Chapter LIII
1249 Words
오십삼분의 왕관 (53)
“What’s our schedule for today?”
“Your Highness will go to a meeting with the officials at 9 a.m. while Her Highness will have her daily classes in the royal academy in the palace then at 1 p.m., you’ll have your archery session and at 3:30 p.m., you’ll go to a forum at COEX with Her Highness. As of tonight’s appointment…”
Jae Kyung’s mind was blank. Pure blank that she didn’t have the ability to focus nor to listen to what Secretary Jeong was telling both of them.
Her mind was just filled with yesterday’s event.
As well as the confusing thoughts she had right now.
“Jae Kyung.”
She felt exhausted by just thinking about it.
“You should do your duties as the Crown Prince’s wife and that includes you not leaving His Highness’s side, until the day the contract ends. Remember that, Kim Jae Kyung.”
What does he mean by that? We’re just faking this all. How can he be that serious? And besides, he should be happy, right? Since he finally saw Da Hyun like that and knew what Da Hyun felt.
“Yah, Kim Jae Kyung. Earth to you, Kim Jae Kyung.”
“Eh?” she only muttered when she came back to her senses and noticed Prince Yi Eul who’s now frowning at her.
“Did you get what Secretary Jeong said?”
“Eh, umm, about my private classes?” she asked, faking a grin.
Prince Yi Eul couldn’t help but shook his head sigh. “I’ll fetch you at lunch after your classes in the palace.”
“O-Oh, okay. Alright,” Jae Kyung nodded as she subconsciously fidgeting her fingers.
“Are you okay? You seemed not in yourself right now,” Prince Yi Eul asked her.
Albeit she was facing him, she kept averting her eyes every second that they lock gazes. “Yeah, I’m good. No need to worry about me.”
That’s how their conversation ended until Prince Yi Eul finally dropped Jae Kyung to the queen’s palace. As soon as Jae Kyung walked out of the car, she just bowed her head and went on walking towards the palace without sparing the Crown Prince a glance.
She just kept on sighing, hopefully, that the day went well and she’ll forget about the conversation last night.
Or so, she thought…
“According to the teachings, the woman should…”
Cheeks over her palm, Jae Kyung kept on staring at the window looking blankly at the sky. She couldn’t hear nor internalize what her private royal teacher was trying to teach her.
Her mind felt so empty yet full, if you know what she meant.
She just felt like she just didn’t want to do anything as of this moment.
“Your Highness?” the royal servant called her. He called her some more before she finally gave her attention to him.
“Uh, yes?”
“Can you give me your understanding about the passage that I just said just now?” the royal teacher asked her.
That made Jae Kyung finally realized that she’s in a class right now. “Umm, a-about that…” she slightly scratched her head. “I-I was actually not feeling well, seonsaengnim. Can I just have a little break? Just a little break.”
“Oh dear, I didn’t know,” the royal teacher muttered. “It’s okay, Your Highness. You can.”
“Thank you so much.”
“Well, then, I will take my leave, Your Highness,” the royal teacher stood up and Jae Kyung could see his shadow behind the blinds bowing at her. She also responded a bow before he finally left the lecture room.
Jae Kyung finally sighed as she proceeded to look at the relationship diagram she doodled and some random words that she wrote in her traditional notebook. Sighing for the nth time, she finally stood up and took her leave in the said room.
Jae Kyung didn’t know how many times she sighed as she silently walked around the courtyard. The courtyard was actually silent except for the rustling of the leaves from the trees and the little noises the servants make as they come and go, greeting her. She actually felt uncomfortable with her dangui and chima but she should bear with it since she’s on the grounds that the queen owned.
Somehow, unlike the busy surroundings in Seoul, she actually found this place comfortable because of the peaceful ambiance of the place.
“Prince Yi Eul and Da Hyun were actually childhood friends and more like high school sweethearts as well,” she muttered to herself. “Then, they got separated when Prince Yi Eul went to London to study and Da Hyun became a K-Pop trainee that time and also debuted just two years after she trained. Prince Yi Eul came back and reunited with Da Hyun just at the time when I also caught them seeing each other in secret. It’s obvious that they’re still in love with each other and yet Da Hyun dated another K-Pop idol and just a few weeks after her dating news, Prince Yi Eul got married to me. It’s obvious that Prince Yi Eul is still in love with Da Hyun. And Da Hyun said that… she’s still longing and love Prince Yi Eul. If that’s the case then what’s her deal with U-Know? He’s dating the guy, right? What’s his role in her life?”
What about me? What’s my role in Prince Yi Eul’s life?
That made Jae Kyung stop in her tracks. Her eyes were fixed on the ground as she realized what she subconsciously thought earlier.
Am I just a side-character in their own love story?
She felt the unpleasant, throbbing sensation inside her chest once again.
Suddenly, a rose appeared in front of her, making her gasp.
“What are you thinking that you didn’t even hear me calling you nor felt my presence behind you.”
Jae Kyung turned her head and saw Prince Yi Ryeo smiling at her as he offered her the rose that he showed her earlier. “P-Prince Yi Ryeo?”
He grinned. “Long time no see, Your Highness.”
“You-You’re visiting Her Majesty right now?” she asked.
“Uh, yeah. I did and I also heard that you have class today so I dropped by to see you,” Prince Yi Eul responded and he hummed. “You actually looked ugly right now.”
That made Jae Kyung gasped and pointed her finger at Prince Yi Ryeo. “Yah, I felt pretty in what I’m wearing right now so you have no right to call me ugly, wangjangnim.”
“Oh, really?”
“Really!”
The two of them stared at each other and then they both laugh.
“That’s more like it.”
“Huh?” Jae Kyung muttered, still chuckling.
“You look more beautiful when you smile,” he responded as he gave her the rose which she subconsciously accepted. “After the wedding, I didn’t see you for a while so I actually want to pay you a visit since I kinda miss talking to you… with all the jokes and all.”
“Huh. You’re so fond of my jokes, huh?”
“Of course… not just that either,” he said, slightly whispering the last line he said that Jae Kyung couldn’t hear anymore.
But somehow, her eyes were fixed on the prince in front of her, radiating so much happiness for her.
Somehow, for an unknown reason, his presence actually made her heart flutter.
“Yeah, right,” she muttered.
If I’ll be the side character… I deserved to have my own happy ending, right?
Right, I deserved it too… even if the Crown Prince is not involved in it.
- Writer
