Chapter LII
1322 Words
오십이분의 왕관 (52)
“Oh! Oh! There’s a food truck!” Jae Kyung pointed to a white food truck with few people lining up. She, then, turned her head to Prince Yi Eul and tapped his shoulder. “I’ll buy some food and something to drink as well. Be right back!”
“Yah, Yah, Jae Kyung—people might—”
She didn’t wait for Prince Yi Eul to say something as she stood up and left to buy some food.
“Ugh, that girl is such a hard-head,” he sighed for the nth time as he stared at Jae Kyung walking away from him then he settled his gaze on the Han River, savoring the peaceful ambiance around him.
“I never felt this kind of peace ever since I entered the palace,” he took a deep breath as he looked at the sky slowly turns dark. A faint smile flaunted on his face.
“Yi Eul-ah?”
He flinched when he heard a familiar voice calling him. He turned his head and saw Da Hyun wearing a disguise as well. She may be wearing that but Prince Yi Eul knew it’s here.
He slowly stood up and locked gazes with her. “Da Hyun-ah…”
Da Hyun was actually surprised when she confirmed that it was Prince Yi Eul sitting alone on the bench. She didn’t see Prince Yi Eul like this ever since they were kids.
“It’s you…” Da Hyun couldn’t help but smile. “Wha-What are you doing here?”
“That’s actually none of your business,” Prince Yi Eul responded.
“I-I was actually got concerned when I saw you alone in a spacious, public place. Why are you alone? Where are your bodyguards?” she asked.
Prince Yi Eul tilted his head before responding. “You’re a huge celebrity, right? A K-pop superstar. You should’ve be concern about yourself, going to a public place like this. Your fans might recognize you.”
“Yi Eul-ah…”
Prince Yi Eul was still in his blank expression as he looked at Da Hyun. He could still feel it. He could still feel it. “I must be going.”
Before the Crown Prince could even walk farther away from her, Da Hyun once again called him. “Yi Eul-ah!”
Prince Yi Eul didn’t bother to turn his head at her.
“Yi Eul-ah, I’ve been longing for you!”
That made Prince Yi Eul stop in his tracks. He slowly turned his head to her.
“I didn’t mean it… the dating, the news, all that stuff… I didn’t mean it…” Da Hyun said, almost pleading for the Crown Prince's attention to listen to her. “I’ve been longing for you that I tried my best to protect our relationship but here you are, getting married to someone else!”
That made Prince Yi Eul stare at her, surprised.
“What… what did you just say?”
“Here’s your two bowls of Odeng-guk, Agassi, and oh, two cans of Sprite as well.”
“Aaaaah~! Thank you so much, Ahjumma!” Jae Kyung grinned as she paid the vendor and accepted the two bowls of Odeng-guk and two cans of Sprite on a tray (since the vendor noticed that she’s the only one who’ll be going to hold it so the vendor managed to put her orders on a tray).
“You’re welcome! Enjoy your meal!”
Jae Kyung bowed at the vendor and grinned. “Kamsahamnida, ahjumma!”
The vendor actually recognized her as the Crown Prince’s wife, the princess, and yet the vendor didn’t actually say a word in order to not to alarm the other customers. She even added some Odeng-guk for the princess that Jae Kyung couldn’t help but happily accept and be grateful for it.
“That ahjumma is so nice. Bless her business,” Jae Kyung giggled, happily holding two Sprite in can and two bowls of Odeng-guk and she was about to call Yi Eul when she saw her talking to someone who’s wearing a hoody jacket as well.
And albeit she didn’t see who’s the person talking to Prince Yi Eul, by the looks of the Crown Prince’s face, she knew who is it.
“Yi Eul-ah, I miss you. So much,” she could hear the longing of Da Hyun’s voice as she spoke to the Crown Prince.
His eyes slowly averted to Jae Kyung who’s now watching from the distance.
“Jae Kyung…”
She saw Prince Yi Eul’s eyes settled on her and he was about to call her but she suddenly turned her back to him and left.
“This is his chance… this is his chance to reunite with her. I shouldn’t. I shouldn’t ruin it. They both love each other. They need to talk. They need this time for themselves. shouldn’t. I shouldn’t ruin it.”
She left with something suffocating her inside her chest.
She felt her tears welling up her eyes as she ran further from them.
She finally realized this confusing feeling that she’s been feeling for months of staying at the Crown Prince’s side.
The feelings that she shouldn’t feel.
The feelings that she badly needs to forget before it gets deeper and dangerous for her.
She was silently staring at her laptop, contemplating if she’ll do an update or not. She’s been skipping her weekly updates which were so unusual for her.
She squeezed her eyes close, trying to write something onto her empty draft in FictionPad but she failed. She failed that she just closed her eyes on ease and sighed.
She’s totally empty-head right now. She couldn’t think of anything else but the scene before her eyes earlier.
What should I do now?
Jae Kyung squeezed her eyes close and shook her head, trying to dismiss what happened earlier. “Get it off your mind, Jae Kyung! Get it off!”
She flinched and gasped when she heard her room’s door suddenly opened. She hastily closed her laptop and hid it under her bed before standing up, seeing Prince Yi Eul’s serious face who’s now in front of her.
“Wha-What are you doing here, Your Highness?” Jae Kyung asked, confused. Then, her tone changed into an annoyed one. “Hey, Your Highness, you should’ve knocked, you know?! I know this is your house but this is my room so you have to knock. Manners—”
“Why did you suddenly leave me like that?” Prince Yi Eul asked, cutting her off.
“What…?” she muttered.
“Why did you leave me? I waited for you on that place and yet you left me like that,” she could actually feel that Prince Yi Eul was mad.
She was confused. Why would he get mad, right? He’s speaking to the love of his life.
So, why? Why is he mad?
“B-Because… because you’re talking to Da Hyun… I don’t want to interrupt. I know you wanted to talk—”
“How dare you decide things for me like that?” Prince Yi Eul spat at her. She gasped because of his reaction. “Haven’t you forgotten? I am the Crown Prince. My words and my decisions are absolute. You shouldn’t have left me like that. You are my wife now. You should’ve done what a wife should do if they see their man with another woman.”
“T-That’s not how it works…” Jae Kyung muttered weakly.
Prince Yi Eul leaned towards her, holding her chin. His breath was fanning over her gaped lips. The light of the full moon illuminated their faces. “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.”
- Writer
