would not be lonely by herself in Korea.
So that she would not sever her ties to her homeland.
***
After the wedding ended, Taeho and Amira were escorted to the newlywed suite prepared in the eastern wing of the royal palace.
The ceiling was adorned with golden arabesque patterns and crystal chandeliers, and the floor was laid with Italian Carrara marble and Persian silk carpets. Silver incense burners filled with the scent of oud had been placed throughout the room, and rose petals were arranged in the shape of a heart on the marble floor. At the center stood a round bed draped with curtains, with golden cushions arranged like works of art atop pure white silk sheets.
Amira smiled as if pleased.
“The queen decorated it herself for us.”
“I’m grateful.”
Amira removed her veil. Her henna-adorned hands revealed a face as pale as moonlight.
For a moment, Taeho stared at her, entranced.
It still did not feel real that he was married.
Even more so, the fact that his wife was the beautiful princess of Abu Dhabi, the kind one might only see in a dream.
“You look especially radiant today.”
“That must be because I’m happy. You were surprised many times today, weren’t you? The zaffa procession, the ayyala dance—everything must have been new to you.”
Taeho smiled gently.
“I was surprised, but it was all right. It was a chance to learn about your country’s culture.”
“Thank you.”
Beyond the glass window that occupied the entire eastern wall, the night view of the Arabian Gulf spread out before them. The two stood side by side in front of the window and gazed at the night scenery for a while.
The lights looked like pearls scattered over black silk.
Lights stretched in long lines over the dark sea of the Arabian Gulf, and in the distance, the silhouette of the Burj Al Arab could be seen.
When Taeho wrapped an arm around her shoulders, Amira leaned against him.
“Taeho-nim.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve lived here my whole life, but I’ve never been this happy.”
Taeho turned her toward him.
Their eyes met.
Her hand, patterned with henna, quietly took Taeho’s hand.
“Taeho-nim, I won’t let you be lonely from now on.”
Amira’s gaze was earnest.
When she had heard that Taeho had grown up an orphan, Amira had first been surprised, and later, heartbroken. To think that a man who had seemed so perfect carried such a deep wound.
Amira wanted to fill the empty places in Taeho and hold him close.
Taeho also knew Amira’s sincerity well. He cupped Amira’s cheek.
“That’s what I should be saying…”
Silence flowed between them.
Only the sound of their breathing and their heartbeats could be heard.
Amira reached out first and touched the collar of Taeho’s dishdasha.
“This outfit suits you.”
“It’s thanks to you. It’s my first time wearing one…”
“You’ll have to wear it often from now on. Will that be all right?”
“As long as you’re beside me, it’ll be all right.”
Amira slowly began to undo the buttons of his dishdasha. Her fingertips were trembling faintly.
Taeho brought his hand to the shoulder strap of Amira’s dress. He felt the pearl decorations set one by one beneath his fingertips.
Slowly, very slowly, their clothes slipped away.
They did not hurry.
As if confirming one another, as if respecting one another, they moved like they were performing a sacred ritual.
They slowly lay down on the bed. The pure white silk sheets embraced the two of them.
Amira’s henna-patterned hands touched Taeho’s shoulders, his back, his chest. Taeho’s hands traced her hair, the line of her neck, her waist.
The moment their skin met, the world disappeared. Warmth spread between them. Their hearts beat in a single rhythm.
In the moonlight, their shadows swayed as if dancing.
“I love you.”
Taeho whispered.
“I love you too.”
Amira answered.
Two souls became one.
The desert night was deep, and countless stars poured down.
***
“Director Kang Taeho! Please look this way!”
“Princess Amira! Please say a word about your marriage!”
“What are your honeymoon plans?”
A barrage of camera flashes poured down.
From the morning, the arrivals hall at Incheon Airport was packed with reporters.
A young Korean doctor had married a princess of the UAE royal family—and not only that, there was her appointment as Royal Special Envoy for Global Health Diplomacy and the signing of a large-scale medical partnership. There was no way the Korean media would miss such big news.
Taeho walked slowly, holding Amira’s hand.
Today, instead of traditional clothing, Amira wore a beige trench coat and white pants. She had only a light scarf wrapped around her head, yet she still exuded dignity.
Taeho asked in a whisper,
“You must be very tired.”
“I’m all right. This much is fine.”
Amira smiled. But a twelve-hour flight was by no means short.
She regretted refusing all the protocol arrangements King Zayed had offered out of consideration, thinking that from now on she had to become accustomed to the life of a commoner.
I need to let her rest soon…
Taeho looked around as he made his way through the reporters.
In the distance, Gihwan was squeezing his way through the crowd of journalists.
“Director! Director, over here!”
Gihwan came running over with a bright smile. In his hands, he held a placard that read, “Welcome, Director Kang Taeho & Princess Amira,” though it had long since become crumpled.
Taeho waved gladly.
“Gihwan!”
“Congratulations on your marriage!”
Gihwan bowed deeply. Then he bowed respectfully to Amira as well.
“Princess, you must have had a difficult trip. Welcome back to Korea.”
“It’s good to see you, Gihwan.”
Amira smiled elegantly.
“I’ll take care of the luggage. I parked the car outside.”
Gihwan spoke as he skillfully took the suitcases.
“The deputy director and Nurse Park Geumja and everyone else wanted to come too, but there were too many patients, so they couldn’t. Oh, and the village is in an uproar. They’ve been making a fuss for three days now, preparing a welcome event for the director and the princess.”
“A welcome event?”
Taeho blinked.
“We were just planning to go back quietly…”
“That’s impossible!”
Gihwan laughed heartily.
“The village head himself stepped up, decorating the square in front of the village hall, hanging banners, preparing food. Whew, it’s been absolute chaos. They keep saying it’s the honor of our village. I got several calls from this morning asking when you’d arrive.”
“Ah…”
Taeho smiled bashfully.
In the parking lot, a cleanly washed black SUV was waiting. Gihwan opened the rear door.
“Princess, Director, please get in. It’ll take about two hours to Geumsan.”
Taeho and Amira got into the car. Gihwan loaded the luggage into the trunk and sat in the driver’s seat.
“We’re off!”
The car began to move slowly. They left Incheon Airport and entered the expressway.
Gihwan looked at the two of them through the rearview mirror and asked,
“Director, how was the UAE? I saw it on the news, and the wedding was seriously glamorous.”
“It was on the news?”
“Yes. It was on almost every broadcast. You probably didn’t feel it since you were there, but here, it became a complete sensation. It’s amazing, after all.”
“It was all full of things I’d never seen before too. The zaffa procession, the ayyala dance…”
“I saw it too! You doing the sword dance, Director! All the villagers saw it too. The village head turned on the broadcast at the village hall, you see. Everyone was making a fuss about how cool our director looked.”
“What?”
Taeho was flustered.
“The village watched the broadcast?”
“Yes! The village head even set up a beam projector. More than a hundred villagers gathered and watched it. When you came out wearing the dishdasha, everyone burst into applause!”
Amira laughed quietly.
“You’re very popular, Taeho-nim.”
“Oh, dear…”
Taeho covered his flushed face.