Lost in a Masquerade

08

"Where am I?" Jessica groaned, feeling her nostrils blocked due to crying before she passed out.

"You are in my house, my princess," Jessica looked at Jimin stirring something in a cauldron from the living hall into the kitchen. The fragrance was refreshing and somewhat appetizing, and it alone made the princess feel a little less gloomy. "You must be hungry. The food will be done in ten minutes." Jimin covered the lid and made his way toward the diwan.

Jessica blinked and looked around. The house wasn't of stone, but wood. It wasn't as big as her castle, but it was really comfortable and gave a feeling of peace and warmth. Jimin sat over a chair beside the diwan and looked at the princess staring back at him with empty, big ovals. Jessica anticipated more words from Jimin, but the man only calmly observed Jessica . "Are you a private detector for hiring?" She mumbled softly.

It caused Jimin to smile softly. "I provide therapy, my princess. I apologize again for the intrusion. My ways might not have been ideal, but I promised his majesty that I wouldn't stop until I have figured everything out."

"Do you do this for your other patients or am I the one getting special treatment?" Jessica asked timidly, yet her usual haughtiness was beginning to return in her tone.

Jimin felt relieved that Jessica was remedying the trauma. "I will set the table for dinner, young princess. Please allow me a few minutes."

Jessica turned on her back from her position to stare at the ceiling. Where expensive chandeliers hung in her-bed-chamber, there was a lantern light lousily igniting here in the same place. The bedding was smelling faintly of frangipani and the house, albeit dimly lit, was clean. The car keys sat on the side table. If this was any other place, she would feel repulsed. It was a protocol to get a place cleaned by the royal staff if the princess wanted to stay there. "Do you need my help in getting up?" Jimin asked, standing two feet apart from the diwan.

"Yes," Jessica uttered emotionlessly. "I think I am going to be sick. Where is the washroom?"

Jimin's eyes widened as he unquestionably ambled towards the princess, offering his hand. Jessica put her gloved fingers into the older's palm and sat up with a little help. Jimin walked the princess to the washroom and waited outside.

Jessica skimmed around.

The place was equipped with everything, only it was smaller and much cheaper, but that didn't hinder the princess' fascination. This was the first time she was in a commoner's house. She remembered asking her father if the commoners had big vineyards, at which, the king always laughed and said, "the commoners might not have the biggest of homes or prettiest of gardens, but they have the most beautiful hearts."

The feeling of the insides twisting suddenly stopped as she breathed and scoured for the mirror. She'd never gone so long in a day without looking at herself. As she examined her tear-stained face, she felt disgusted. A woman so delinquent didn't deserve to be called a princess. Turning the tap, she filled her gloved palms with water and splashed it over her cheeks, rubbing her fingers deftly over the skin right after.

The mesh of the gloves, albeit knitted with threads of silk, scrubbed against the silkier skin, and a hiss left her mouth. Now directing her anger towards the piece of fabric, she pulled them off with the help of her teeth and threw them on the floor.

Jimin worried outside, but couldn't do anything and only waited for the princess to return.

When Jessica walked out, her nose was red like a cherry. "Are you alright, young princess?" Jimin's eyes dripped with sheer concern as he stalked closer to the woman who smelled out of this world.

"What did you cook?" Jessica asked instead, seeing the utter concern in Jimin's eyes, and still not showing mercy to answer him.

"I have made white rice with seaweed soup. There is also beef bone soup." Jimin answered, feeling amused because he found himself sounding like a server in the hotel. But anything for the kingdom princess whom he began to adore too much.

"I can have some beef bone soup. Do you have kimchi?" Jessica speculated, chin high and chest puffed as she stood with poise, now bare hands joined together. Her hairvhad turned wavy as it softly blew with the cross breeze.

"This way, princess."

Jimin led the woman into a very ergonomically arranged dining hall. It was near the kitchen and also the living room. If Jessica was being honest,  she loved Jimin's house. She made a note to ask the older counselor to rent his humble cabin to her for a few days, and, in return, she could offer the strange-haired man to live in the grandest of hotels.

"How much money do you earn?"

Jimin turned to see Jessica standing by the chair and staring at the pots kept over the kitchen island. "Apologies, my princess. It is considered rude to ask a man his income and a woman her age." He wanted to know what was going on inside the princess' head, but he was relieved that at least the thoughts weren't detrimental.

"Do you think I can ever become a good ruler like my father?" Jessica asked next, holding the wood on the backrest of the chair. Her eyes were on the table and her fingers fiddled with the solid surface.

Understanding that if he commented on it, Jessica might break down again, Jimin wanted the princess to eat first, so he ignored her. He brought a tray with four food bowls neatly placed on them and an empty plate and cutlery. "Please eat."

"Where is your food?" Jessica looked up from her barren state.

"I will eat once you have eaten."

Jessica nodded, sitting down on the table, and hesitantly brought her hand with soup to herlips, blowing on it before slurping some. Jimin's eyes continued to keenly gauge for any sign of discomfort, but he smiled when she picked speed and started eating deliciously.

"Do you have more soup?" She asked, holding an empty bowl towards the man who stood at a distance.

"You can eat as much as you like." Jimin accepted the bowl and quickly dashed into the kitchen to refill the steaming-hot soup into it.

As he returned the full bowl, Jessica resumed eating. "Eat with me," the younger commanded, feeling her stomach thanking her for the delicious food. It wasn't a 12-course meal, but at the time of hunger, it looked no less than any royal feast. "Sit there." Jessica pointed her chopsticks at a chair.

Jimin brought his own food and settled down on the chair the young princess wanted him to take. They ate in silence. Jessica finished first and sat silently, looking at Jimin eating and sometimes looking away. On asking if she wanted more, she only shook his head. Jimin finished his own meal quickly and cleaned the table.

contd.....