The Princess' Messenger

Part 15

It was early morning. Everyone was preparing to depart. "Mina, you might have to visit the palace", Jimin said. "For what? My duty is completed already", she said. "King wants to see you. He wants to reward you for saving the Prince", he said.

She clicked her tongue. "I am not doing it. You know that I hate crowds and royal families", she said. "It's his order, Miss. Also, you can stay with Taehyung for a bit", he said. "I told you that I don't have interest in him", she said.

"Then, on whom do you have? Do I know him?" Jimin asked. "Well, maybe", she shrugged. In the meantime, Yuri was sitting in the garden, waiting for the call to move. She didn't cross her path with Taehyung. Taehyung came for a morning walk.

He saw her sitting like a statue. "Yuri", he called. He sat a bit away from her. She recognized the voice but she didn't respond. He looked at her. "Do I still look like a new bodyguard that your father appointed?" he asked. She averted her gaze towards him. Her memories went back.

That was a normal day for her, except she saw a handsome man talking with her father in the yard. He was practising wrestling with other soldiers. "He is the perfect one to protect our Princess' ', maids giggled. Her heart always belonged to Prince Taehyung.

Never in her life did she think that Prince Taehyung would be wrestling in her yard. She mistook him as a bodyguard, as her father mentioned something like that before. After his practice was over, out of respect he decided to visit the Princess.

He came in ordinary clothes and did not look like a Prince. She was wandering around the garden as usual with her maids. "Princess", they nudged her. "Greetings, Princess. I am-" "Ah! I heard about you. You were the bodyguard whom my father appointed, right?" she asked.

The girls gasped a bit. But he signalled them not to reveal. It was fun to play along with. He behaved like her bodyguard. It was nice for him when someone treated him casually but still respectfully. The following night, her father organized a dinner.

Her breath hitched when she found out that he was the Prince whom she was dying to meet. He just chuckled and never mentioned it again. That embarrassing moment is her favourite memory. When he mentioned that her eyes glistened. "You remember that", she whispered.

"Of course, I do,'' he said. "Yuri, about what happened yesterday-" "You need not explain. I understand", she tried to be strong but her chin trembled. "Are you sure?" he asked. She stood up and she was about to run away. But he was quick enough to catch her wrist.

"Are you sure that you are okay?" he asked again. "Do I look like I am okay?" her voice trembled. "How can I be okay? All my life, ever since I got to know what is what, you are the only person I could think about.

Even after you played with me concealing your identity, even after leaving the country without even bothering to tell me in person, even after I never got a specific reply from you for my letters I kept my hope up", she poured her emotions out. "Till yesterday, you had that same smile, I was dumb enough to think that it was genuine. Do you know what I fear now?

I don't know what will happen to the royal promises also I don't care but I- I will get married to someone else who is not you. That person will claim me as his and I will have to accept", she shut her eyes tightly. "My heart, my soul, my bo-body, I can't imagine someone else would-"

He pulled her into a hug. "Calm down", he whispered. She didn't hug back but still cried hard. "Yuri, I don't know if I would love you back as you could ever love me. I don't know if I could even live a life together with you. I have a big vision.

I may not be there for you all the time. I don't want that same old palace life", he said. She looked at him, still being in his arms. "It's okay if you can't be the husband that every woman dreams about. I will consider that I have sent my husband to war.