MIN JAEYOUNG。

"what if i could get you an extra invitation!" miyeon exclaims her idea while i just munch onto my sandwich. "you know you won't be able to do that right?" i raised a brow at her. miyeon shrugs, "you don't know the power of status—it's dumb but my parents can really get you an extra invitation to get in."

"oh, miyeon. i think i've learned so much about status just by meeting jihye." i chuckled and reached for my strawberry milk.

miyeon frowned, "but i don't have anyone to go with except my parents! don't you know how lonely that's gonna be?"

"you could try and find seulhyo? it's been years since we've seen her." i shrugged, giving her ideas. "let me remind you that this 'grand ball' you're attending isn't just some regular party. it's held in the royal palace! it's very important."

"it's in like a month! i can still think of ways to sneak you in, you have to be there!" miyeon told me.

"it's no use, mi. instead of prepping for this grand ball, i'd rather start looking for my real family." i said, quite hopeless. i did want to go, but a normal girl like me wouldn't even have a chance to. only people with connections to the royal palace could go. not just that, people with high status, rich people and most importantly people with royal blood.

"i promised you remember? we'll help you find your real family. soon, okay?" miyeon pats my back.

we were completely enjoying our peaceful lunch time until i noticed jihye with a glare, stomping towards us. i sighed, "the incident a few days ago is still bothering her huh?"

miyeon curiously looked at me, not knowing what i was talking about, "what incident?" she asks, "have you not been telling me something? has she been bullying you when you're alone again? cause i swear i'll tell my dad to report ji—"

"report who, miyeon?" jihye cuts miyeon's words as miyeon rolled her eyes, completely ignoring the fact that she almost said something about jihye.

"it's nothing, jihye. it's none of your business." miyeon crosses her arms.

jihye had a little smirk creeping up her face as she averted her gaze onto me, "how are you doing with your little scar? couldn't believe a palace guard actually had guts to save a lowlife like you."

"honestly, i've never been better, especially since they cured it. you probably couldn't believe it cause you were too busy running away from him." i told her.

jihye just scoffed at my statement, "anyways, miyeon! you're going to the ball right? have you already have a dress to wear?"

"again, it's not of your business, jihye." miyeon pushes her away. "i wouldn't want the daughter of the mountain clan leader to be copying me."

jihye stood there in awe, "you're lucky i can't report you, miyeon. and you—" jihye pauses and points at me, "better watch out, cause next time there wouldn't be any palace bodyguards around the next time i bump into you." she finishes before walking away.

"you told me you got scratched by a cat! and i believed you! why didn't you tell me jihye did that to you?" miyeon exclaims and examines my scar. "it's fine, miyeon. i'm really fine. it was just a little scar i got from her slapping me." i reassured her.

miyeon sighs, "you can tell me anything, jaeyoung. i'm glad someone was there to save you."

"yeah, i guess i was lucky that time." i agreed.

"well let's talk about this another time, we still have classes to attend." miyeon told me and stood up.

"you mean, history class." i chuckled.

miyeon groaned, "don't even remind me of history class. it's plainly boring, okay?"

"but we're learning about the history of heraphany, why are you so bored about that? wouldn't you want to know the history of our land?" i questioned her.

miyeon shrugged, "it sounds boring to me. but of course i'll have to learn it for the sake of my parents. now let's go, wouldn't want to be late for your favorite subject." she said and starts pulling me inside the building.

after school, miyeon decided that we should hang out by the bakery since she missed eating mrs kang's baked goods. as soon as we stepped in, miyeon and i were greeted by the lovely smell of bread and sweets. "chocolate buns!" miyeon squealed at the sight as hyori ran over to us.

"you two should take a seat, i'll bring you your favorites!" hyori smiles and pushes us towards a two person table. me and miyeon chatted about some school stuff before mrs kang herself handed us our orders.

"i know how much you love my chocolate buns, miyeon. so here, i packed some for you to take home." mrs kang smiled and gave a paper bag filled with choco buns to miyeon. miyeon instantly hugged mrs kang, "thank you so much! i really love your choco buns ever since i was a kid! it's the best!"

