POV: Ryu Ha Joon
She had argued with him over something that people don't even bother to think about. Those numerical names for the household staff were Mrs. Kang's suggestion. This change was made after his mother died and Hajoon became the king. He knows and understands Mrs. Kang's reasons behind it.
But he didn't consider the side Nari showed him today.
"You don't have to be directly affected by something to care about it," that's a sociopolitical statement. Whether she realises it or not. Something a social worker would say. Something his mother would say.
She wouldn't like this either–his mother would disapprove of a lot of his actions and decisions.
He turns around and leans against the oak door. That flowery scent Nari carries, has gone with her.
So many years of being addressed by titles, so many people around him. Yet no one had asked if it ever bothered him.
Except the woman he met just a few days ago.
His mother used to abandon all titles with him, breaking protocols while calling him Hajoon'ah in public. He called her Mom in front of others, up until he was 14, the age he began to realise titles must be used. His father never made his mother address him formally either. They offended a lot of people, as Hajoon had heard and seen.
But all of it went away with them.
Often in private, Jae Hyuk and Mrs. Kang would address him intimately–though Sunwoo rarely did it. But never in front of others. Even when he dated, he allowed his girlfriends to call him by his name or Oppa only in private.
Bae Aera, the model he had dated four years back. He broke up with her over her refusal to address him respectfully in front of people.
Now in retrospect, he could have handled it better.
He inhales deeply, goes over to the saxophone and turns it on. A piano song fills the ballroom. Near it, he sits on the floor and leans against the wall.
"Titles can't be abandoned so easily," he mutters to the empty ballroom. Not for people like him.
But does it bother him?
The answer is:
"It doesn't matter."
★☆★☆★☆★
POV: Hae Na Ri
The next morning, I get out of my room chirping and calling for Jenny. I meet her at the end of the hallway, likely on her way to me.
And today, for some reason, my image seems to have improved in her eyes. Her expressions are friendlier and she brings me gossip with coffee.
"Coffee," Jenny says, holding a tray with a white mug. I miss my pink mug with black cat design back in my home in my world. "My name is Jenny now. His Majesty said we can call ourselves whatever we want, as long as it's not our name or queen or princess."
I grab my coffee, steam rising off it. "And people like it?"
"Like it? They love it! One maid has decided to call herself Fairy Isabella," Jenny answers.
I nearly drop the hot coffee on myself.
Well, I hope I have not caused much trouble.
Hajoon is a man of his words. Seems like this was the first thing he did in the morning.
Then without my asking, she informs me quietly, "His Majesty fell asleep in the late queen's dance room last night. He is having breakfast in bed now."
So he stayed after I had left last night.
Something in me softens as I realise the dance room must hold sentimental value to him because of his mother, and he is letting me use that room regardless of it.
I peer around carefully, then lean in. "Can you tell me if Mrs. Kang is angry right now?"
"Livid…"
"Aish!"
"Such language isn't allowed in the palace," Jenny reprimands me softly. "It will make her angrier."
I better get out of here then. I have a job anyway.
Jenny and her friends go on their way as I go on mine. But near the elevators, I receive a call from Miyoung that her sister's baby is due soon so she is closing the cafe for a while and going to Busan.
I couldn't have a better luck.
The maids stare and greet me politely wherever I go. There is a shift, a gossip written on their face. But I am hesitant to ask Jenny more.
★☆★☆★☆★
POV: Ryu Ha Joon
Hajoon is sitting up in bed, a small breakfast table beside him–almost cleaned now–a half-full coffee mug in his hand, and listening to Mrs. Kang's rants.
"...three months, three months, why give her so much importance if you are going to send her back after three months anyway? Let her stay in a good apartment away from the palace. I don't like the look of her eyes–Captain Kang, don't just stand there silently, I know you see it too? She pretends to use those innocent looking eyes. His Majesty is in danger of getting trapped!"
"Aigoo, you are so fond of Hae Nari," Hajoon teases her, receiving a dark scoff in return. He fidgets, adjusting the pillow behind him. His back is punishing him for sleeping the way he did. "But, don't you feel that she is an interesting person? It's a shame she isn't from our world."
"You must have forgotten what Shaman Park said," Mrs. Kang reminds him. "You are bad luck for each other. But bad luck for her might mean getting scammed and bad luck for you might mean war." She crosses the room and sits down at a couch, a deep frown etched on her face. "I will be counting days till she goes back. Her existence makes me anxious."
Hajoon is reminded of his conversation with Nari last night. He has a feeling she would find Mrs. Kang's remarks extremely offensive and he couldn't help imagining her retorts.
He realises he is smiling only when Mrs. Kang narrows her eyes at him suspiciously.
Meanwhile, Jae Hyuk stands aloof near the window as if he has nothing to do with anyone here. He might as well be a part of the furniture. It makes Hajoon want to pick a fight with him.
"Nothing bad has happened yet," Hajoon says nonchalantly. "If anything goes wrong, I would handle it, just like I have always done." He sounds confident; he doesn't feel confident. "You are usually very nice to everyone, but you don't feel bad for her. We are deceiving her."
At this, a peculiar shadow comes over Mrs. Kang's face. She doesn't look him in the eye. "What's the point of telling her anything when she is going back in three months anyway?"
Hajoon watches her closely.
"I know. That's why I haven't done it." To tell her anything, he would have to tell her everything, and there is no need for it.
She gets up. "I will arrange your clothes."
Once she leaves, Hajoon gulps down the remaining coffee–now gone cold–and unwillingly gets out of bed. If he remembers correctly, he is visiting a cancer hospital today. He can't bunk.
"Why are you so quiet?" Hajoon asks, stretching and as he stretches, he recalls the alluring sight in the car yesterday.
"There is nothing to say," Jae Hyuk replies.
Hajoon walks over and pats Jae Hyuk on the shoulder. "Keep an eye on her when I am not around. That's why I keep leaving you behind. Rather than harming someone, she is more likely to get harmed." Any woman around Hajoon is bound to attract both good and bad attention.
Jae Hyuk meets his gaze calmly. "Don't worry, I will stay alert."
★☆★☆★☆★
POV: Unknown
Kang Shinja passes by Captain Kang in the hallway, walking elegantly and alone. He pauses when she speaks.
"When are you going ahead with the peace process?"
He responds after a few moments' delay. "His Majesty is going on a trip to the Silver Imperial Palace in ten days. Have patience till then."
"Don't delay it more than that. Or else I would have to do something," she says.
Then she goes on her way, leaving him alone.
Captain Kang frowns under his mask, head hanging low over his chest.