As Koreans fighting spirit with the famous saying “Three times” where Koreans burned their will to try again and rechallenge, Ari has diligently confronted Ash under various excuses, just as she said.
Going to the Oval Office because she has something important to say, sell my name and set up a separate dining table. Pretending to be a coincidence when she followed ash under excuse looking for a study room or a warehouse.
At every such moment, Ari, wearing a cloth of enchantment, crammed hard in front of Ash’s eyes, and the result was…..
“……He said, if I linger around him again, he’ll make me unable to speak and move anymore.”
“…….”
“Eonni, am I going to die…..?”
“No.”
‘Although, it’s not a good way to live.’
As a result of her efforts, rather than favourable for her, she brought herself to an unfavourable situation.
To say that it’s not better to be in an unfavourable situation than being ignored because this situation was not a page of a youth novel in which the heroine and the male lead quarrelled and fell in love with each other.
The only thing left behind from the psychopath’s unfavourable feeling is only being a doll or a death.
When Ari was finally threatened by Ash five times over two days, I had no choice but to face reality.
The Enchanted cloth doesn’t work on Ash.
‘Why?’
There is no reason. It just doesn’t work.
I didn’t even confirm again if there was a problem with the effect of the cloth itself.
Just in case, I made a few more scapegoats. I gave up my conscience at this time. The confirmation showed that the effect was still intact.
But who the hell is Ash?
“I’m sorry, eonni.”
“Huh?”
“You saved my life, but I’m not helping you.”
Ari, who had a dark complexion, almost cried. I was startled and hugged Ari in surprise.
“No, it’s okay. Don’t think like that.”
I hugged Ari and patted her on the back.
However, unlike my determined speech, my hands were shaking slightly.
‘What should I do now?’
There was a situation that I had never imagined. I never expected this to happen when I planned to steal the enchanted cloth, or when I actually stole it.
It works for everyone else but Ash, does that make sense?
What the hell is this?
No, why did I steal the enchanted cloth?
‘God.’
Suddenly I yearned God desperately.
I thought it would be nice if you could show up in front of me for a moment. Let me grab you by the collar. Please.
At the time, with such confusion and despair…
“Lady, Lady, what kind of card is in front of you? Oh, my God, it’s the Imperial Palace.”
An invitation has arrived.
***
On the luxurious card clearly stamped with the seal of the imperial family, which is recognized by all the imperial aristocrats, written in neat handwriting that a small party is going to be held somewhere in the palace at some time today.
As soon as I checked the contents, I got ready and got into the carriage.
Even so, I wanted to empty my head.
But there was a small question in the mind about why the invitation from the imperial palace party came in my name, not in the family name, but it was none of my business now.
Anything was good.
I needed to cool my head off a bit, which was about to split.
‘Haa–.’
I didn’t really like parties, but this would be better than meditation.
If I have something to focus on, it’s hard to think about it.
Ari decided to stay in the mansion for safety reasons, and Ash originally doesn’t attend parties very often.
I looked out the busy window into the street.
I felt a little gloomy. I have no choice but to do so.
Anyone would be. If what I expected falls apart without knowing the cause, and I have to admit that my effort and hard work were meaningless.
‘No, well, as a result, I got Dylan, so stealing the enchanted cloth isn’t too unworthy at all, but…..’
Whoo.
Meanwhile, the carriage arrived at the palace.
Only after passing through the gate did I think that I came out a little early.
‘I arrived too early.’
The time on the invitation is a little later than now.
Once I was about to enter the annexe, where the party was held when the Imperial Palace man stopped Sir Davery.
“Excuse me, but I’d like to remind you in advance that the escort with a sword cannot enter the party hall.”
“Ah.”
“Would you like to be guided separately?”
Come to think of it, it’s the imperial palace rule. The only guard that can come into the palace party hall is the Imperial Guard only, not the personal escort.
“What can we do, Sir Davery? There might be a way to take the sword out and leave it for a while and enter as my companion.”
“Hmm……Do you have many people who have grudges against you around?”
“No way.”
Who do you think I am?
I never did something bad enough for someone to have a grudge against me……maybe.
“That’s okay. Could there be anything bad happening in the party hall? Just wait for me until it’s done.”
Soon Sir Davery was guided by the imperial guards and disappeared into the other way.
It seemed to me that they had a separate place to stay for those who were accompanied by escorts, like me.
The guide turned to me.
“Then I’ll guide you to the party hall.”
“Well, there’s still some time left for the party to start, right?”
“Yes? Oh, yes. There is still some time left.”
I asked after a moment’s thought.
“Where is the garden?”
