Chapter 52

The sound of the cutleries echoed across the enormous hall. But everyone was silent, as though it was a crime to make the most imperceptible sound that even the servants looked like tiptoeing when approaching the long table, especially when they serve His Majesty. His figure was sitting impassable on the head of the table, his shoulders broad but obviously tensed and his jaws set. Among them on the table, the Princess Mother would issue casual commentaries from time to time, about the food and how amazing the chef was or how efficient the kitchen was, to try to engage everyone, especially His Majesty, in a conversation, which didn’t exactly pan out because His Majesty was mostly non-committal. Jennie thought the effort from Lisa’s mother was mainly to try to break the ice and she appreciated it so much that she would offer the Princess Mother a grateful smile whenever their eyes would met.

Dinner wouldn’t have been as tensed, in Jennie’s opinion, had Lisa been there joining them in the cavernous dining hall. But no. The woman chose to sulk somewhere inside her enormous palace and from what she overheard from the hushed conversation between the butler and the Princess Mother before dinner had started, when the concerned mother was inquiring with worried look on her face, was that Lek tried to persuade the Princess to “come down and join dinner” repeatedly but was only responded with persistent silence from the other side of the door. Which door, Jennie didn’t know. But what Jennie was grateful enough for, however, despite the situation and despite her being on the edge of her seat while waiting for His Majesty to finally address her about the promised of a private talk with him, was knowing that Lisa did not leave the palace grounds -- was not able to, specifically -- owing, of course, to the fact that she was barred to do so by the King’s guards outside.

Anyway, this wasn’t what Jennie had hoped would happen and had been looking forward to tonight. She had been hoping for a productive meeting with the monarchs by the end of the day, with the issues being addressed to and resolutions being laid out on the table. She was also hoping to spend more time with Lisa later, that, in fact, she was secretly anticipating that she would be given additional private tours in the palace, with Lisa indulging her of her tales when she was still just a young princess living in colossal palaces, before she would return to Korea tomorrow. But then again, Jennie thought she could never blame Lisa for reacting that way and for storming out after when they both heard what Hus Majesty had said. Especially after their talks in the study before they decided to go down and join their parents again in the drawing room.

“I told your father I’m in love with you,” Jennie said, flustered in the face. She was catching her breath after pulling from the kiss that escalated rather quickly, with their hands all over each other and with the temperature rising and their hot breaths fanning on each other’s face.

The piece of information caused the Princess to pull away altogether from the amorous locking of their arms, with a look of utter shock on her face and ultimately placated the fire they have kindled.

“You WHAT?” Pranpriya was astounded.

Jennie eyed her with curious interest for a moment and let a soft chuckle. “Not the exact reaction I was expecting from you, Lili. But yes, I did before you arrived. I honestly don’t know what got into me. I just...I blurted it out,” she said.

Pranpriya whistled. “Wow!” she mouthed and brought her hands to her mouth. Her eyes widened like it was the most perplexed thing she heard today -- which, if truth be told, it was, indeed. More than coming home and seeing Jennie and her mom in the company of her parents. “Wow!” she said again, louder this time.

“I know. It was stupid,” Jennie said weakly, looking mortified.

“No!” Pranpriya was shaking her head vigorously. “No, that was...that was actually brave of you, Jennie. I mean, the fact that you just met him? Wow!” She was impressed by Jennie’s audacity. She couldn’t hide her disbelief, however, which Jennie had mistaken for disappointment.

“You think so?” Jennie looked unsure. “Because I think it was impudent of me. I heard my mom gasped. I saw the look on your mom’s face. They both probably thought I’ve gone crazy,” Jennie said, shaking her head. “Which I probably was, now that I think about it. Thank goodness you arrived just in time or I would have just wished for the floor to swallow me whole.”

“And what did he say? He didn’t say anything...unpleasant to you, did he?” Pranpriya hesitated. She was looking ready to issue an apology in behalf of her father.

“Why do you hate him so much, Lili?” asked Jennie gently, instead of answering the question, as she reached out to wipe off the tiny smudge of lipstick on the corner of Lisa's mouth.

“What? No,” the Princess said, surprised by the question and shook her head once again. “No, I don’t hate him, Nini. I just know him. He could be direct sometimes, that’s all. I’ve seen him done it a hundred times before. He calls it ‘doing his job’. I call it an assault to anyone's sensibilities," she told Jennie.

