My Romeo {English version}

•°F i f t e e n°•

• Narrated by Eunji •

Lunch flows smoothly and cheerfully with diverse subjects.  My mother is not bothered by the presence of Youra other than my father, who shows a slight discomfort but says nothing about it.

— How was your day yesterday, my dear?  — my father asks me while he brings a slice of meat to his lips.

— Honestly, I prefer to forget yesterday.  — I tell everyone present at the table.

— Was your night good?  — I just nod with my mother's question.

— Tell me dear, why didn't you like your day yesterday?  — I look at my father ready to answer him.

— Don't pretend you don't know, Dad.  Why did you make me do that to that man?

— It was necessary Eunji, you need to mature!  Traitors are not worthy of compassion.  — he says irritably.

— You know how much I hate violence!  Never make me do that again!  — I say getting up and running towards the garden.

The apple tree in the center of the garden catches my attention, I stop running and walk to the tree.  For a moment I allow myself to watch its branches and release a long breath, I sit under the tree, hug my knees and rest my head on them.  The silence is present in the place but is broken by light strides that approach me, slowly I raise my head to face Donghun who stops in front of me.  His eyes roam across my face for any sign of crying.

— Are you alright?  — says while sitting next to me.

— Definitely not, I feel guilty.

— I understand.  — I notice him let out a sigh after hugging me sideways.

— I don't want to have to do something like that again, I feel horrible Donghun, I just want to forget all that!  — I vent to him.

— Your father lives by the motto of the kingdom.  "Peace, strength and justice but above all, loyalty to the kingdom and the family."  — he says, reciting the motto next.  I just nod in agreement with him while my gaze is lost on the buds of roses.

— Your Highness, a letter has arrived for you.  — Youra says coming to us with the envelope in hand.

— Try to forget that, okay?  Show him your strength so he doesn't hit you anymore.  — he says staring at me, when he sees me nodding, puts a long seal on my forehead and gets up undoing our hug.  I notice my cousin staring deeply at the girl in front of me, his attitude makes her blush timidly, making me smile.

— You said a letter arrived for me?  — I ask her after Donghun leaves the place.

— Yes. — she says to me as she sits beside me, the girl hands me the envelope.

— From Trakzus ?!  — I ask her surprised to notice the image of Chimera stamped in red sealing the envelope.  I look at her confused and open the letter when I see the girl confirm.  I start to read aloud after unfolding the paper and enjoying the beautiful and organized calligraphy done in black ink by a feather.

"Dear Youra and Dear Eunji,
I invite you to an outdoor picnic on a river that is in my kingdom, I need to cool my head and I want your company for this.  You will know where it is, I expect you there tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock, bring food!

With affection and anxiety,
Park Junhee.  ♡ "

— For this I did not expect.  — I say to Youra.

— Me neither.  — the girl laughs.  — We will?

— Clear!  I also need to relax and have fun, it will be great for the three of us, we are going to buy some fruit and other things to prepare a basket after my Trazyu class.  We will go on horseback so that nobody knows.

— Right.

I get up and walk into the palace, followed by the girl, we walk to my room and when I enter it I go to my bag that is on top of an armchair.  I keep the letter in the envelope and put it in my bag shortly after, close the bag and place its strap on my shoulder.  I walk out of the room towards the library.

— Want to have your class now?  — Youra questions me.

— Yes!  — so we head to the library where I will have my Trazyu class.

• Narrated by Jun •

In the afternoon I am awakened by Bon-hwa, I quickly get up and walk towards the bathroom to splash my face.  I know what interrupting my sleep is about, the boy stares at me in silence for a few seconds which confirms my suspicions, I will be punished.  I walk over to my closet and quickly change my gray sweatshirt to a white T-shirt.  Bon-hwa is waiting for me at my bedroom door, I walk over to him and head towards the throne room.  My father is seated on the throne, when he sees me entering the place the expression on his face closes more.

— Where were you last night ?!  Where did you sleep ?!  — he rages.

— Does not matter.  — I say cold and harsh.

— You must stop these binges!  You have responsibilities and an image to maintain!  You need to take posture!  As a punishment, you will receive twenty lashes.

I swallow hard, there is nothing I can do, my mother is not present to protest the amount of lashes.  One of the guards approaches me with a whip in his hand, I kneel ready to receive the punishment.  It doesn't take long for me to feel the leather tearing my skin, the pain of being whipped is not strange to me, but due to the time I was not attacked in this way an inevitable cry escapes my lips and my hands are flattened against the floor.  .  The tenth time the whip hits my skin, I groan without strength to scream, I am exhausted, bloody and cold sweating but I still have to endure ten more lashes.  From the sixteenth lash the intensity is increased, the twentieth being the most intense done with great force which makes me scream and shed the tears of pain I was holding.

— You are weak, Junhee.  He can't take twenty lashes without crying!  What will become of my kingdom in your hands?  — He walks up to me and makes me look at him pulling me by the hair.  — Try to strengthen yourself!  I want you impeccable to receive the princess that will arrive in thirty minutes.

When I let go, I hit the floor, groaning with the pain of the impact.  He leaves the room leaving me alone, the white marble floor is red with my blood, as well as my shirt now soaked and torn.  I force myself to get up and walk to my room even with difficulty, when I enter the room I notice the presence of the maid who always takes care of my injuries when I receive a punishment.  In silence we walk to my bathroom, with scissors she finishes tearing the back of my shirt to facilitate the removal, she quickly removes my clothes and helps me wash.  I leave the bathroom already dry and with my lower body dressed, I sit on the end of my bed, the maid passes an ointment to help the wounds heal and bandages the area.  As soon as she finishes helping me get ready, Bon-hwa enters the room, calling me to go to the palace entrance to receive Sokwez's royal family.