Lost in a Masquerade

02

In her room, Jessica pulled out many outfits only to be unable to choose. Her earthen brown hair fell softly on sides of her head, a little wet from the bath. A female servant stood near her who had earlier helped her bathe, and now she waited for the crown princess' command.

Jessica's staring competition with the garments stopped as she finally heaved. "I think I will choose an all-black, put the other clothes back, and bring me rose water."

The servant began to set the clothes back in the princess' closet as the youthful woman walked up to the veranda connecting her bed-chamber after drawing out the curtains. A bolus of the fragrance of meadow, rainwater, and the musk of earth whiffed past her and she closed her eyes, silently breathing in before rose water's enchanting fragrance made its way from behind.

Slowly walking towards the bowl kept on the dressing table, she dismissed the servant before sitting on a red velvet-cushioned wooden chair. Picking up the cotton, she dipped it into the rose water before brushing her left-hand fingers in the hair to expose his full face in the reflection of the mirror.

The princess never washed her face while bathing as she never let anyone touch her face, so she always cleaned it like this with soft and delicate dabs of cotton to be extra cautious. Jessica had known she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and to top it all off, she was blessed with captivating features. A pretty pair of pink lips, big eyes, soft skin, rosy cheeks and a haughty attitude to go with them. She was always cautious of how she took care of her face, wanting to preserve it for years.

She missed having servants attending her when she was abroad, studying, but now the 20-year-old was back and entitled to employ the advantages that came with her repute.

Her fingers stroked the expanse of the skin dreamily, giving attention to every inch of it. As the door knocked, she didn't bother to turn around or spot the reflection of the person in the mirror, continuing the exercise. It was when her mother appeared behind her in a soft pink dress-gown, she flashed her a smile. "Mother, I am almost ready."

The woman looked at the clothes set neatly over her bed and then the accessories that she was supposed to adorn kept over the dressing table. "This is what we call a white lie, Jessica. You are going to be late. Let me help you."

Jessica chuckled softly, looking only at herself and the radiating skin of her youth as her mother picked up a pair of diamond earrings, hooking them through the earlobes one by one. Her hand picked up a multi-stranded necklace studded with diamonds and gemstones to clasp it around her daughter's neck next. It reached a little below the princess' chest as she looked down after she finished cleaning her face.

When the lady picked up two rings, Jessica quickly took them from her and slid them into her middle fingers. "Please allow me a few minutes, mother. I will be right down."

The queen blinked her eyes to affirm before she leaned down to kiss the attractive princess' head. Jessica looked at her mother's retreating figure and walked over to the bed to slide her bath- robe down, remaining only in the accessories on her naked body that she ogled in the mirror.

No sooner than anyone else could come to knock on the door, she was dressed up and making her way to the dining chamber on the ground floor. As much she loved hearing the sound of her heels resonating, that gave her the satisfaction that she owned the room he walked in, the plush rugs didn't allow it. She could count heads on the dining table from the stairway. Her father was in the grand chair, accompanied by the queen, her mother. Her uncle sat in the left row, flashing her a smile which she reciprocated, but there was another head that she wasn't quite familiar with.

Her attention went from her uncle to the mop of silver with an encumbering curiosity in her eyes while her feet picked speed. The big eyes took in the silvery ash tone and his pretty lips as she grimaced. How could anyone have hair so unnatural? She had seen blonde, red, brown, and black hair, but this shade of color on any local was foreign.

"Jessica, my daughter," the king gestured to the female as she halted to take a seat beside the strange guest and the princess hesitantly flashed a smile before stalking towards the said chair. "This is Park Jimin, our guest."

It was now Jessica's head turned as the male stood up in respect. "Greetings, my princess," his head bowed so that Jessica could see everything but his face. "It's my fortune to be present here tonight." As the man slowly raised his head,Jessica's eyes twitched, instantly realizing that the royal guest was prepossessing, as though he was a result of magic spells. How could someone look this appealing, especially when they weren't of the royal ranking? Jessica didn't say a word and the discomfort in her muscles wasn't unambiguous.

"He is going to be a counselor for you, Jessica. Please greet him properly." The king aided her daughter and just as the princess heard it, her squinting eyes now glared at the man.

"I don't need a counselor. I am not sick!" She thundered with fierceness.

"I don't see sick people, my princess. I can tell you are healthy. I am just here to guide you in case you have any questions, as I understand from the king that you returned home after sixteen years of studying." Jimin immediately acted, speaking softly and noticing how the young woman's demeanor changed in a matter of moments.

The queen held the king's hand from under the table and Lee Geon looked at Jessica, silently pleading her to sit down on her seat.

As Jessica accepted the seat beside Jimin, everyone breathed in relief, except the guest. The man's worries were just beginning.

"Uncle , Will Hamin make it by tomorrow? What if the weather worsens?" Jessica worried, completely ignoring the gorgeous man beside her. An onslaught of jealousy towards the silvery ash-haired man was newly found, but Jessica hadn't met anyone in her life who was better than her in any aspect, whether it was looks or fortune. Seeing someone who managed to carry himself like how Jimin had so effortlessly without a hint of makeup on his face, she couldn't help but feel threatened by him.

"He will make it, Jessica. I know how much you were expecting him and I showed up alone. I am sorry for the disappointment," Lee Geon chuckled, taking the napkin and mirroring how Jessica was delicately wiping the corner of her lips after each bite.

Jimin watched and heard everything with a keen sense.

"Jimin will be coming with us too, everyone. I hope you welcome our guest with warm hearts," the king's voice was now regal, feeling the humiliation that Jessica wanted to send the guest's way by completely sidelining him from the conversation.

"I am so glad I get to spend more time with you, my lord. I promise I am good company." Jimin answered without paying heed to Jessica's maneuvers.

"How so?" The princess asked now.

"Forgive my immodesty as it isn't my intention in saying this, my princess, but I am rather a strategic player of Jegichagi and chess. I can interest you in fencing too, if you fancy it anytime. I hear you are learning kendo these days. I can be of assistance with it."

"Hmm," the princess took a moment to narrow her eyes and look up and down at the counselor. "Please don't stress yourself." He said, shaking his head a little.

"How do I address you?" Jessica continued to ask, turning her frame a little towards the guest and the dangling necklace on her chest blinded the man sitting beside her.

"You can call me by my name, my princess. I am fine if you call me Jimin." The counselor coaxed, wanting the conversation going for some time.

"Jimin? That's not very noble of a princess to call a man by his name, although no-royal. I will refer you as the counselor if you don't mind me as it is what brings you here." Jessica counter proposed, knowing that she couldn't be desisted or opposed.

"As you please, my princess."

contd...