Jennie raised her brows and smiled kindly. “He wasn’t callous, if that’s what you want to know. Nor did he say anything that could’ve offended my 'sensibilities' -- and thank goodness for that -- because that would be embarrassing,” she said with a chuckle and then her face turned into a frown. “I mean, he could’ve, right? He’s allowed to do that and no one would tell him otherwise because he’s the King. He can do anything, just like you said. He could’ve thrown me out for my insolence but he didn’t. He didn’t, Lisa. He just stood there and held my hand and gave me an almost sympathetic smile. At least that’s how it looked to me.”

“Oh,” Pranpriya said in disbelief, her brows furrowing. “So he said nothing? Well, that’s news. He’s always have something to say when it’s about me. And what you told him was something he doesn’t get to hear on a daily basis. I’m sure it surprised him even when he’s not showing it. He can do that. He's good at masking his emotions."

“Maybe. And he did say something, actually,” Jennie said.

“You’re confusing me,” Lisa said with her brows more creased behind the fringes she wore neatly on her forehead.

“Am I? I’m sorry,” Jennie tittered.

"So, what did he say?" Lisa asked eagerly.

"He said that it was a welcoming prospect, me being in love with you, but apparently, that isn’t enough to tame your defiant soul, he said, or you would’ve been there in the room with us instead of running away again. Something like that,” Jennie said.

“Wh-- I--,” Lisa started. “No. No, no. In my defense, I did not know you were coming. Like I said back there, I wouldn’t have tried to leave had I known you and your mom are coming. And I did not run away. I just..." she paused and sighed. "I needed some air because it felt too much. You should have seen the look he gave me before he walked out on me earlier today and you wouldn’t have liked the way everyone was looking at me after that, Jennie. They were looking at me as if they were all sorry for me and I...I hated it. It was unnerving and the walls were suffocating.” She looked as though she was pleading for Jennie to understand her predicaments and believe her. Of course, Jennie did.

Jennie gave her a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry you had a bad day, Lili,” she said kindly.

Pranpriya started to pace about the vast room. “It’s not just today. It's been bad eversince my return, you know?” she said with her back on Jennie, her voice resonating against the walls and the shelves and the high ceiling. The frustration was evident when she brought her hands to her face and dropped them again when she turned around to face Jennie. “I mean, it’s not like everyone here’s treating me badly because it’s contrary to that. And that’s exactly what it makes being here bad. I’ve been away for too long, hence I’m not used to having people fussing around me anymore. It’s weird, Jennie. It feels really weird watching them, seeing them with their calculated and meek ways of behaving in front of me. It feels like living someone else’s life and this place... this place is too hollow for me. And I miss my boys; I wish they’re here with me. I should’ve brought them with me when I left Korea but I was in a hurry. And I can’t call Chaeng to check up on them because I don’t want her to know that I’m having a hard time coping. She’ll only worry about me; I don’t want her to worry about me,” Pranpriya rambled. She had been keeping those predicaments to herself for days now because there was no one to talk to, save Lek who was actually showing himself loyal and faithful. But she couldn’t tell Lek about all of it because then it would only make the butler feel bad and she was done making everyone around her feel bad.

Jennie inched closer o cling her hands around the curves of Lisa's waist. “I understand, Lisa. I really do. I was actually thinking of dropping by at your place and see how Leo and Luca are doing. But there’s the media watching my every move and I didn’t want to be the reason they find out about your place -- they’re looking for it desperately, by the way. They want to know how you’ve lived as a private citizen back there and undetected of being a royalty. I'm sorry," Jennie said.

"It's not your fault," Lisa said. "And it's not like my cats are not used to watching me leave and entrusted them to Chaeng's care. But I don't know, I have been anxious and I've never been this anxious ever and I think they'll help me get through this."

"But won’t you get them? ” Jennie asked, her voice laced with concern.

“That's the thing. I don’t think I have to. Leo hates to travel and Luca -- well, that pretty boy is unproblematic, of course, and I'm thinking of looking for a female for him when I get back. For, you know, propagation. Once everything is sorted out and once I’m given an all-clear, I’ll return to Korea as soon as possible. I’ll be with them again and see Chaeng again. I’ll be with you again and we can just leave this whole thing behind us.”

