Areum sat pensively on her veranda, biting the tip of her own hair while thinking about the "crazy mission" she carried out last night. Deep down, she felt proud — after all, it's not easy to make a prince jealous, right? But what she didn't expect...
"Why do I feel... like I've lost?"
She remembered Wang Joon's smile. The smile she secretly observed, which used to be hard to appear but now was happening more frequently. She also recalled how Wang Joon calmed her down when she caused a fuss yesterday.
"Oppa... uh, not! Your Majesty... why do you make my heart feel like a BTS drum?"
Her room door was knocked. Soa entered as usual, carrying a tray of food.
"Areum looks energetic this morning," Soa said with a grin.
Areum raised her eyebrows. "Energetic or stuck?"
"I think... maybe both," Soa replied as she placed the tray down. "I also feel... someone is becoming sweeter in Your Majesty's eyes."
Areum almost spat out her porridge.
"What did Soa say?! No way!"
Soa just chuckled softly, leaving Areum who's already starting to feel her cheeks heat up.
At the main palace, Wang Joon sat in his personal space, holding a delicate piece of cloth. The cloth was actually from the sleeve of his old robe — torn during a fight a few months ago.
With a small smile, he handed it to a guard.
"Give this to Areum. Tell her... she needs something to tie her hair. It looks like she's about to go to war last night."
The guard was puzzled but obeyed.
Areum took the item and immediately burst into laughter.
"What is this?! Vintage-style hair tie?" But for some reason... she felt touched. She looked at the cloth for a long time, suddenly feeling like she wanted to keep it for a lifetime.
"Oh my God, Areum... what's wrong with you? Just got given some scrap fabric and you melt?"
That afternoon, Areum was walking in the small garden within the palace. Unknowingly, Wang Joon also walked towards her, seemingly on purpose.
"Areum."
She turned around and almost slipped in surprise.
"Your Majesty! Uh, sorry... I—I thought a giant mosquito was chasing me earlier."
Wang Joon smiled. "You always think weird stuff."
He paused for a moment, then spoke softly.
"I want to show you a place tonight. Are you free?"
Areum nodded, but her mind was already playing K-pop songs.
That night, Areum strolled slowly beside Wang Joon in the palace's back garden. A small torch lit the stone path, and the stars in the sky seemed to be watching too.
"In the past," Wang Joon said, "I heard a story about someone. They come from a faraway land, rude, strange... but… they made someone here feel nostalgic."
Areum was startled. She wanted to ask, but couldn't. The words were too delicate, too precise.
"If they leave and aren't by my side... maybe the heart that remains here will become lonely again."
Areum lowered her head. Her heart was pounding.
"What do you mean, Your Majesty?"
Wang Joon smiled gently.
"When the time comes... you will know."
That night, Areum returned to her room with a bright red face. She threw herself onto the bed, hugged her pillow, and whispered softly.
"I CAN'T BE WITH HIM!"
Dayang Soa, who had just entered, immediately turned to leave again. "I'll come in another time, okay...?"
To Be Continued...