Empress Handbook

Chapter Twenty-Two | Like a Heroine in a Movie

"Please stop!"

A shriek near the washrooms halts Yoongi's footsteps. His brows furrow as anxiety rattles his mind.

Is it Yeoreum? Is Kim Taehyung doing something to her?

Before properly distinguishing the voice, Yoongi has already begun to dash toward the shriek. His leather shoes quickly brush across the plush carpet like they are leaping over the invisible obstacles between him and Yeoreum.

"Park Dakyung, you're a commoner. You always will be," a girl growls.

Yoongi halts his steps to think over the name mentioned. Park Dakyung. Yoongi met her once at Yeoreum's Gwinyeong Ceremony. A sigh of relief slips out of his mouth as he realises that the person in trouble is not Yeoreum.

Yoongi looks at the young woman trapped in the circle of notoriously malevolent old-money daughters and stumbles into a dilemma. Logically, he shouldn't interfere. His mission is to bring down class inequality, but as ironic as it is, he would need to suck up to the system to manipulate it in his favour. It's something he cannot change. However, emotionally, he is painstakingly aware of how disillusioned Yeoreum will be if anything happens to Dakyung, her only friend.

"Irunaes Group helped incorporate my father's company, and now it is just as big as your companies," Dakyung yells with tears flickering in her eyes. "Moreover, it is not the eighteen century anymore, so we are all equal."

Before an enraged palm could be slapped across Dakyung's face, Yoongi breaks through the circle of sharp insults.

"Dakyung-ssi? I have been looking for you," he says as he stands next to Dakyung with a smile. In the end, he cannot let himself disappoint Yeoreum.

"Who are you?" A woman snaps.

Yoongi ignores the woman and raises his hand to reveal the Imperial Emblem sewn on the inside of his suit sleeve. Almost immediately, the malice in the air disappears into frantic awkwardness.

"Dakyung-ssi, would you please join me for a dance in the hall?" Yoongi says gently.

As Yoongi leans closer to Dakyung, his captivating minty fragrance envelopes her world. For a fleeting moment, Dakyung feels like she is a heroine in a romance movie getting rescued by the man of her dreams.

"Yes," she stutters coyly.

"Miyeon, we still have other businesses to attend to, right?" one of the women says as she grabs the woman on her side.

They share a knowing look before they quickly shy away from Dakyung.

Yoongi steps away from Dakyung as soon as they leave.

"Okay, they would probably not taunt you again, madam."

Dakyung bows with a flush of redness stretched across her cheeks. "Thank you, sir."

"No problems. I apologise for my lack of manners," Yoongi says.

"No, it's completely fine. Thank you so much!" Dakyung fretfully grips Yoongi's wrist. "I could be completely wrong, but have we ever met before? You look quite familiar."

Yoongi gently breaks away from her grip. "I am Empress Yeoreum's security guard, Min Yoongi," he says. "I was guarding Her Majesty during the Gwinyeong Ceremony you briefly attended, so that is possibly why."

"Right, that's why," Dakyung gushes. "I'm so sorry, Yoongi-ssi. I have a terrible memory."

Yoongi frowns at her affectionate turn to informal speech. "No, it is completely fine. Now, please excuse me."