"i'm glad you love them, miyeon. but i think it's getting a bit late, wouldn't want your parents to get mad for staying out too late right?" mrs kang told my friend.

"yeah, you should probably go, miyeon." i nodded and stood up. "oh right, i'll see you tomorrow, jaeyoung. and don't forget! i'm still thinking of ways to get you into the grand ball." miyeon chuckles.

"i thought you're already over with that grand ball invite? i told you, i'm not gonna go." i told her as we headed towards the entrance. "why wouldn't you?" mrs kang turns her head at me. "you should go! i have an extra invitation with me, you can cook for the palace." she grins.

miyeon's eyes widened, "see! you're destined to go!" she jumps in excitement.

"i'm not." i snorted.

"oh you're going." hyori points at me with a smirk, "you'd be at the kitchen the whole time! why are you so afraid of going anyways?"

"i told you, i do not belong to those sorts of events." i mumbled, "and if i go, i'll have to be in the kitchen the whole time! you wouldn't be able to be with me anyways." i crossed my arms, giving miyeon a look.

miyeon rolls her eyes, "i'm jung miyeon, i'll think of something. anyways, it's already getting late, i have to go now! bye!" miyeon waves before going outside.

i waved her goodbye before facing hyori. "are you crazy?! i'm not going."

hyori chuckled, "oh you are! i'll be needing help alongside mrs kang too!"

i gave mrs kang a pout as she just shrugs and snickers, "i have a very important costumer outside, jaeyoung. why don't you give these to him, he always orders baked goods from us." mrs kang informed me, handing a basket of baked goods.

i stared at her, confused, "why me? shouldn't it be you?"

"well, i still have some cleaning to do in the kitchen after hyori created a huge mess in there." mrs kang sighs, sending a glare towards hyori. hyori just sheepishly smiled as she busily moped the floors of the bakery.

i chuckled and nodded, "alright then, auntie."

i grabbed the basket from her grasp and headed outside of the bakery. i saw a fancy car parked in front of the bakery, the same exact car i saw when i met chenle and joshua.

is this coincidence or what? maybe that's just chenle and joshua? no... it couldn't be.

"is that for me?" i slightly jumped as i heard a voice behind me. i turned around and saw a good looking man in front of me. "i'm doyoung, a regular here in the bakery. i'm assuming that basket is the one mrs kang prepared for my visit." he raises his brows and pointed at the basket i was holding.

his hair was styled nicely and the black suit matched with his shoes. "hyung! you scared her. you shouldn't just suddenly speak out loud, she was startled." a boy walked towards us, a smile plastered on his face.

he looks very familiar.

doyoung scoffed, "she was startled at how amazing i look."

"yeah right." the boy chuckled and stopped right in front of me and that's when it hit me.

"nana?" i suddenly blurted out.

"nana?" doyoung eyes me curiously.

"we meet again, jaeyoung." nana chuckles and bows. "so, is that basket ours?" he asks, pointing at the basket in my grasp.

"if you're the important costumer my auntie is expecting then yes, it is yours." i nodded and handed him the basket.

"jaemin, you have a lot of explaining to do." doyoung gave nana a little glare.

jaemin? but i thought his name was nana? or did he lie?

nana or so-called jaemin rolled his eyes, "take a chill pill, brother. i will explain it to you later."

"this is jaeyoung, hyung. she helped me find my way back to the palace since i was quite lost." nana said, introducing me to his brother?

doyoung gave me a small smile, "it's nice meeting you jaeyoung and tell mrs kang we enjoy her baked goods a lot."

"i will." i nod and returned a smile.

"we have to go, jaemin. you're in trouble." i heard doyoung tell nana and nana sighs.

"i hope we can meet again, jaeyoung. i'm looking forward to it." he grins before entering the car. doyoung turns to look at me, "you're a pretty girl, but i won't let you hurt my brother." he told me before entering the car as well.

i stood there, shocked. whatever doyoung went through, he surely doesn't like seeing girls with his brother.

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