The King’s decision to keep his daughter from leaving Thailand again and the way he came up with it without discussing it with Lisa first was selfish and offensive, in Jennie’s opinion. Just like how it was unethical of her mom to make arrangements to promised her hand to Yi Eun and Kai without even asking her if she even want to get married in the first place. So, of course, it was only understandable that Lisa had reacted that way, Jennie concluded, while listening to the train of conversations being exchanged between His Majesty and her mom, with the occasional supplemental commentaries from the Princess Mother, who looked as though her mind was occasionally drifting off somewhere else, and by somewhere, Jennie knew it was on the room where the Princess is sulking, and would smile and would held herself gracefully when being addressed to. The Princess Mother was obviously worried about her daughter. However, Jennie couldn’t tell if it was the same for His Majesty. For he and her mom were now discussing about lineage and family backgrounds (at this point, His Majesty was generous enough to share a story about a princess who drowned in a lake and died because no one tried to save her for fear of being punished for touching a monarch), about business ventures (that His Majesty did not elaborate so much, except that he said he had placed his interests and the palace’s interests in a lot of businesses in all over Thailand), about the relationship between the two countries and to the world, respectively, and some other matters that Jennie was too preoccupied in her own train of thoughts to pay attention to anymore. It was dragging, if she’d have to be honest. She wanted them to talk about what could and would happen after tonight, after when they -- she, her mom and their staff -- would leave the palace and return to their country. But it seemed to her that His Majesty had been negating intentionally to discuss the matter as much as possible, that it made Jennie start to convince herself that coming to Thailand and indulging the invitation of Lisa's father was not a good idea, after all. Until later at the course of their dinner and after they were served wine, deliciously bittersweet wine, and she was already feeling disheartened and resentful did His Majesty addressed her directly.

“I would like to invite you to join me in the study later, Miss Kim, if you may?" His Majesty said. He was now leaning back on his chair and was looking directly at Jennie while clutching between his fingers the glass filled with his preferred whiskey.

Everyone on the table seemed to collectively held their breaths when he spoke. It seemed like it had now become apparent to Jennie that it was what they had all been waiting for to hear from him. Jennie could feel her mom’s eyes on her, tensely, trying to catch her own, which she purposely ignored because it would only make her anxious. Instead, she raised her eyes to meet His Majesty's and said, “Yes, Sir. I would love to," with a sudden streak of determination and anticipation. She was, perhaps, ready. Ready to stand up for herself and Lisa, and for the love she knew she couldn’t just let go so easily. But deep down, she was praying and hoping fervently that her would-be talk with Lisa’s father doesn't have to reach that point. The point where she would have to solicit anything from him. Because her late father would surely castigate her from his grave if she would so much as beg for whatever from a man -- from any man, for that matter, and the King was not an exemption.

His majesty nodded curtly and immediately pushed himself from his chair. “My assistant will help you find your way there,” he said and bid early goodnight to Mrs Kim and the Princess Mother (the three of them rose from their seat as he did) and said he will see them in the morning before departing for Bangkok. He addressed the last part particularly to Mrs Kim and offer the Princess Mother his civility before turning his heels and started for the door, his head high and without so much as looking back to them, leaving the three women in contemplating but uneasy silence.

His assistant, a man and a foot taller than Lek and appeared less affable, with sleek silver hairs crowning his head and with a certain look of poise and conviction about him, walked in as soon as His Majesty disappeared from the doorway. He gave the Princess Mother a slow courteous bow and addressed Mrs Kim with a formal one, before he stood behind Jennie’s chair.

“I shall take you to His Majesty now, Miss Kim. If you may?” he said. His voice was refined and somewhat contained. Jennie thought His Majesty’s disposition must already have rubbed on his staff while on the course of serving him, just as Lisa’s mellow disposition seemed to have rubbed on Lek.

This time, Jennie made sure to catch her mom’s eyes. Mrs Kim gave her an encouraging nod but Jennie thought her mom looked anything but fostering, with which she responded with a smile that she knew she only willed herself to try to uplift hers and her mom's spirit, which only made her mom looked grave. The Princess Mother, however, gave her the warmest beam, not as sunnybas Lisa's, of course, when their eyes locked and told her in her, “Don’t worry, Miss Kim. Your mother is safe with me.” Jennie wondered if it was to motivate her or her mom or to appease them both. But she appreciated the gesture, nonetheless.

