royal blood

20 | confessions from a night.

irene walked down the streets of ouverport. she was looking at the grand casino, a beautiful building that was added to the already amazing list of places to see in ouverport. built in 1887, the grand casino was not really a casino — not for anyone. it was a casino meant for royalties, for noble families that had the money to join there.

irene smiled at the thought of her going into the casino for the very first time when she had just turned twenty-one, a fragile age in which she was brought into the world of the high class, into the world of glitz and glamour, or what irene thought that was what the high class lived like.

when she first met wendy and the mysterious journalist taeyong on the train, she was scared to admit she had met doyoung in another place before, other than what she had admitted to. doyoung was in the casino the night irene first went to. she met the crown prince doyoung in a casino, when she was twenty-one and he was freshly twenty-two.

eight years had passed since irene met him for the first time. irene did not remember much of him from their first meeting, but she was sure that he had a lot of good manners when she sat at the bar stool next to him. irene, who was wearing a dress that felt uncomfortable for such an important event, was offered doyoung's blazer for her to feel warm.

—

a younger irene stood infront of the casino, as she saw older men laughing as they were entering. she looked around, holding the invitation that was given to her by one of the stage directors. irene made her way to the entrance, handing in her invitation. she was allowed into the casino, before she looked at the crowd.

irene was scared. she knew no one inside of the casino and expected the worse to happen. what if men approached her, asking her questions that would surely make her uncomfortable. she headed down the stairs, deciding that it would be best for her to stay around the bar.

she looked around once again, before sitting down at one of the bar stools. she let out a small sigh, turning around, to see a crowd of elderly men gambling and laughing the night away. plenty of young women were sitting by them, as irene couldn't help but feel strange at the sight of them.

was that what irene was expected to do as well ? she shrugged the thought of that, as the bar stool next to hers was pulled away, before a man a little too familiar sat down next to her. it took a few minutes for irene to realise it was doyoung, who seemed to be happy to see someone at the bar.

" my apologies if i happend to scare you, but i am quite scared to go and join those men gambling. " doyoung explained to irene, who nodded. she smiled to doyoung, as he smiled back in no time. " i am surely not familiar with you. would you mind giving me a name ? " he asked, as irene let out a small laugh.

" bae irene, and i am an actress. " irene said, as doyoung looked away for a second, seemingly being noticed by one of the older men. the man, who was trying to persuade doyoung into the joining them, looked at irene and let out a laugh. " i .. i am sorry to disturb you. i should leave. "

" actually, i am not going to go and gamble. i have never been a fan, i apologize. " doyoung told the man, who walked away quickly, " i am sorry for him. he is an old friend of my father's, and i assumed he wanted to make me feel included. " he looked at the glass of whiskey handed to him, as irene looked down.

" it must feel strange. " irene told doyoung, as she could see him forming another smile. he was a charming man, as irene had imagined a prince would look. however, he had a peaceful tone to the way he spoke and acted, with soft eyes and words that easily made you calmer than usual. " you must feel weird about the way you are seen, your majesty. "

" for tonight, it shall be doyoung. " he said, before placing his hand on her shoulder. " i think we should speak of better things. you told me you are an actress, so you must live quite the life. working on the stage, living a life which revolves around music and acting .. and all of that. " he raised his eyebrow.

" it is a rather sad life, and i must admit that i feel tired most times. " irene said, as doyoung removed his hand. he took his glass, slowly drinking from it. he finished his drink, before putting the empty glass on the bar. irene watched every single one of his moves, admiring how slow and well-thought they were.

" i am sad to hear that. i expected you to love this life so much, and feel calm about it. i thought acting was not that much stress, but i am guessing that i was extremely wrong. " doyoung said, as he and irene continued to look at eachother. it was a calm atmosphere, something that irene guessed wasn't too usual for doyoung, a young man way too busy for his age.

" you should not worry. i do not regret choosing this path, and i never wish to retire. " she told doyoung, who was once again looking towards someone who was waving at him. it was one of the baron's sons, jungwoo, who seemed to want a small talk with one of his friends. " i think, this time, you should at least join your friends. " she said, before getting up.

" you are right. " doyoung looked at irene, who's dress was way too inappropriate for the weather. " you know it might rain, right ? or did you not take such thing into consideration ? " he asked, before deciding to take off his blazer and hand it to irene. she widened her eyes, trying her best to avoid taking it. " irene, you are going to catch a cold if you are to leave. "

irene looked at the blazer. it was a beautiful grey, matching doyoung's pants. she slowly took it, putting it over her shoulders. she bowed to doyoung, as he approached irene. he pulled her into a soft hug, as irene pat his back. " thank you, doyoung. i don't know when the give this back to you, but i hope we get to meet again. "

" if i never see you, you might as well keep it. i do not mind it, as long as you get much use out of it. " doyoung said, as irene attempted to pull away from their hug. " as long as you remember our night together. "

—

irene turned away from the casino, one full of memories for her. who she didn't expect to see what sooyoung, who was wearing all-black. a thing so unusual for sooyoung made irene raise her eyebrow, seeing that sooyoung already started approaching her friend.

" irene, something that has been bothering me for quite the time now, it has really made me bothered. i can not hide this from you anymore, and i have to tell you the truth. " sooyoung said, grabbing irene by her arm. " i expect you not to tell anyone else, but .. me and the crown prince had a relationship. " she looked straight into irene's eyes, as irene was as shocked as ever.

irene had never expected such words to come out of sooyoung's mouth.

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