Reincarnation In Another Timeline

Chapter Five: An Unexpected Invitation

The next day, Ho-Yeon spotted Wonwoo approaching the palace gates, deep in conversation with his jimil—a sharp-eyed, sassy man whose posture radiated importance. Her heart pounded as she decided to make her move.

As Wonwoo and his jimil neared the entrance, Ho-Yeon hurried to catch up, her breath slightly ragged from the rush. She cleared her throat, catching their attention.

"Hi, Wonwoo!" Ho-Yeon greeted with a bright, albeit nervous, smile. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important." 

The jimil looked away with his eyes rolling, "Oh well guess what? You do..." He muttered. He-Yeon him and looked back to Wonwoo.

Wonwoo looked at her with mild surprise, then a hint of annoyance. "Ho-Yeon. What do you need this time?"

Before she could respond, the jimil rolled his eyes dramatically. "Let me guess," he interjected with a smirk, "you've come to tell our prince another one of your wild tales from the future? Maybe you've got a new prophecy for us today? Or is this about your salty dessert recipe?" He raised an eyebrow sassily as he crossed his arms.

Ho-Yeon shot him a glare. "Actually, I was just hoping to have a normal conversation with Wonwoo. But it seems someone's already monopolizing all his time with their sarcasm."

The jimil put a hand on his chest in mock offense. "Oh, how tragic. I'm sure your story about future songs and magical flowers is very important. By all means, don't let me stop you."

Ho-Yeon couldn't help but scoff at his sass. "Well, it seems like you've got a future as a comedian if this whole jimil thing doesn't work out." She rolled her eyes.

The jimil's eyes widened, "Yah! What did you say?!" He exclaimed. 

He-Yeon sticked her tongue at him, "Grumpy! Grumpy! Grumpy!" She spoke in a sing-song tone.

Ho-Yeon raised an eyebrow, curious. "You know, You look like Thomas!"

The jimil glanced at her, his brows furrowed. "Who?!"

"Never mind! Mr. Thomas" Ho-Yeon spoke, a mocking tone in her voice as she smiled sarcastically sweet

The jimil looked at Wonwoo with his big enlarged eyes, "You who's that?"

Wonwoo shook his head as he blinked a few times while watching them cluelessly

The jimil glared at her, "I'm no Mr. Thomas. The name's Mr. Boo, but you can call me Seungkwan, since we're becoming such good friends." He forced an annoyed smile.

"Seungkwan, huh?" Ho-Yeon repeated, a teasing tone in her voice. "I'll remember that. I might even tell people that the great Mr. Boo is a master of sarcasm and wit."

Seungkwan tilted his head, pretending to think it over. "As long as you don't forget to mention how devilishly handsome I am, I suppose I can live with that."

Ho-Yeon chuckled, shaking her head. "Noted. Though I think the palace might already know about that part." She shrugged her shoulders.

Wonwoo, who had been silently observing the exchange, finally let out a small huff, the corner of his lips curving into a smile. "You two are quite the pair," he said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.

Ho-Yeon's heart skipped a beat as she saw his smile—something she hadn't seen in what felt like ages. The sight of it brought back memories of the man she once knew, the man she loved. For a moment, she was lost in the warmth of that smile, mesmerized by the familiar curve of his lips.

But as the moment lingered, Ho-Yeon realized she didn't want to push her luck. She'd already seen a glimpse of the man she once loved, and that was enough for now. She needed to leave before her emotions betrayed her, she'd at least make him trust her, make him feel comfortable around her again. That small moment of connection was a victory in itself.

"Anyway," Ho-Yeon continued, trying to regain her composure, "I'll leave you two to your important matters. Just thought I'd say hi."

Before either Wonwoo or Mr. Boo could respond, Ho-Yeon offered a quick bow and turned on her heel, walking away briskly. She could still feel the warmth of Wonwoo's smile in her chest, but she kept her pace steady, refusing to let herself look back.

As she walked away, she whispered to herself, "If I can't make him believe, at least I can make him trust me again. One step at a time.

Later that afternoon, as the sun dipped low and cast long shadows across the palace grounds, Ho-Yeon found herself busy with chores when her father approached her with an unusual expression.

"Ho-Yeon," he began, his tone careful. "You've received an invitation... from Min Chul-in."

Ho-Yeon looked up, surprised. "Min Chul-in? The Emperor's daughter?"

Her father nodded. "Yes, she wants to thank you for helping her the other day. You're invited to have dinner with her tonight."

Ho-Yeon's mind raced. The woman she had helped—Min Chul-in—was none other than Wonwoo's fiancée, the woman he was supposed to marry. The idea of sitting across from her, sharing a meal, felt surreal.

"Dinner... with Min Chul-in?" Ho-Yeon repeated, trying to make sense of it.

"Yes," her father confirmed. "It's quite an honor, Ho-Yeon. You should go."

Ho-Yeon swallowed hard. This was a chance to meet the woman who had captured Wonwoo's heart in this lifetime. A part of her dreaded the encounter, but another part of her saw it as an opportunity—a chance to understand more about the woman who held Wonwoo's affections.

"I'll go," she finally said, her voice steady.

Her father smiled, relieved. "Good. Make sure you present yourself well."

As her father walked away, Ho-Yeon stood in silence, her heart heavy with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. This dinner could change everything—or nothing at all. But she knew one thing: she had to go, for Wonwoo's sake and her own.