“Thank you, Ma’am,” Jennie said gratefully and graciously gave the two women a parting bow before she followed the King’s assistant, whose name she didn’t know because he didn't offer. Whether he had forgotten to introduce himself or not, Jennie realized she doesn't mind at all, even though walking with him across the silent corridor was somewhat overbearing.

The King’s assistant brought her to the foyer and on to the giant staircase they climbed. Jennie wondered and strongly anticipated despite herself, that he would bring her to the study where Lisa had brought her earlier. The thought brought colors to her cheeks as she remembered the kisses and embraces and whispers of love and longing in between hot breaths that she and Lisa had shared inside the confines of the said study. She could feel her face burning. His Majesty, of course, didn’t have to know the sordid details of what took place inside the study. But she thought it was hard not to recall all of its details when it was all that was fogging her brain right now, all so suddenly and without warning, as they ascended the giant stairway. However, and to Jennie’s relief, the King’s assistant brought her to the uppermost floor, passing a series and seemingly endless of elegant doors and stone carvings and marble statues, and long windows, and there, above the high ceiling were a series of glass chandeliers that draped splendidly above them. It was a long walk and the sound of their footwears echoed across the silent hallway like a ticking clock, piercing through the hot evening air and disturbing the eerie monotony of the floor. No wonder Lisa was particularly unenthusiastic about the palace. The Princess must be so used to the bustling sound of Hongdae outside her building that she thought the painful silence inside her giant palace seemed provoking.

The walls from the long corridor they were walking are decorated with golden and ivory ornaments that speak highly and richly of the kingdom’s culture and history and, of course, wealth and power. Huge oil canvasses of old and former monarchs and the new generations of royals -- including a portrait of a smiling young Princess Pranpriya that caused Jennie to falter on her steps to marvel at the young smiling and untainted Lisa -- were framed importantly and were placed significantly on the wall, and sculptures of flowers and elephants, and among other subjects depicted by the strokes of brushes and chisels and tools by the artists’ hands behind them. The King’s assistant still had never spoken a word, which Jennie was grateful for because she, herself, wasn’t in the mood for a tète-a-tète. And after crossing the corridors and turning in a corner and walking through a passageway with stone arcs and tiny flags on each one of the posts that bear the royal crest under the century-looking lamps, they finally paused in front of an elegant and massive oak door. The King’s assistant paused and gave Jennie a look before knocking on the door twice and before he held the knob and turned it carefully. He pushed the large door slightly open, lights then flooded out and Illuminated half his body as he half-admitted himself in.

“Miss Kim is with me, Sir,” he announced in his calculated voice.

“Let her in,” His Majesty replied from the inside. Jennie could hear the sound of shuffling of papers as the door was pushed wider to accommodate her.

The assistant gestured Jennie to come forward, spreading his hand before him, politely urging her to walk inside the premise of the room. And so Jennie did nervously. Her heart was thundering against the cavities of her chest, her blood was pounding loudly against her ears, while regretting inside her head that she hadn't consumed more wine earlier. It would have helped her steady her nerves at the moment. And although she was feeling herself faltering after every steps she was taking -- the soles of her stilettos digging on the soft, thick carpet, giving her wobbly sensations and made her nauseous -- she, however, surprised herself by displaying such cool demeanor and grace expected from a Kim. She chose to remain poised on the exterior, with her head held high but not too proudly. Her eyes, though, shining with resolve, did not meet His Majesty's and which she decided to fix on the lapel of His Majesty’s suit.

“Your Majesty.” Jennie greeted with a bow, her voice seemed to echo across the massive library, where huge and high windows were draped with enormous curtains and a hundreds of books were encased in high shelves made of wood and glass.

His Majesty acknowledged her by inclining his head a little to the side while raising a hand before him. “Perhaps we ought to drop the primness for the meantime, while we’re confined in here, Miss Kim,” he said. “I thought it would help us somehow with our dialogue and who knows, we might reach an agreement before the night ends, if we are so lucky. You can leave us now, Bernard,” he then instructed his assistant. Bernard, the assistant, bowed before His Majesty and excused himself before shutting the door of the study behind him.

