Lost in a Masquerade

05

Dear Park Jimin,

Jessica has decided to go on her travels. She was here with me and she was adamant. As per your proposition, I haven't questioned her and asked her for a week's time for me to help arrange her stay. I am sure she'll find a way to get rid of the guards that are going to accompany her.

Please take care of my daughter and take her back home soon. I have known your father for years and he was a man of his word, a king with dignity. I see the same values inculcated in you. I would've loved to see you in the crown, but I respect your decision for whatever reasons you may have. No one has to know about your ties with royal blood was your condition. I abide by it and I am trusting you entirely in return. In exchange for you helping my daughter, you would simply have to ask and I'll do everything in my power to return any favor to you.

A worried father

Jeon Sun-Young

"Why didn't his highness make a call? He knows where I am staying and these places are equipped with telephones." Jimin questioned after he'd finished reading the red letter. As per the rules, the red color of parchment represented bad news, worry, or a warning.

"The king doesn't trust technology entirely, but I don't know the answer to your question. I am just a messenger and did what was told. Have a good night, sir."

As Jimin saw the royal guard returning, he breathed with difficulty. Since the glimpse of Jessica in a compromised position, he had been investigating, traveling far to collect the shreds of evidence to help the princess, reading advanced human behavior and psychology books at night to understand Jessica better when he finally started the therapy.

He needed more time, but with the letter in his hand, the deck of his planning cards crumpled and he had to come up with a new strategy in just four days.

Jessica woke up on the day she was finally to leave home. The weather wasn't entirely bright with a few clouds joining hands together. Not caring about the royal rituals — taking a leisurely bath, eating the porridge, and drinking the herbal concoction to help in digestion during travel, she rather behaved like a juvenile in school. It was a quick shower she took. During the excitement so conspicuous, she also washed his face in the bath chamber rather than taking several minutes to marvel at it in front of the mirror. The princess hardly touched any food.

The king was unsettled about sending his girl away, not knowing where she was heading, but having an idea what she would be doing there. It took an insurmountable amount of patience and understanding in the king to not question anything now.

Jessica knew she was looking good in her brown pants matching up with a brown spaghetti top.

Placing the packed bags in the car, the lackey bowed and retreated, leaving his majesty and the crown princess alone. "Take care of yourself, daughter. Traveling is a very essential youth venture we all must experience. My father was a smart man who let me travel alone and it was because of all the places I've been to and all the things I've done, I understood people more. I wish for you to stay humble for the next month. People might not know you by your face, but they soon will. I don't want a single woman, man, or child in the kingdom to say that the princess is ill-mannered."

Jessica's eyes remained keened on her father's face, listening intently. She suddenly wanted to sob about the burden she was supposed to carry and no one asked her if she wanted to do it. She wished she was just a common girl, but she knew she wouldn't be able to love herself without the royal status and the affluence associated with it. "I will try my best, father."