My face went completely blank, and I muttered, "I… completely forgot about that."
"WHAT?!" Mira screamed, almost falling off the bed.
Mira continued, resting her head on her hand.
"Honestly, how can you be like this? But whatever," she sighed, "let's listen to the whole thing together now."
Both of our gazes shifted towards Alice.
A soft smile appeared on Alice's face as she said,
"Let me tell you the story from my point of view."
"His Majesty was just a kid when I first came to the palace. Being the only child of the King and Queen, he was showered with love and care. They protected him from all the harsh realities of the world. Since the very beginning, he was a sweet and kind boy—destined to become a great king.
But then, because of royal matters, he had to go into hiding for a while. When he finally returned, he seemed… different. Happier. Kinder. More caring. He laughed and smiled more often than ever before.
However, there were countless times when he disappeared from the castle without a trace, leaving the King and Queen deeply worried. I even heard that they once questioned Alex, the guard closest to His Majesty, but he too refused to say anything.
And then came the gossip…
One day, the Great Queen caught him red-handed sneaking out of the castle. She confronted him, and right there—in front of the Queen and several servants—he confessed that he liked a girl and had been leaving the palace just to meet her.
It wasn't long before the entire castle buzzed with rumours that the girl the King loved came from a very poor background and had no parents.
Sometimes, while walking down the corridors, I would overhear His Majesty and the Great Queen arguing about her.
Then came the day when he left for a royal tour across that very area. Without telling anyone, he proposed to Madam… and returned with her.
And the rest of the story," Alice finished with a knowing smile, "is something only Madam can tell."
"I see… I really caused a lot of trouble," I said with a sigh.
Mira gently patted my back and replied,
"This is no time to worry about that! You should be happy—you're going to marry the boy you love, who just happens to be a king."
"Well… of course, you're right," I said, smiling happily.
Soon, Mira's mom came in, and after some snacks, we decided it was time to leave.
But with all this hustle? Oh no… I had other plans.
I glanced back at the two guards standing behind me and gave them a mischievous smile before leaning closer and whispering,
"Do you want a promotion? …Can you keep a secret?"
Soon, we slipped out through the back door—me, Alice, and the guards—all dressed in old, simple clothes like commoners. Meanwhile, the guards stationed at the front still waited, thinking we'd leave through the main entrance.
We made our way to the market—the one built especially for the wealthy, the same place I had visited before.
We entered the boutique where I had once bought a dress with Rayan. The shop owner immediately recognized me. She had dressed me up before and received a generous tip for her services.
The moment she saw me, she greeted me warmly, her voice filled with excitement, leaving the other rich customers in the shop staring at us in surprise.
But I was full of confidence.
I asked the lady to show some of her most beautiful dresses for Mira and her mom to attend a royal wedding. And she did exactly that. She brought out her finest collection—gowns made from the richest fabrics, embroidered with delicate details. Mira and her mom were in awe, overwhelmed by the beauty of each piece, unable to decide which one to pick.
Finally, after much confusion and excitement, they chose their favourites, and I paid for them generously, leaving the lady with a hefty tip.
After that, we wandered around the market for a while before returning to Mira's home—sneaking in through the back door once again. We quickly changed back into our regular clothes since the guards outside were starting to grow suspicious of us.
It was already time to leave, so I said my goodbyes and departed with the royal guards, heading back to the palace.
When I arrived, I was greeted by someone I didn't particularly like—Alex. I don't know why, but something about him always rubbed me the wrong way.
Alex welcomed me politely at the front door and greeted me warmly.
Is he just… a door guard? I thought to myself.
But then, to my surprise, all the royal guards accompanying me suddenly saluted him. My eyebrows shot up.
Unable to hold back, I asked, "Why are you guys saluting him?"
Alex, instead of the guards, answered calmly, "Your Highness, aside from being His Majesty's personal guard, I am also in charge of the entire royal guard. That's why, with this authority, I must ask—was there any inconvenience during your trip? Any mistake, any carelessness, any lack of responsibility from the guards accompanying you? If so, action will be taken immediately."
Knowing exactly what to say, I smiled slightly and replied, "Well, the trip was smooth, and all the royal guards did their duty well. But…"—I gestured toward the two guards who had come with me—"…these two were something else. They were the best among the best. Their loyalty practically drips from their eyes. I truly felt they could protect me no matter what. So, I would like them to be promoted—and their pay increased."
Alex gave a small bow. "As you wish, Your Highness."
As the conversation ended, I noticed all the other royal guards glancing at those two with mixed expressions—some suspicious, some envious, while the two guards themselves stood there, their faces glowing with pride.
After that, I stepped inside the palace.
Just as I was about to head to my room, Rayan suddenly appeared, his expression filled with excitement.
"Come quick!" he said hurriedly. "I have something to show you!"