“Bernard has been serving me for years now, even before I fully understood and embraced my duties as the future of the Crown. He was a student of the royal institute and he showed exceptional excellence and discipline, I've been told. My father was fond of him. Hethought Bernard would make a good ruler out of me,” His Majesty spoke after taking a moment to study her. Jennie must have looked intrigued despite herself. He then raised himself from the chair he was occupying behind the elegant desk and moved on to the set of furnishings with the tall shelves serving as draping across the study.

Jennie wasn’t sure what His Majesty was trying to tell her, nor could she tell where His Majesty’s soliloquy about his assistant, Bernard, was leading to. And so she kept her mouth sealed and she listened until she would be given the liberty to speak.

“He’s witnessed to a set of milestones, including disappointments and failures of the Kingdom and of mine. He might appear cold and reserved but everyone who knows him could tell that he’s loyalty has never been confronted. In other words, he knows what's going on and rest assure that he can be trusted.” He settled himself on the classic chesterfield sofa, with his legs crossed and his hands resting on his lap. “Please, have a seat, Miss Kim,” he then said.

Jennie muttered “Thank you, Sir,” before sitting on one of the four singular seats, with high cushioned arms and covered in rich dark leather upholstery. She positioned herself, facing His Majesty.

"When my daughter decided to live outside the security and the comforts of the Kingdom, I gave my consent begrudgingly. It honestly broke my heart but she didn't know that. She had never witnessed me falter and display weakness, except when my father, the late King, had succumb to his death and the whole Kingdom was grieving for our loss. I saw how devastated Pranpriya was during those days. The late King taught and encouraged her about their fondness for photography. See?" His Majesty said, pointing a framed black-and-white photograph of the late King holding a camera on his hand, pinned on the wall among the many other framed photos of different people.

Jennie stared at the framed photograph but did not say anything.

“I’m not sure how much information my daughter has been feeding you about her. She’s always been a sort of a mystery to me, even when she was just a child. Pranpriya is an enigma who I still haven’t found the answer yet. But perhaps it was also owing to the fact that she chose to disintegrate the foundations of our relationship as father-daughter after my marriage with her mother crumbled before her young eyes and was eventually exhausted by the law before the world. It was a mutual decision, of course, but nevertheless, it took a certain blow on her young mind. I often think she would think of me as the villain."

Still, Jennie remained quiet.

"Haven’t you any idea at all who Pranpriya was before all these?” His Majesty asked.

Jennie shool her head slowly. “No, Sir. I only knew her as Lisa," she said and went on further, after collecting enough confidencefor herself, encouraged by His Majesty's raised brows as though he was telling her to continue, "And as someone who had kept the person behind my name from her when we first met, I thought I didn’t have the right to ask her very personal questions. And perhaps I was more than pleased enough just by knowing her, that I didn't feel like bombarding her with questions,” Jennie explained truthfully.

The King nodded. “Hmm,” he grunted as creases were now forming visibly between his brows. And Jennie, despite trying not to focus on His Majesty’s features, noticed the resemblance from how Lisa’s brows would creased and finally noticed the uncanny semblance between Lisa and her father -- from the same shade of brown on their eyes, the shape of their noses and the way their mouth would seal when they’re pensive. No wonder Lisa had fine features, combined with the delicate qualities she inherited from the Princess Mother.

“What are your thoughts when you saw the article about the two of you and about her, may I ask?” His Majesty said.

“I’d be lying if I’m going to say that it did not upset me, Sir. But it was more on us getting caught like that than of her being who she really is. It shocked me, of course, but I guess, that time, I was more concerned about what my mom would say than finding out that I was dat--that she's of royal blood,” Jennie said and castigated herself internally. She almost said ‘dating your daughter’. The King didn’t seem to notice, though.

“So, her status doesn’t matter to you at all? Even when she was just a freelance photographer who's earnings appear to depend on how many rolls she would process in a day and how many envelops of her works she might sell and you’re already leading a conglomerate?” said His Majesty.

“I was still not inducted President in the company when I met her, Sir. And if I have to honest, I was quite jealous of Lisa and how she was living the life she wanted for herself, especially after I saw her gallery inside her studio. She knows what she wants to do and she’s really, really good at it. She appears carefree and is living in the moment and that to me equates freedom, Sir. Or perhaps I was too fascinated by her since the day I met her that anything other than what she allows me to see in her, I perceived as of less importance," Jennie said.