I came to the party because I wanted to empty my head, so it was a bit funny that I took a different route as soon as I came, but I didn’t really want to get in the crowded area anyway.
I’ll get some fresh air for a while and go in on time.
And walking in the garden wasn’t so bad for emptying my head.
It played a part in the fact that this is a garden that I’ve never been to before. Walking in a new place made me feel refreshed.
‘The garden’s wide.’
It is said to be attached to a separate palace but is it also still a part of the imperial palace. The garden was quite large.
The well-organized garden trees were making a path, which at a glance felt like a walking route.
There were benches where I could sit and rest from time to time, but I moved deliberately.
How long did I spend inside like that?
“Huh?”
Unconsciously, I made a stupid sound.
As I didn’t expect it, I saw his head.
The other party seemed to recognize me from the sound I made.
“You are…”
“Greetings to the little sun of the Empire.”
As soon as the vivid green eyes reached me, I quickly gave him a simple bow…
‘Why is the Crown Prince here?’
Of course, it is not a strange thing for the crown prince to be in the palace. No, but still, the palace is so wide.
The Crown Prince was dressed in more colourful clothes than I had seen in the temple.
I was speechless for a moment.
‘This man, why is he so unlucky?’
The thought occurred to me.
I think he was going to attend the party hall, even if we encountered each other, it would be better to meet at the party hall.
It’s complicated and crowded there, so even if we recognized each other, we could either give a simple greeting or just ignore each other naturally.
Now that we encountered each other at such a quiet and deserted place, the Crown Prince could not ignore me.
In other words, he came across a fresh dark history that was only recently made.
‘How can…’
How can you be so unlucky…..?
“I meet the princess again here.”
There is no way out of pity.
As expected, the Crown Prince, who faced me, seemed to be embarrassed.
I saw his eyes shake even though he pretended to be calm.
I decided to pretend not to know for courtesy. And I decided to finish the conversation that would only cause pain to the crown prince.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Are you here to attend the party?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“It looks like you took a short walk before the party started.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“How was it, is the garden good for a walk?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“What do you particularly like?”
What is it?
Why don’t you finish the conversation?’
I was just answering, but he kept talking.
There was even a specific question this time that could not be answered with ‘Yes, Your Highness.’
What is he doing now when I am being so considerate like this?
“……the road was fairly spacious and clean, making it easy to walk, and the garden was well-kept. It looks like a skilful gardener hired for this.”
I don’t know what he’s asking me to do, but I gave him a long answer as he wished.
Then the Crown Prince smiled softly as if asking to compliment his eyes.
I tilted my head inwardly to the side.
‘You don’t want to end the conversation?’
Of course, I thought he would want to finish it quickly and break up with me soon, but it seemed that it wasn’t exactly like that,
‘I don’t know.’
Doesn’t he think of me like a dark history? But I saw his eyes twitching for sure.
‘I don’t know, but if you don’t want to break up, then I will.’
Anyway, it was time to get into the party.
I bowed my upper body again politely.
“It was a short but enjoyable time with your highness’s appreciation. Unfortunately, it’s time for the party to begin, so I’ll see you again at the party.”
“Oh, yes. It’s already the time.”
“Then I’ll see you at the party.” Soon the prince, who said so, turned around first.
Then he walked to the opposite side of the entrance.
“……?”
Isn’t he going out?
‘You said you’d see me at the party.’
Was it just a greeting? Well, maybe he’s trying to take a little more walk and then attend the party.
But there was a strange feeling. Furthermore, I knew something.
After a short thought, before the Crown Prince moving further away, I said.
“Your Highness, aren’t you going to the party?”
“Yes, I should.”
“I don’t think that’s the way……”
The crown prince’s straight shoulders were seen hesitating for a moment. He turned away from his very natural walk.
“Not that way either.”
“……”
“That’s too…”
At this point, I couldn’t help but say what I had suspected.
“Excuse me, Your Highness, are you lost?”
I knew the Crown Prince was bad with directions.
Because I saw it in a book. It was a short description, but he must have been in many ways.
It was said that he always lost and couldn’t find the right way.
But the Crown Prince is lost in the palace garden?
It’s too much.
The Crown Prince looked back at me quietly.
‘Ah.’
Looking at his shaky green eyes, I realized earlier why he looked at me and hinted a sense of embarrassment.
‘You’ve been lost since then.’
I wondered inwardly how long the alternate Crown Prince would have been in this garden, but I did not ask sensibly.
“Your Highness.”
Instead, I said as if I was reassuring.
“Don’t worry. I won’t go and tell anyone about this matter. Even if I had a knife on my throat.”
The Crown Prince gave this trusty remark a somewhat resigned smile.
“……if you get a knife on your throat, just disclose it.”