How to Deal with the Crown Prince (English)

Chapter XLVIII

사십오분의 왕관 (48)

“I couldn’t go home real quick for you since the office was hell hectic right now.”

“It’s okay Hae In-ah. I still have the spare key with me.”

“I didn’t touch any of your stuff in your old room since, you know, you might think about visiting me or planning to have a sleepover so all your stuff and even your room was just at ease.”

“Thank you so much, Hae In-ah. I’ll visit you if we’re already free soon.”

“Okay, I’ll look forward to that. Good luck, Jae Kyung-ah! I really hope you’ll get the spot! She’s really famous, right?”

“I know. I’m already here. Talk to you later!”

As soon as Jae Kyung was finally in front of Hae In’s apartment unit, she immediately fished out the spare key from her sling bag and opened the door real quick. She immediately went inside and hurriedly got inside her room. She immediately walked towards her bookshelf, looking for something.

“What the heck has gotten you, Kim Jae Kyung?” with a frown on his face, Prince Yi Eul asked. He’s leaning on her room’s door frame. Of course, he’s already in his casual clothes same as Jae Kyung. She didn’t actually expect that he would come with her inside. She just forced him to escort her to her old apartment. Damn, this place is so small for my liking. “What’s all the racket?”

“Ah, chajatda!” Jae Kyung shouted, grinning ear to ear as she grabbed some slightly thick books from her shelf. “I found it! I found it! Gosh, I actually saved my first salary on these.”

“What’s that?”

Jae Kyung turned her head to Prince Yi Eul and as soon as she stood up, she immediately showed the seven books to him. “These. I came here for these.”

“For books? Seriously?” he asked, frowning. “We could just buy another set of these books, you know?”

“I saved my first salary for these books so these are precious to me. Of course, I’ll come here to get this,” Jae Kyung said, hugging the books securely in her arms. “Jace Kate Howling is having her book signing here in Seoul tomorrow. I’m a huge fan of her novels especially Barry Peters so I came back here to get these books because I’m going to attend her book signing tomorrow at the Starfield Library!”

Prince Yi Eul’s brows creased. “Do you really think I’ll allow you to go to?”

That made Jae Kyung paused for a second. “What-What do you mean?”

“Kim Jae Kyung, I will not allow you to go to that book signing event tomorrow. You see, aside from that event will be full-packed of people as well as place is a public place, you’re a royal already. And going out to the public is quite dangerous to us and to you as well.”

“I know, I know the risk but I-I could… I could just borrow a few of your bodyguards to accompany me or I could just do a disguise. This event is so special to me, Your Highness. Please let me go. I really, really want to go,” Jae Kyung pleaded. She even felt her eyes began to mist.

“Jae Kyung, don’t forget your position. You’re neither a journalist nor an ordinary person anymore. You’re a princess. Not just a princess but the Crown Prince's wife and as I said, as a member of the royal family, going out to the public is quite dangerous to you. Forget about that rubbish event. We have an appointment tomorrow.”

Jae Kyung fell silent after that. She just stood there, hugging the books she’s holding. Prince Yi Eul proceeded to out of the room but Jae Kyung spoke.

“I want to see her because I want to be like her.”

That made Prince Yi Eul stop in his tracks and turned his head towards Jae Kyung.

To his surprise, the girl was already shedding tears.

“This is not a rubbish event. You have no idea how that person motivated and inspired me for what I am right now by reading her books. You may think it sounded so pathetic and shallow but for me, it’s really, really important to me. I’ve been longing to see her since I was a teen,” Jae Kyung said. She slowly raised her head up and looked at the Crown Prince with tears in her eyes. “I’ve been doing everything that you pleased even if it’s against my will. This is just a simple request. Can I just have it?”

Prince Yi Eul stared at her in a minute or two of silence then he just turned his back. “Let’s go home,” and walked ahead of her.

“She refused the meal again?”

The royal servants holding the tray full of food bowed to the Crown Prince. “We apologize, Your Highness. We really did our best to make Her Highness eat but she always refuses.”

“Ugh, that stupid girl,” Prince Yi Eul murmured in English. He, then, dismissed the servants, leaving him and Secretary Jeong in the dining hall. “You know what? I don’t care anymore if she’ll starve herself on just simple things. Getting depressed and sulky over an event like that. I could just call that Jace Kate Howling whatever her name is to meet her privately, you know?”

