KIM JUNGWOO。

times that we have to gather like this worries me so much. gatherings such as meetings weren't much of a scare, but for the royal family to all meet and dine at the dining hall was absolute terror for each one of us.

everyone is hiding something in them that they aren't bound to share upon the table, afraid that they'd get punished that is.

i sat beside doyoung as we ate our dinner silently. nothing much has happened so far, or at least that's what i thought awhile ago. i got surprised when i found out donghyuck had a little quarrel with ten and it upset me.

we weren't supposed to be fighting each other. we're brothers, by blood or not, we're still family. but then again, maybe donghyuck confronting ten was the right thing. ten realized something and that was to let go of his past.

each one of us dealt with our own problems, we weren't just the perfect princes everyone see's. we're all just plain people who struggles like everyone else.

a lot of people would love to be in our place, not knowing how much hard it actually is to be a prince or apart of a royal family. the responsibilities we have were endless. our lives were lavish and perfect to others, but behind the tall walls of the palace... we're a family scared of losing one another.

thoughts still crowded my mind as i ate my dinner. there were gossips between the workers going around that annoyed me.

"mother,"

and there goes a brave one.

i lifted my head up to see jeno raising his hand. i furrows my brows, what is up to now?

"yes, jeno?" lady misun responded.

"are you aware of the gossip going around amongst the palace workers?"

lady misun's eyes widened a bit as she slowly placed down her utensils, "gossip?"

jeno took a deep breath before saying, "they were saying about a villager you're investigating and reporting tha—"

"jeno." father's stern voice stopped him from going further.

jeno sighed and looked down, "i'm sorry."

lady misun sent us all a smile, though i strongly believed that i was forced, "i am investigating about a certain villager."

and with that sentence, that grabbed everyone's attention in the dining hall.

"is this villager at fault?" taeil questioned in a panicky tone. he deeply cared for people even if he seemed like he didn't. he would always silently help others who are in need and that was what i liked about taeil.

lady misun sighed, "she's not."

"she?" doyoung whispered beside me.

lady misun pursed her lips, "it's nothing to worry about."

jeno frowned, "did something happen?"

"a miracle... i hope so." lady misun chuckled, "like i said, there's nothing to worry about."

and with that, we all continued to eat our meals, the certain villager bothering our minds.

i yawned as i walked into my shared room with doyoung after taking a relaxing bath.

"what are you doing?" i questioned doyoung as i sat down to dry my hair.

"thinking." doyoung answered shortly making me raise a brow.

"about what?"

"stuff."

"what stuff?"

"just some stuff."

"doesn't look like it." i squint my eyes at him making him groan and shot a look towards me.

"it's jaeyoung!"

i snickered, "i know."

doyoung glared at me, "what?"

"you're thinking about what i told you earlier, aren't you?"

i could see doyoung slump his shoulder in his reflection, his eyes wavering. "she's an orphan."

i nodded, "mhm, and so?"

"something's off!"

i chuckled, "what is?"

"what if she's–"

"an assassin?" i deadpanned as doyoung flinched. i sighed, running my fingers through my hair as i stared at him through my mirror, "possible, i guess."

"but–"

"do you believe that?" i questioned.

doyoung was taken aback, "it could be true!"

"are you seriously gonna ignore what you're feeling?"

doyoung rolled his eyes, "i know what i'm feeling."

i smirked, "really now?"

"could you please stop messing with me?" doyoung huffed and buried his face onto his pillows.

"i'm just saying." i told him.

once my hair was finally dried, i stood up, heading over to the door which made doyoung confused. "you're not going to bed yet?"

i shake my head, "i have some things to do."

"what things?" doyoung squints his eyes at me.

"lady misun called for me." i stated before leaving our shared room.

i walked down the silent hallways of the palace, admiring the night view through the windows.

soon, i reached the balcony where lady misun insisted to meet and talk with me. she was there, seated by the railing, eyes gleaming upon the starry night.

"the sky looks beautiful today doesn't it, jungwoo?" i flinched and nodded.

"y-yes mother."

"you know what i called your in for, right?"

i shake my head, having no idea at all, "not really, mother."

lady misun sighed and pulled out a picture, "you know princess haera right?"

i narrowed my eyes at the picture and familiarity hit me. that soft smile, those bright eyes, that necklace.

i gulped and nodded nervously, "yes, of course. we studied about her tragedy."

"do you believe that she's alive?"

my breath hitched as my heart beat quickened. the princess? alive?

"s-she died, didn't she?" i raised a brow.

lady misun huffed and continued staring at the picture intently, "impossible." she murmured.

i squint my eyes, what is she talking about?

"mother? are you okay?" i questioned slowly.

lady misun nodded, "yes of course. maybe... i'm just imagining things."

"about what?"

"the princess." she breathed out and then looked at me, "go to sleep, jungwoo. you have to study early tomorrow."

i sighed nodding, "yes, mother."

i walked away, glancing at her seated figure from time to time.

does she believe that haera is alive?

"then that would be a miracle." i muttered, looking down.

"jungwoo-hyung?"

i snapped my head up and saw chenle with renjun. their hair was a bit damp, towels placed around their shoulders neatly as they wore their silk pajamas.

"what are you doing around here? don't you have to stu—"

"i came to talk to lady misun."

chenle lifted both of his brows in shock, "oh? is there something wrong with mother?"

i shrugged, a sigh leaving my mouth, "i don't really know."

i heard renjun hum, "maybe it's just the villager?"

chenle frowned, "but why would a villager bother her?"

the picture lady misun was holding flashed into my mind, surprising me.

"hyung? are you okay?" renjun questions me and i nodded.

"i'm fine. you two should go sleep." i said before walking away.

entering our room again i felt confused and honestly, tired.

the main lights were closed but the lamps from our desks kept the room dimly lit. i sat on my bed and laid down, my eyes set on the plain ceiling.

"are you okay, woo?"

i knitted my brows in confusion, "i thought you were asleep."

doyoung hummed, "i heard you sigh, it doesn't sound like a good sigh... are you okay?"

i chuckled dryly, "i'm fine. i guess."

"is there something bothering you? you know i'm here right, i know you."

"do you know what i'm thinking about then?"

"is it jaeyoung?" he questions and i smiled.

"it is, isn't it?" he confirms as soon as i didn't reply to him.

i heard him sigh, "what about jaeyoung?"

i pursed my lips, "i'd like to know more about her."

"for what reasons?"

"she's interesting, and i want to help her."

"help her with what?"

i kept silent for a bit before answering, "finding her family."

—

heeelloooo its me again

i really dont have anything to say sooo bye again

-jibin