𝕭𝖑𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝕻𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖈𝖊───
"Dance for me." The figure on the throne said.
Her throat felt dry. Even in the dark, she could sense his eyes on her, tracking her every move.
She couldn't place what it was, but something about his intimidating aura made...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The days flew by as Ji-ah and the rest of the staff started with preparations for the winter ball. Ji-ah found herself constantly on the move, her mind a whirl of tasks and questions.
She couldn't help but wonder who was behind the girl's disappearance, and her thoughts often drifted to the princes. Could one of them be involved?
Ji-ah's semester at the university also resumed. The transition from palace duties to schoolwork was hectic, but Ji-ah welcomed the return to her studies. The amount of work made her forget about the girl's warning.
Haeun gave her the tightest hug when they finally reunited after weeks apart. Ji-ah thought her bones were going to get crushed.
One chilly morning, Ji-ah arrived early for her literature class, her breath forming small clouds in the crisp air. As she made her way to the classroom, she spotted a familiar figure leaning against the wall outside the hall.
It was the guy who had given her the white lilies. His tousled dark hair fell effortlessly over his forehead, and he wore a tailored blazer and dark trousers, giving him a mature appearance that set him apart from the other students.
"Hey," he said with a warm smile as she approached.
Ji-ah recognized him. "Hi. I didn't expect to see you here."
He chuckled. "Yeah, I'm just waiting for my friends." He gestured towards the classroom. "You study literature?"
"Yeah, I'm an English major."
"Interesting.."
Ji-ah laughed at his enigmatic tone. "What about you?"
"Biological science," he replied, his tone light. "It keeps me busy. Literature sounds fascinating, though."
"It is," Ji-ah agreed, feeling a bit more comfortable. After a brief pause, she added, "By the way, I never got your name. I'm Ji-ah."
"Nice to officially meet you, Ji-ah. I'm Alex," he smiled, taking out his hand.
Ji-ah hesitated and took his hand, noticing how warm it felt against the cold. "Thanks for the flowers, by the way. They were beautiful."
"You're welcome."
The bell rang, signalling the start of class. "I should get going," Ji-ah said, glancing towards the classroom.
"Sure, see you around." Alex gave her a wave before turning away.
As the day progressed, Ji-ah found herself immersed in her studies, the hours passing quickly. Once her classes were over, she gathered her belongings and headed back to the palace.
The palace was abuzz with activity, with the staff working diligently to ensure everything was perfect for the upcoming ball. It seemed like a very important event.
