The Ambassador's Daughter

Awakening

My father hired tutors to teach me the language and culture of the people. I spent what felt like hours learning this and that--even proper manners. As much as I wanted to learn, I felt like I was drowning. I was expected to do too much too soon. I feared none of it would sink in. My only respite was the occasional visit to the palace for tea with the queen or to the houses of the few other wives who were brought along with their husbands. I preferred visiting the queen as it meant walks in the garden and--if I was lucky--a conversation with the crown prince. We had grown quite close over a fairly short period of time. He even asked that I call him Namjoon when it was just the two of us. I had grown very fond of him and it tore me up inside that I was not of his kind, nor he of mine. I may have been young, but I was not a fool. We would never be--could never be--more than friends.

On one visit to the palace, I was feeling extra curious. As usual, I was permitted to explore while my mother and the queen had yet another private conversation--most likely an update on the progress of my lessons and an attempt to get inside information from my mother on my father's dealings in order to relay them to the king. I came upon a building where I heard the sounds of swords clashing and men grunting. I entered to find Crown Prince Namjoon sword fighting with another man. They were practicing. The prince saw me and let his guard down. He was immediately knocked down by the other man. I heard the man's voice grow angry as he helped him up off the floor. From the tone of his voice, I could tell Namjoon was voicing his frustration as he pointed at me.

"I am so sorry. I distracted you, Your Highness. I will leave." I bowed and turned around.

"No! Stay. I need to learn to not be distracted. And you are a big distraction. You will help me get better."

"So, you want to learn how to ignore me?" I giggled.

Just then, the man with him turned around. It was him--the impressively agile warrior. He had a stern look on his face. I suspected my presence angered him.

I immediately grew serious. "No. Thank you, Your Highness. I do not wish to upset your sparring mate."

"My sparring mate has no say in the matter. After all, I am the crown prince."

The two began fighting again, but Crown Prince Namjoon was no match for the warrior. He kept glancing at me. I was too much of a distraction. After overpowering Namjoon several times, the agile warrior dropped his sword in frustration and yelled at him. He gestured to me, clearly agitated by my presence. Namjoon yelled back, his voice deep and booming. The warrior then bowed to him, picked up his sword, and left, giving me a soul-piercing gaze as he passed by me.

"My apologies. Jimin can be very passionate about my training."

"I upset him. My sincerest apologies."

"No, I upset him. He does not want his friend and future king to die on the battlefield because of, as he put it, 'A pretty girl with jade eyes.' I need to be focused at all times. And he is right. I need to be focused, and you are a pretty girl with jade eyes." He smiled, revealing his dimples.

His words made my heart race. Surprisingly, though, it was not because Prince Namjoon said he agreed with Jimin's words. It was because they were Jimin's words--what he thought of me. Jimin thought I was pretty. And I thought he was a beautiful specimen of a man from the moment I laid eyes on him. I realized I had become infatuated with two men, both of whom I would never have. I adored Namjoon, but he was off-limits. I lusted after his friend, Jimin, but to him, I was nothing more than a distraction. A nuisance.

I watched as the crown prince wiped the sweat off of his forehead. He then looked down at his feet, almost in despair.

"What is it, Your Highness?"