thief (of my heart)

-XXX-

Jennie, Lisa and Chaeyoung, sat at a table in her garden, drinking green tea from porcelain cups. As they sipped their tea and nibbled on pastries, their conversation wandered from the latest gossip to recent political issues.

"Why hasn't Jisoo joined us today?" Lisa inquired, her curiosity piqued.

"You know Jisoo. She doesn't like going into the castle unless it's from my private chamber's window." Jennie chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with affection.

"Ah, she is so dramatic sometimes." Lisa shook her head with a laugh.

"But seriously, what has she been up to lately? She hardly hangs out with us anymore. She's always 'busy' with something." Chaeyoung complained.

"Now that you mention it," Jennie pondered for a moment, her fingers tracing the rim of her teacup. "I'm not entirely sure myself... She's been rather... distant lately."

"We could always just spy on her and find out for ourselves." Lisa suggested with a sly grin.

"Spying on her, Lisa? That seems invasive." Jennie shook her head, rejecting the idea.

"But aren't you curious, Jennie? Don't you want to know what secrets she's hiding?" Lisa leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Imagine she has an entire different life that she is hiding from us! What if she is currently on a trip with a princess from a foreign country, her two hot friends and pets??"

"And you called Chu dramatic." Jennie just snorted at the strange thought that almost made her laugh.

"What if she is in trouble?" Chaeyoung joined in, considering Lisa's conspiracy theory. "Jisoo's secrecy has always been a part of her, but it's never hurt to check on a friend, right?"

The possibility that she was in trouble got into Jennie's head. Her earlier reluctance to the idea of spying on Jisoo was now overshadowed by a deep worry for her well-being.

"If she was going through something, wouldn't she tell me?" Jennie asked in a concerned tone.

"Probably not." Chaeyoung answered easily.

"Not until you force it out of her." Lisa agreed strongly.

"No, you are right of course..." The queen sighed.

*****

The next morning, the three waited outside the inn where Jisoo usually spent her nights when she wasn't in the castle. After what felt like an eternity, the inn's door finally swung open and Jisoo stepped out.

The trio was dressed in cloaks and hats to hide their identities. They kept a cautious distance as they followed Jisoo through the streets of the capital.

The trio watched as Jisoo stopped by a street vendor, engaging in conversation and exchanging a few coins for a bouquet of roses.

"She's buying flowers?" Lisa remarked, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Maybe they are for Jennie. She could be on her way to the castle?"

"Totally." Jennie's face lit up. "We were probably worrying for nothing."

"What a relief." Chaeyoung agreed.

Instead of heading to the castle, Jisoo took a different path, leading them to a secluded part of town. Their earlier sense of relief began to wane as they realised that Jisoo's destination was nowhere near the castle.

Jisoo's steps led her to a small, unassuming building nestled between two larger structures. Its wooden door bore no sign or markings, the windows were shrouded in heavy curtains. It was the kind of place that raised more questions than answers.