[Eng]The Queen : Eternal Monarch✔

(LeeRim) Behind The Betrayal

Canada, 1980s

The hot steam in my coffee cup had evaporated with the chill of late autumn. I haven't touched it at all since it was put in front of me, because my eyes have been fixed on something else.

A woman.

Her jet black hair occasionally fluttered in the cold wind. Her narrow eyes narrowed even more when she laughed jokingly with several other women whose physical stature was far different from her. Her smile is so charming, it makes my heart race so fast.

She got up to leave the table with her friends. I noticed that there was something left on the chair, a key chain for a teddy bear wearing a red hanbok. I think she's Korean, just like me.

I followed her quietly, until she separated from her friends and walked alone down a road lined with brown maple leaves.

"Excuse me," I said in Korean.

She turned her head. Her narrow eyes widened, looking surprised.

"Are you Korean?"

"Yes."

"Wow, I never thought I could meet Korean people abroad. The Asian people I know here are mostly from China."

I handed her the key ring, "is this yours? It was left on the chair."

She checked her backpack, and gasped, "Oh, yeah, right. Thank you."

Her soft palm accidentally touched my knuckle when she received the key chain. It seemed like her fingers had electricity, so that my whole body felt like I had been stung.

"My name is Lee Rim," I said introducing myself.

"I'm Song Ji Hye. Nice to meet you."

~~~

Such was our brief introduction, which was followed by friendship. She was in Canada for science school and earned a professorship. She only knows me as an artist who owns a painting gallery and painting school in Canada. She didn't know that I was a prince, the first son of the King of her country. I purposely didn't acknowledge my real identity, so she could comfortably befriend me. It's not that important anyway.

I am indeed the King's first son, but born from a concubine. The king had another son by his rightful queen, Lee Ho, who was appointed crown prince. Everyone's attention is on him, so no one cares if I haven't returned to my country in more than 10 years. Since graduating high school, Jong In and I continued our studies in Canada. More precisely, I was "expelled" to another country, so as not to become a hindrance to my half brother, who eventually became king a few years later. Jong In returned home after obtaining a professor's degree and marrying the girl of his parents' choice, while I decided to stay in Canada, and I have no intention of returning.

Until I met her, Song Ji Hye. If only she wanted to stay here, or in any country other than Korea, I would never come back. But she wants to go home. She has a strong sense of patriotism, determined to educate the Korean people.

So I returned, stepping on my homeland that I had left 10 years ago. I'm back, with her, Song Ji Hye.

We are lecturers at the same university, I am a lecturer in arts, and she is a lecturer in science. She was so surprised when she found out my true identity.

"Why didn't you say that you were a prince?" She asked.

"So you don't have to speak formally like this."

She chuckled sheepishly.

"Treat me like usual. We're friends, right?"

"Okay, Rim Oppa."