In the name of love

007

"Ahh, Minseok must be very lucky to have met you."

"N-No. I'm not that good..." Sana said humbly as Prince Yesung complimented her again for the umpteenth time. They have been under the coolly shaded pavilion for nearly an hour, mainly chatting about her newfound life in the palace and his personal experience growing up as a royalty . And just like the Queen Mother, Prince Yesung has demanded Sana to drop the honorific title, and just to address him as uncle.

"You still have worries over the engagement?"

Sana did not dare to speak her mind. How was she going to tell him that she wasn't exactly 'in love' with his favourite nephew? If she did not know beforehand that they were uncle and nephew, Sana might have mistaken him as Minseok's father from his constant praises for the young prince.

"Minseok isn't that bad. Not that I'm saying this because he happens to be my nephew!"

"Of course. It's just..." Sana gave a short sigh, "I don't know him that well yet..."

"Perhaps time would tell"

Time. She probably needed a lot of that. The engagement was going to be held in another 4 days time and if there was a word to describe their current relationship, it had to be 'awkward'.

"Why don't you two spend some quality time together? Maybe you will find something unexpected?"

"Unexpected?"

"Where your heart belongs, my dear."

____

"So that's about all you have for the next few days before the engagement..."

"You call this... that's all?" Dahyun gaped at the ridiculously packed schedule Sir Jae has prepared for her.

"Lunch with Prime Minister, Meeting with Spain's Crown Prince, a press conference and a social gathering and that's not all yet!" Dahyun grumbled as the list went on endlessly. She figured she would be dead by the time her brother returned.

"Your Highness, I have already postponed the ones I could. Please bear with it until His Highness returns." Sir Jae answered politely.

"Any news about my brother's whereabouts?"

"We are still trying to locate His Highness."

"If he isn't back on time for the engagement, what am I supposed to do? Take his place and announce I'm going to marry her?"

Sir Jae said nothing but instead, gave a simple nod.

"That's just perfect"

___

"I'm sorry I'm late!" Sana apologised frantically, panting for breath. She ran all the way to the Queen Mother residence after realising she was running late after a long talk with Prince Yesung. It was already fifteen minutes past the intended meeting, and the flower arrangement lesson was scheduled to start in another thirty minutes, outside of the palace.

"Your Highness! Are you alright?" The female attendant asked seeing the breathless Sana.

"I'm... fine... has Her Majesty left?"

"No, Her Majesty is still waiting for you. Please come in."

Sana quickly followed the attendant. Soon, they reached the hall where the Queen Mother awaited. There was an awful silence in the room. The faces of the attendants in the room were all solemn.

She hung her head low as she was all prepared to receive a scolding from the Queen Mother.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty." Sana apologised sincerely. But little did she expect to receive a gentle knock on her head.