“Apologies for speaking to this Your Highness but I think Her Highness will not going to appreciate that,” Secretary Jeong said. “Sometimes, commoners didn’t actually view things as His Highness view things. They didn’t do things, go to places or attend events for one-time feeling. They value and cherish the memories from the experience they had from doing so. I think that’s what Her Highness wants.”

Prince Yi Eul put his chin over his palm and sighed. “This is the reason why I don’t want to deal with women.”

Jae Kyung was really giving him a cold shoulder.

They went to two appointments this morning and the girl was just being too obedient to Prince Yi Eul’s liking. He’s not used to her not complaining or not being disobedient or not being so feisty to him. She just straight-up being too obedient and silent.

That actually pissed Prince Yi Eul since this is not the Kim Jae Kyung he knew. He felt like he’s with a lifeless doll or something beside him.

But instead of confronting or complaining, he remained silent as well.

After the third appointment that morning, they both rode the Tesla silently. No one dares to break the silence between them. Jae Kyung was just staring at the window while Prince Yi Eul was also staring at the other window.

Minutes later, Jae Kyung slightly frowned when she noticed that the Tesla was slowing down in front of Starfield COEX Mall. She thought that the car will just pass the mall but it suddenly stopped. Before Jae Kyung could utter a word, Prince Yi Eul gave her a hoody jacket, a cap, a face mask, and sunglasses. She also saw Prince Yi Eul wearing the same hoody jacket, cap, facemask, and sunglasses.

“Wear that one before going out,” Prince Yi Eul said as their driver opened the door for him.

Jae Kyung was shocked but still managed to wear those before going out. As soon as she went out, she saw six of the bodyguards wearing civilian clothing. They looked like normal people. She gasped when she saw one of them was holding her books inside a bag.

“You’re…”

“Talking to the author in a book signing usually lasts five to ten minutes,” Jae Kyung turned her head to Prince Yi Eul who’s now speaking with both his hands on his pockets. Then, he pulled his right hand to show a finger of instructional authority. “I’ll give you ten minutes to do whatever you want in the event but remember, we’re watching you. I’m watching you. You have to be careful inside since that place and that event is public. Don’t easily talk to strangers—”

Before Prince Yi Eul could finish what he’s saying, Jae Kyung jumped up to hug him which actually caught him off guard.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!” Jae Kyung said, almost sobbing as she hugged Prince Yi Eul tight. Clinging on his neck like a koala.

“J-Jae Kyung, let me go. We’re in a public place!”

“Thank you! You’re the best! You’re the best prince ever!” Jae Kyung exclaimed as she kept hugging Prince Yi Eul tight. She’s so happy.

That made Prince Yi Eul sigh and hugged her as well, wrapping his left arm on her waist and holding the back of her head with his right hand. Before he realized it, the crook of his nose was already on Jae Kyung’s head. He really found it comfortable.

“Yes, you should think of me as your best prince ever.”

Bonus scene:

Dowan and the other bodyguards beside Crown Prince Yi Eul were staring intently at him as the latter just kept his eyes fixed on Jae Kyung who’s happily having a conversation with her favorite author. He felt like there’s something burning holes behind his head so he turned his head to his bodyguards in civilian disguises who were actually staring at him in awe.

“What is wrong with you?”

“Uh, you’re actually like a supportive husband, Your Highness. Not gonna lie,” Dowan said on behalf of the other bodyguards. The other bodyguards nodded in such enthusiasm.

“No, I’m not!” Prince Yi Eul denied. “I was monitoring her not to mess up. It’ll be such a pain in the ass if she’ll mess up.”

“Uh, yes, Your Highness. Whatever floats your boat.”

“How dare you talk like that to His Highness presence, Cha Do Wan? From now on, I will not allow you to hangout with Jae Kyung. You’re starting to sound just like her.”

“We’re friends, Your Highness. That’s not fair.”

“I’m her husband, so it’s fair.”

“Huh, possessive, aren’t we, Your Highness?”

“I order you to shut up all at once, Do Wan.”

“Ye, algetsumnida, Jeonha.”