deja vu - dreamcatcher [ ✔️ ]

Apologise

As per Diluna tradition, the future ruler is appointed among the next-of-kin before they are meant to take their place. Normally falling on the 28th day of winter, the ceremony has always been carefully planned and perfectly executed.

Day of, it was announced that "Princess Yoo will take the throne of Diluna" in the years to come. Among the rampant cheers and loud support, there hung a dark and jittery cloud behind the royals. As soon as she was able to get away, Princess JiU stormed off and refused to come out from her room.

For days on end, she sulked and sulked. Never once had she given congratulations to Princess Yoo, nor had she smiled for several days, it seemed. The aura around her was dark and festering, and Princess SuA was growing tired of it.

Pulling her aside, she began questioning her attitude; why she had to be so mad, why she had to let her frustrations out in such an unhealthy manner that affected other people around her. "How selfish must you be, Sister?"

"I am neither selfish, nor your sister," Princess JiU bit back through gritted teeth. "I only felt the decision was incorrect and the selection process must have failed along the way." They held eye contact, "So I am awfully apologetic if you seem to be so enraged by my letting off steam."

Before Princess JiU could walk off, Princess SuA stopped her, "There are more civilised and courteous ways to go about this."

Princess JiU looked her in the eyes, completely unfazed by the words forming from her own mind and slipping past her lips. Her stare was incredibly neutral, yet menacing as she replied, "And there are far worse activities one could go about practicing to exude the jealousy that only your eyes see on my being. Sister."

Relaying this worriedly to the others, Princess SuA began feeling like Princess JiU was trying to sabotage Princess Yoo's 'most favoured' position to snatch the role of overseer from her delicate hands. She had heard affirmations in this regard, hearing that Princess Hyeon had also begun mentioning it in secret to Princess Iye. Once after dropping in, Princess SuA joined with her observations. They had debated telling Princess Yoo of the sneaky and unfavourable actions, but thought it would weigh too much on the mind of one of their more delicate sisters.

Eventually the most unexpected happened. During a dinner, Princess JiU was caught by Princess Han trying to push Princess Yoo to spill her soup and cause a scene. The unexpected part came when Princess Han shouted her observation and made it quite obvious that Princess JiU was, and had been, up to no good.

The Queen had asked Princess Han to elaborate on her mighty claim. She paused before refusing to say another word. All the others knew from the aftermath was that Princess JiU was not allowed to the dining hall for 20 days, and that the King and Queen spoke to her for an infinitely long time.

Princess Yoo was a late sleeper by habit, but the royals never liked that. So when the door creaked open, she pretended to fall asleep. "I know you're awake, Yoohyeon."

"Oh," It was Princess JiU!

"I'm here to apologise-" Princess Yoo was already up from bed and running to Princess JiU's arms, "Don't worry about it. Don't cry anymore, Minji."

How did she know...? She really was too kind. No wonder she had always been the people's favourite. Maybe Princess JiU needn't worry so much. Maybe someone with as big a caring heart as Princess Yoo was fit to be the next Queen. Maybe she would be the one to make the right change.

She wrapped her arms around her sister and took a deep but shaky breath, eyes stinging from tears of relief. "Thank you..."