The Royalty ||Park Sunghoon FF||

Chapter 2

Nari opened the door lightly and peeked her head out a bit to see a vase in front of her room shattered into multiple pieces. She walked to it and looked around to see if anyone was nearby, but there was no sign of anyone.

"Taeoh, no one is here. Quickly, leave," Nari said. Taeoh immediately ran out of the room, bowing deeply to show respect. Taeoh was always respectful to Nari, no matter the circumstances. Though they had been friends since childhood, it did not change the fact that Nari was a princess of the royal family, and Taeoh was a knight. They maintained proper boundaries, but their friendship remained unaffected, as they both were well aware of how to behave around each other.

Nari was unsure what had caused the vase to shatter. No one was nearby, and there was not enough wind blowing through the massive hallway windows. When Nari was about to leave, she noticed something on the floor out of the corner of her eye. She picked it up and found it was a pen.

"This was not here before," Nari said to herself, her thoughts loud with curiosity. Whose pen was it? Was the owner of the pen the one who dropped the vase?

"Whatever. I shall just inform a lady-in-waiting," Nari said, walking towards the main hall. But then she heard a mysterious whisper.

"Puppet... puppet..." Nari suddenly heard the soft voice of a lady. She tried to follow where the whisper was coming from, but it seemed to come from everywhere.

"Great, now I am lost," Nari said, looking around. She had unknowingly followed the voice without knowing her way and ended up in a hallway she had not been to before. The place seemed familiar, but her memories of the palace were not clear enough to remember the details.

She saw some light coming from a room at the end of the hallway and decided to look inside. She walked in and discovered it was a library.

The library stood as a testament to grandeur and erudition. Encased within thick stone walls, the library's interior was a blend of opulence and medieval charm. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries depicting historical battles and mythical creatures, their colors vibrant even after centuries. Towering stained glass windows, depicting legendary scholars and emperors, bathed the room in a kaleidoscope of hues when moonlight streamed through, casting a gentle glow upon the space.

Massive oak bookshelves, carved with exquisite craftsmanship, lined the walls from floor to ceiling. Each shelf was filled with an array of ancient tomes, scrolls, and manuscripts, their spines embellished with gold leaf and intricate patterns. The scent of aged parchment and polished wood filled the air, creating an ambience of timeless knowledge.

"This smell is divine," Nari said, taking a deep breath. Nari loved spending most of her time in the library, indulging in her interests. She adored the smell of old books, and this library was exactly where she loved to spend her time.

"Interesting," she muttered.

In the centre of the library, beneath a grand chandelier that sparkled like a constellation, stood a long mahogany table. Its surface was inlaid with mother-of-pearl, forming intricate designs that mirrored the constellations above. Plush, high-backed chairs with velvet cushions were arranged around the table.

The ceiling, a vaulted masterpiece, was painted with scenes of celestial bodies and mythical lore. Flickering candle sconces lined the walls, their flames casting dancing shadows that created an atmosphere of mystery and discovery.

Throughout the library, alcoves with cushioned window seats offered secluded spots for quiet reflection. In each corner, ornate globes and astrolabes stood. The library's ambience was one of reverence and inspiration, a place where the whispers of history and the promise of knowledge converged.

Nari was walking past the bookshelves, smiling at the books, when she suddenly stopped after hearing the light breathing of someone inside the library. She walked further, looking for the source of the sound, and saw Prince Heeseung fall asleep on a chair with a book on his chest. Nari looked around to see if any of the other boys were there, but no one was. She decided to wake Prince Heeseung to ask for directions back to her room. She lightly tapped him on the shoulder, waiting for a response, but there was none. She tapped more and more, but still no response.

"He is in a deep sleep," Nari muttered.

"Hello, can you wake up?" Nari said and tapped him once more, this time a bit harder than before, which made him suddenly startle and wake up.

"Oh my, I am sorry. I did not mean to scare you. I just needed help," Nari said apologetically, bowing to the prince. He simply nodded, indicating it was fine.

"Are these boys mute?" Nari thought aloud.

"For your information, no, we are not mute. We simply prefer not to speak," Heeseung said, catching Nari off guard.

"Did I say that aloud?" Nari asked, facepalming in embarrassment.

"Indeed, you did. Now, I shall be off," Heeseung said, attempting to walk away.

"Wait, I need help," Nari said, making Heeseung turn back and look at her, confused.

"I am lost. I need to find my way back to my room. Can you please help?" Nari asked, making the prince ponder, but He nodded and started walking away. She silently followed wherever Prince Heeseung was heading.

"Here you are," Heeseung said, finally arriving near her room.

"Thank you, and good night," Nari said, bowing to Prince Heeseung, but he simply walked away.

"Pfft, what is wrong with them? It is only the second day here, and I am already starting to dislike them. They are so high and mighty," Nari said to herself, stomping her feet in anger at the boys' bratty attitude.

"He does have the same imprint mark on his neck," Nari thought, remembering the mark she had noticed on Heeseung's neck while he was asleep in the library.

"I wonder if the other boys have it too. Of course, they should, right?" Nari pondered, thinking about the mark that should be present on the seven princes' necks. She also recalled that Heeseung had the same pen that had been near her room.

Nari changed into a nightgown and looked at herself in the mirror. The purplish mark on her neck was exposed—the same mark that the boys should probably have on their necks. Only she knew about the mark on her neck. She had never let anyone see it. It was always covered by her hair or the gowns she wore during the day. She got up from her chair and sat down on her bed.

"It seems one of the princes was near my room earlier," Nari said to herself and lay down on the bed to rest.

"Will see who it was in the morning."

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