𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 | 정원

12

Ji-ah felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment but managed to respond. "Good morning, Your Highness. I didn't mean to interrupt. I'll just grab something quickly and get out of your way."

Jay waved her off. "No need to rush. Help yourself to some omelets. We have plenty."

Relieved by his casual demeanor, Ji-ah approached the breakfast spread and began to serve herself, still feeling slightly awkward in the presence of a prince.

"By the way, you can drop the formalities. Just call me Jay. What's your name?" He asked.

Ji-ah, with a hint of surprise at the informality, replied, "I'm Ji-ah. Nice to meet you.." She hesitated, uncertain if she should address the prince by his name despite his permission.

"Nice to meet you too, Ji-ah. Enjoy your breakfast. If you need anything, feel free to ask." He shot a smile before returning to the stove.

The omelets tasted delicious. Ji-ah couldn't help but marvel at the prince's skills in cooking. He looked comfortable and natural in the kitchen.

Ji-ah looked back at the prince and gathered her courage to ask. "Do you cook often?"

"Oh, yeah I do. I mostly cook for my brothers." He responded, glancing up from plating the omelets. He looked so dashing, Ji-ah couldn't help but look away. Contrary to his looks, his tone is rather warm and friendly.

"Is it good?" He asked, gesturing toward the food.

"It's very good!" Ji-ah eagerly nodded her head.

A smile spread across his face, lighting up the room. He seemed satisfied with Ji-ah's response.

"How long have you been working here?" he inquired, his voice curious.

"Almost two weeks now," Ji-ah replied, keeping her tone reserved.

Jay nodded at Ji-ah's response. "Oh alright."

Just then, a tall figure came into the room. It was Ni-ki. "Hyung, how did you wake up so early? I thought-" He stopped when he saw Ji-ah. "Oh, good morning." He said while he bowed.

"Good morning." Ji-ah quickly returned the prince's greeting, bowing back.

Ni-ki grabbed a plate of omelets for himself. "You woke up early today?" Jay asked him.

"No, I didn't even sleep. But I'm not tired."

"You could say I'm nocturnal.." Ni-ki said with a hint of mischief. He walked out the door before shooting a small smile at Ji-ah.

Jay shook his head. "This kid... don't mind him."

Ji-ah just smiled at the youngest playful demeanor.

The kitchen fell momentarily silent, and Ji-ah felt a lingering awkwardness in the air, unsure how to continue the conversation.

But Jay spoke up again, breaking the silence. "By the way, is Jungwon giving you a hard time?"

The question surprised her, but she quickly shook her head. "No, not at all," she said quickly, even though she wasn't fond of Jungwon. She didn't dare to complain about a prince.

"That's good to hear." He hesitated before continuing. "Jungwon can be harsh sometimes. For what he went through.." He trailed off. "But just know that he didn't mean it." He gave a sad smile.

Ji-ah figured it was probably related to their parents. She remembered Seo-yeon mentioning something about their family. Although she wanted to ask Jay why they didn't live together, she deemed it was personal and stopped herself.

"Okay, thank you for telling me." Ji-ah returned a polite smile.

"Well, I'm done here. Take some more if you like." He said before taking a plate for himself and leaving the kitchen.

After finishing her meal, Ji-ah carefully cleaned her dishes and headed out of the kitchen, encountering other staff members in the hallway. The palace was becoming more lively as more people woke up, and the sun had started to rise, casting a warm glow.

The rain from yesterday had stopped, and the air carried a fresh, post-rain scent that filled the palace corridors.

She was supposed to help Seo-yeon with the laundry today. She made her way to the laundry room before spotting Seo-yeon in the hallway.

"Seo-yeon," Ji-ah called. But she didn't seem to hear her, her auburn hair swishing around the corner. Ji-ah quickened her pace, determined to catch up with Seo-yeon. She followed her through the palace hallways until she reached the entrance to the garden. Why is she going to the garden?

Ji-ah stepped outside, but she couldn't see Seo-yeon anywhere. Confused, Ji-ah continued walking through the garden, it was weirdly silent.

"Seo-yeon?" Ji-ah called again. There seemed to be no one else in the garden except for her. The morning chill swept down, carrying the moisture of the morning rain. She clutched her cardigan closer and walked further into the garden. She clearly saw Seo-yeon walking here.

Ji-ah walked until the garden bushes ended, and the open grass lay beyond and stretched out to the thick forest, bordered by the tall rusted fence. This was the place she dreamed of.

The uneasy feeling crept back again, and Ji-ah's senses heightened. Something felt wrong, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was. She stared at the grassy spot where the dead bird had been, but there was nothing there.

Only the sound of rustling leaves accompanied her, the tall trees swaying slowly in the wind cast elongated shadows on the ground.

The sound of the forest whispered to her, as if it was tempting her to go further. The gate leading out to the forest remained shut, and Ji-ah felt almost relieved.

"Ji-ah?" A familiar voice called from behind, interrupting her thoughts. It was Seo-yeon, her auburn hair slightly tousled. "What are you doing out there?"

Ji-ah turned to find her standing at the doorway, her expression curious. Her eyebrows furrowed. Wasn't she just out in the garden?

"Uh, I thought I saw you heading towards the garden," Ji-ah said, a tinge of confusion in her voice.

Seo-yeon chuckled. "Nope, I've been in the laundry room this whole time. Let's go do laundry together, alright?"

Ji-ah's mind raced with a swirl of confusion. Maybe she had been mistaken.

"Sure, let's go," Ji-ah nodded, forcing a smile. She looked back at the forest one last time and trudged back to the palace. There was something peculiar about this place, and Ji-ah couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.