The Royal Duty

CHAPTER TWENTY- TWO

***********************

Jaehyun couldn't count how many documents he had checked and reviewed. After all those meetings he had in the afternoon, he had to help his father with paper works in the main palace. Since he had more available times during college holidays like this, he received more requests than usual.

At least, the month of January would end soon and he would get himself focused for his final project with his friends and Naeun, since she too was part of it. By then, he could have less paper works to be done.

The skies outside turned darker without him noticing. When he checked the watch on his wrist, he couldn't believe it had passed dinner time. Johnny had called him for dinner some minutes ago, but Jaehyun didn't realize it was already that late.

"Has Naeun had her dinner?" He uttered unconsciously as his hands took up his phone from the table. "She's already at the mansion, isn't she?" He guessed, while his thumbs were typing a message to send to the girl.

[Jaehyun] Naeun-ah, have you eaten?

[Jaehyun] I just finished my works.

[Jaehyun] Sorry, I couldn't help much with the wedding preparation today.

"Your Highness," Johnny called as the Crown Prince walked out of the main palace office. "Your dinner is ready. Let us escort you to your mansion."

Jaehyun nodded curtly to his right-hand man, then followed him from behind.

Once the Crown Prince arrived at his mansion, the first thing he did was look for his fiancée. They said, Naeun would stay at the palace that night, so he assumed she would be there at the mansion before him. The girl hadn't replied to his messages yet, maybe she had gone to sleep earlier? But, at this hour? Wasn't it too early?

When a familiar maid passed by and gave him a polite bow, the man called her before she walked away, "Excuse me,"

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"Is Miss Naeun already asleep in her room?"

Although the young maid wasn't directly looking at him since she had to avoid his sight, Jaehyun could notice the confused expression on her face. "Miss Naeun is going home tonight, Your Highness. She said it's a sudden change of plan and she needs to go home."

Suddenly?

Jaehyun cleared his throat, "Alright then, thank you." He simply said before walking himself towards the dining room.

The man silently wondered, what was it the girl had to go home without telling him? Was it urgent? Did she need any help?

When the dishes were served, he still stared curiously at his phone screen. He just sent another message to check on her. Whatever the reason was, he hoped Naeun was fine.

**************

There's no place like home they said. And it was true. When her heart felt heavy that evening, Naeun decided to cancel her previous plan which was to stay the night at the palace. That evening, she just wanted to escape all of the troubles she was facing and just go home to her family. She did mind about the work loads of the royal wedding preparations, though. This one-sided feeling, she had for Jung Jaehyun... she didn't know what to do with it.