"Your Highness, it's time for your fencing lessons with Instructor Lee." The elderly maid bows in front of the prince. He smiles at her and nods.
"Thanks for reminding me, Mrs. Joy." He begins making his way to the training studio. He passes by the familiar rose garden and the horse stable. He waves at everyone he sees on the way here and smiles at a group of young servants who swoon. Once he gets to the grounds, he notices someone he's never seen before.
"Ah, Your Highness! You're here." Instructor Lee, a middle-aged man with a nicely built body and piercing eyes, greets the prince with a small grin. "We have someone special with us today that you'll be fencing against." He gestures at the mysterious person. That person was covered in black and even had a mask on. He couldn't tell who it was. "Whenever you're ready, sire."
"I'm ready." He gets onto the field in his protective gear, and his partner does the same thing, gearing up.
"Ready.. Go!" The two bounce at each other, none showing any mercy. The prince pins the stranger down, but the stranger gets back up in one swift movement. Then, the person charges at the prince, but he deflects the move at the very last moment. This continues, and the only thing that can be heard is the clanking of the swords when they meet head-on.
"That's enough, thank you." The instructor stops them once Prince Seokjin is drenched in sweat. The newcomer is in the same state as well.
"Who is he anyways?" The prince puts his sword away. "I command you to show your face."
The newcomer reluctantly takes the mask off. Behind the mask all this time was a (hair color)-haired girl with sparkling (eye color) eyes. She smiles sweetly at the prince and wipes her forehead.
"It would be a 'she', Your Honor. And my name's (y/n)."
He's speechless for a moment. Then, he turns to his instructor. "Who's this?"
"This is my daughter. She's quite a fighter, isn't she?" His eyes shine with pride as he stares at his daughter, now tying her hair into a ponytail. "I thought it'd be a good idea for you to fight someone your age instead of an old man like me."
"I'd like to speak to her alone for a moment." Seokjin straightens himself and motions Instructor Lee to step out for a moment. He bows and leaves him alone with that attractive girl. "Hello there. (Y/n), was it?"
"Yes sire." The girl replies with the same tone soldiers use when talking to their general.
"Call me Jin." He clears his throat and flashes a charming grin at her. "How old are you?"
"I'm two years younger than you." She runs a hand through her hair.
Their eyes lock for a moment, and they both feel a tiny tingle jolting through their body.
She blushes and fakes a cough. "Well, I'd better get going. I have things to do."
"Like what?" Jin take a step closer to her.
"I need to go train. I'm part of the castle's elite defense team." She puts her mask down and takes the black cloak off to indeed reveal the casual attire of the team with the badge that signifies their membership.
"How come I've never seen you before?"
"I'm new here. Just joined last week, in fact." She shrugs and puts her sword back up on the display case. "Well, see you around, Your Highness." She bows delicately before walking out.
They meet more often on and off the fencing field and become close friends pretty quick.
One day after training, she says something that Jin can't forget. "How would you feel if your best friend asked you out?"
