𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 - 𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐨𝐧

(thirty-eight)

I wonder if Prince Jaebeom can feel my eyes burning holes into the side of his head. I get that he's trying to sell the story that they're in love, but does he really have to be so close to her? He doesn't need an arm around her shoulder and he doesn't need to hold her hand.

The wedding is in a week. Siyeon has asked me to be her maid of honour, and of course I accepted without another thought. Her sisters will be flower girls, and her cousin will be her second bridesmaid. She opted not to have many people in her wedding party, saying she wanted it to be the people she's closest to. I think she might just want to disappoint as few people as possible when the whole thing goes up in flames.

Siyeon and her fiance are sitting with the Queen, discussing their wedding. Prince Jaebeom says that Siyeon no longer opposes getting married, and that he thinks he's falling for her.

It's all an act, I have to remind myself.

The Queen glances over at me, and I try to keep a blank face. I hope she didn't catch me scowling and sending very concentrated bad vibes to both her and the Prince.

"Ms. Kim," she says, "Would you like to join us?" This isn't a question, but rather an order. I pull up a chair and sit beside Siyeon opposite the Queen. She continues, "So, I heard you're Siyeon's maid of honour! How did that happen? I didn't realise you two were still so... close." The after your flogging never leaves her mouth, but it hangs heavy in the air between us after her statement.

I grit my teeth and answer, "Well, I've been here for three years now, and as Princess Siyeon's personal servant we've become very good friends since we spend so much time together."

Siyeon adds, "Kim Bora is my best friend! Of course she's my maid of honour. I'm close with her and her family; they're all coming for the wedding!" How did she know this before me?

"I didn't know you'd met Ms. Kim's family before," the Queen sneers, "When did that happen? I don't recall telling you you could leave to visit them, and I know they didn't come here."

I manage to lie quickly. "On our way back from the wedding, the carriage got stuck in sand in my province. We had to wait for the sandstorm to end before we could dig it out, so we went to my house to wait out the storm." God, I hope that was believable. "That's when she met my family. They all love her; she was very nice to them."

The Queen nods slowly. I can't tell if she believes my story or not. Prince Jaebeom saves me by cutting in. "I'll be bringing in my best friend and his family, as well. He's my best man. Captain of the Seven Cities' royal guard."

After a tense silence, the Queen addresses me and Siyeon again. "I assume the bridesmaids will be coordinating colours, correct?"

Siyeon doesn't even wait for her mother to finish the question before saying, "Blue!"

"Jaebeom, please tell your groomsmen to coordinate their ties to match the ladies' dresses." The Queen instructs. "I think everything's just about ready. Siyeon, I'm glad you changed your mind."

Oh, she's in for a surprise.