The Accidental Monarch

Parenting

Seri haphazardly throws her clothes into the open luggage lying on her bed while Jeong-hyeok contacts people who can help them with the situation. It has always been her fear to receive a phone call regarding a family emergency but experiencing it firsthand feels entirely different. She feels thankful that he was with her when the news broke or she would have been at a complete loss at what to do first.

Once she finished packing, the actress pulls her luggage out of her bedroom and heads to the living area where the prince was finishing up a phone call. "I know a doctor in the hospital your father is in and have requested his assistance," he tells her. "He is one of the best. You have my guarantee on that. And the helicopter should be arriving soon. They will call me once they are on the rooftop."

At the prince's command, the Royal Guard standing outside of her apartment comes in and takes her luggage off her hands. She does not know what to do with herself afterwards and begins pacing. "I told him that he should stop working so hard, but he didn't listen to me," she croaks out, needing a release from the pressure building in her chest. "And now, he's..."

"Hey," he comes over and puts his hands on her shoulders. "Seri, everything is going to be okay."

"You don't know that," she rebuts, finding it harder and harder to breathe. "I don't - I'm... I'm not ready to lose him."

A sharp knock comes from the front door. "Give us a minute!" the prince orders before the Guards decide to let themselves in.

Jeong-hyeok cups her face with his hands. "Seri, listen to me," he coaxes, using that soft tone he reserves just for her. "Here is what we are going to do. We are going to get on that chopper and go see your parents. We will see how your father is doing and talk about what to do next with his doctor. I will be with you the whole time. Okay?"

The clear course of action somewhat calms her. "Okay," she acquiesces miserably before noticing the hour on the wall clock. "Jeong-hyeok, it's really late. Are they not looking for you?"

"Mu-hyeok gave me the green light when I told him where I was going," he assures her. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

The actress did not even know that there was a helipad conveniently situated on the rooftop of her apartment building until that night. After buckling her onto the seat beside him, the prince takes over and pilots the aircraft. The words coming out of his mouth sound completely foreign to her. And for the first time since they have reunited, he looks like a different person in her eyes.

Strict. Commanding. Royal.

"This is Mountain Hawk, ready to depart."

"Roger that, Mountain Hawk. Your flight plan to Jeju Island is cleared."

Soon, they are airborne. The city sparkles beneath them as if the stars from the evening sky had fallen down to earth. She has been on a helicopter before, but she never found them particularly pleasant until now. The prince flies the chopper with a steady hand, the picture of calm and collected, and another wave of gratitude washes over her at his presence beside her.

As if reading her thoughts, a warm hand encloses around her interlocked ones on her lap. His eyes remain forward, but he lets her know that he is thinking of her. She unfolds her hands to squeeze his before he pulls away and blinks back tears pooling in her eyes.

They arrive on the island in record time. The two Royal Guards who came with them disembark immediately upon landing to discuss their strategy with the staff stationed on the island. Jeong-hyeok sits beside her in the back passenger seat of the car that takes them to the hospital. And her mother almost collapses in relief at the sight of them running over to where she was pacing.