𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 | 정원

28

New Year's was just a few days away, and Christmas had passed in its usual way for Ji-ah—without family. It was something she had gotten used to over the years. But this year Haeun had invited her over to spend time together, and she had gladly accepted.

Plus, she needed to get out of the palace for a while. Jungwon had warned her about the dangers, but Ji-ah couldn't see how spending time at her friend's house posed any real threat. The world outside still seemed normal, after all.

Standing at the counter in Haeun's cozy kitchen, Ji-ah helped her friend mix batter for a cake. Haeun had insisted on baking a chocolate peppermint cake, despite the fact neither of them had much experience with baking.

"Make sure you get all the lumps out!" Haeun called out from across the room as she fiddled with some decorations for the cake.

"I'm trying, but I swear this batter has a mind of its own," Ji-ah replied with a laugh, stirring the mixture with as much effort as she could muster.

Alex appeared behind her, carrying a tray of ingredients. He had joined them for the afternoon, suggesting they spend some time together before he flew back to the U.S. for New Year's with his family.

"So, how long are you going to be in the States?" Haeun asked.

"Maybe a few weeks," Alex replied, leaning casually against the counter. "I haven't seen them in a while, and it's kind of a family tradition."

Ji-ah smiled, wiping her hands on a towel. "Sounds nice. Do you miss them?"

"Yeah, I do. I think it'll be good to have some time with them. Recharge a bit."

Haeun sighed dramatically. "And here we are, stuck in Korea, freezing to death and eating cake."

"Could be worse," Alex teased, nudging Ji-ah lightly. "You've got cake, good company, and no work for a few days."

Ji-ah chuckled. "True." She didn't feel the need to mention what had been going on at the palace. They didn't need to know, and she wasn't ready to talk about it.

Most of the staff had left for the holidays, taking advantage of the days off, but Ji-ah stayed behind. After all, the palace was where she lived now.

"But I wouldn't mind a bit of warm weather right now," she added.

"Hey, you guys are always welcome to visit," Alex offered. "California's got plenty of sun. It's nothing like Korea in winter."

Haeun smirked, leaning against the counter. "Don't tempt me."

As the conversation drifted, Alex's gaze shifted towards Ji-ah. "By the way, how's it going in the palace?" he asked casually. Haeun must've told him about her job.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Ji-ah lied, her smile faltering just slightly.

Alex narrowed his eyes, his tone becoming more thoughtful. "You sure?"

Ji-ah shrugged, her gaze dropping to the floor. "It's nothing I can't handle," she said, but even she could hear how unconvincing it sounded.

Focusing on mixing the batter, she tried to distract herself from the weight of their concern.

Haeun wiped her hands on her apron and joined them by the counter. "You've seemed a little off lately," she said gently. "Is something bothering you?"

"No, not at all."

Haeun pressed, "Are the princes treating you badly?"

"No, of course not." Ji-ah was caught off guard by the sudden mention of the princes. She hadn't really talked about them much with her friends.

Alex raised his eyebrows, leaning in slightly. "You can tell us if you're having trouble, you know. If it's tough, you don't have to stay there. There are other jobs out there."

"Thanks," Ji-ah murmured quietly, turning her attention back to the cake batter. She poured it into the pan, while Haeun slid it into the oven.

"Alright, let's get started on the icing," Alex said, trying to keep the mood light.

Haeun grinned. "The princes are really handsome, though. I was shocked when I saw them at the market that day."

Ji-ah chuckled at her friend's enthusiasm. She bit back on the urge to comment on the fact they were vampires.

"What about me?" Alex teased, feigning offence.

Haeun laughed, pretending to study Alex's face as if deep in thought. "Hmm, well, you're not bad," she said playfully.

Alex only shook his head. "Sure.."

Haeun laughed again, enjoying the teasing. "What? Don't believe me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Alex crossed his arms, still smirking. "Not really, no. I think I deserve better than 'not bad.'"

Ji-ah watched the banter with amusement, grateful for the light-hearted atmosphere.

Then Haeun turned to Ji-ah with a playful glint in her eyes. "Alright, Ji-ah, what do you think of Alex? Be honest."

Ji-ah blinked, caught off guard. "Huh?" She felt a bit flustered by the sudden attention.

Alex immediately shifted his attention to Ji-ah, a soft smile spreading across his face as he leaned in slightly, clearly waiting for her response.

Ji-ah shifted uncomfortably, feeling the weight of both their gazes on her. She glanced at Alex, whose smile was still expectant and playful, but something in his eyes made it feel more like a genuine curiosity than just a joke.

"Well..." she started, choosing her words carefully. Spotting Alex's striking eye color, she decided to focus on that. "You have a unique eye color."

Alex raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Really? You think so?"

Ji-ah nodded. "Yeah, I've never seen anyone with that mix of grey and green before," she added, her tone genuine.

Alex's grin widened, clearly pleased. "I'll take that. It's better than 'not bad,' right?"

Haeun let out an exaggerated sigh, rolling her eyes. "Alright, fine. I guess you win this round," she said with a mock tone of defeat.

Ji-ah chuckled. "I didn't realize it was a competition," she joked, her smile lingering.

Alex laughed, leaning back with a casual air. "With Haeun, everything's a competition."

"Hey!" Haeun protested, though her grin showed she wasn't really offended. "It's not my fault you're easy to tease."

Alex raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Wanna see who can make the best icing?"

The playful banter continued, filling the cozy kitchen with warmth and laughter. Ji-ah felt her earlier tension melt away, grateful for the light-hearted atmosphere and the comfort of good friends.

For now, she would enjoy this moment, pushing aside the secrets that seemed to wrap around her like shadows. She hoped that whatever lay ahead wouldn't overshadow the warmth of this day.