The Royal Duty

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

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Naeun had lived her whole life in the city of Seoul. However, she barely ever visited the Bukchon Hanok Village, which was a Korean traditional village complex in the heart of Seoul on the top of a hill. The complex was composed with a lot of hanoks and alleys which showcased the architecture and culture from Joseon Dynasty. It was one of the most famous tourist spots where people would come strolling around the alleys in rented hanboks.

That day, Naeun came to one of the hanoks that were specially reserved at the village in a hanbok too, and she would take pictures as well. But she didn't come as a tourist or a visitor on a holiday. She was about to have a pre-wedding photoshoot there with her future husband who was the Crown Prince of South Korea.

As much as Naeun wanted to avoid the Crown Prince, she couldn't stop staring at him that day. She never imagined Jung Jaehyun wearing a hanbok would look that good. He had been wearing suits and neat shirts almost every day, but when he came into the first photoshoot spot that day—which was a lovely Hanok, a traditional Korean house—Naeun had been staring at him non-stop from afar.

The girl was battling herself, though. She wanted to give some space away from him so she could clear her head and figure out a way on how she should face him from now on. For a couple of days, she had avoided him at the royal palace in many ways possible, however at the end, she should remain together with him anyway, right?

As his wife. Whether he loved her or not.

"Miss Naeun, careful with your steps." Secretary Park's voice surprised her. She wasn't alert for some seconds as she stepped into one of the Hanok buildings. Thanks to Jung Jaehyun, "There's this wooden block whenever you move between the rooms, please be careful."

Jieun, who was following her from behind, immediately helped the girl with her long hanbok. "Let me help you with your hanbok." Jieun bent down to reach the tip of the dress. "It's heavy, isn't it?"

"it's not really heavy, it's okay!" Naeun grinned at Jieun, making sure the woman saw she's really alright. Then, her eyes moved slowly back to the familiar figure deep inside the room who was talking to one of the photoshoot stuff.

Jung Jaehyun was wearing a peal colored hanbok, almost similar to Naeun's but the color of his was slightly darker. His dark black hair was slicked back neatly, exposing his features. That hanbok on him really made him look like a whole royalty, though. It got Naeun wondering how he would look like in his myeonhok, a ceremonial attire worn by Korean monarchs. In this case, he would wear on their wedding day for the traditional ceremonies and the parade in the next following days.

"Then, we're gonna start with these traditional concepts first before moving back inside to the royal palace?" Jaehyun raised his eyebrows as his eyes studied the printed mood boards on the staff's hand. "Great. We'll follow your direction. Please take beautiful pictures for us, Mr. Baek."

"of course, Your Highness. It's an honor to be chosen as the photographer for the royal couple." The older man smiled warmly, making both of his eyes curved up. "Oh, Miss Naeun is here as well."

When Jaehyun heard him say that, he moved his focus away from the printed mood boards shown by the staff to Naeun who just entered the room. As soon as he landed his eyes on her, for a second, the man forgot how to breathe.

She looked pretty with the hanbok. Her long black hair was tied up into a bun, and it was completed with golden ornament hairpins. From head to toe, Jaehyun had actually seen the design sketches by Jieun and Stylist Lim. But it somehow still surprised him. Naeun's beauty never failed to surprise him every time.