Jennie thought it was less nerve-wracking than she thought it would be -- this talk with Lisa's father. And if it wasn't for the fact that Jennie knew he was the most powerful person in Thailand, she thought His Majesty could pass as one of the many investors she had met with, after she was inducted President and CEO of the Kim Group and it made her feel comfortable. Until he decided to tread on her vulnerability.

“You spoke like you’re being denied freedom, yourself, Miss Kim,” His Majesty commented. He was looking at her with those assessing eyes and Jennie could almost feel as if it was Lisa, looking at her curiously like that, that Jennie had to swallow the forming lump on her throat before speaking.

“I can’t say exactly that I have, Sir. But they -- that is to say, my parents, especially my mom -- had already created and laid out a path for me to walk on even before I learned to take my first step. In fact, I have learned to understand the word ‘conglomerate’ before I even learned how to write it. I was put under the spotlight even when I didn’t want to at such a young age and...”

“And you hate it. Like how my daughter abhors everything about her life as the future of the Crown,” he said contemplatively.

“I guess I didn’t like the thought of filling in my father’s shoes one day, Sir. It’s a big shoe to fill and as a young girl who was looking up to him and who saw how big he was in terms of his disposition as the head of the Kim Group, it frightened me -- it still does. I don’t want to disappoint him, of all people,” Jennie replied.

"But you still took the challenge?" His Majesty said.

"I need to continue my father's legacy, Your Majesty. He entrusted it to me against my will. But I am his daughter and I respect him a lot. It's hard because women in my country have to work harder to prove our capabilities and worth, especially in a field mostly dominated by men," Jennie answered. "And besides that, my mom was getting curious Li -- Her Highness. I thought I needed the position so I can protect her from unnecessary intrusions to her privacy, without knowing yet, of course, who she really is."

His Majesty’s brows knotted more. His fingers tapping on the fabric of his trousers and his eyes were still fixed on her. Jennie could tell he was navigating inside his head, calculating his next words. He straightened on his seat and eventually stood up. His hands now inside the pockets of his pants and started pacing away from Jennie.

“When I first saw the article about you and my daughter, I did not doubt that it was her on that photograph -- the one in the park. I knew she's different, she told me so. Although Pranpriya had kept her oath to me, perhaps deep down I knew that things like this would likely to happen in the future. That somebody might find out one day who she is and would chanced upon her in a not-so...well, agreeable situation," His Majesty said.

"It wasn't her fault, Sir. It was mine and I'm taking full responsibility," Jennie said, a hint of panic was rising on her voice.

His Majesty paused to look at her with curious eyes before he continued his pacing. "You could say I was disappointed. But I was also curious. I supposed in that moment that you're an important figure, perhaps a celebrity of some sort, in your country or the media wouldn’t have made a big deal out of it," he told Jennie.

"I sincerely apologize for that, Your Majesty. Eversince the demise of my father, the media has always been curious and interested about my affairs," Jennie ruefully said.

"Then perhaps I was correct. I personally thought that it was meant to attack your person rather than my daughter's. You see, Miss Kim, I had no idea who you were before that day. I didn't know you exist nor was I aware of your relationship with my daughter. I had never put an eye on her while she lives in your country. Imagine my curiosity when Bernard showed me the article and it called you 'The Kim Group Princess'," said His Majesty.

"The media started calling me that after it was announced that I am to be the sole heiress of the company, Sir. And perhaps to mock me for gaining it without working for it," Jennie provided.

“Hmm. Forgive me, Miss Kim, for what I’m about to say next because you might call it "unnecessary intrusion" to your privacy, but like I said, I was curious. I asked Bernard to do a little poking around about you. We found so little informations about you, however, but it was enough to get to know you. And that’s when I finally understood that we could not just deny my daughter’s involvement in the matter. That I cannot just let you and your people handle the situation alone or trust my daughter to handle this on her own while I do nothing. We could have taken the Princess from there immediately, of course, and let our people handle this while she is tucked safely in the confines of her Kingdom. That was the initial and more practical plan. We could’ve just denied the rumor and say it wasn’t her in the photographs. But it would’ve seemed foolish to lie about it instead of thoughtfully conjuring a better objective. Hence, I decided to invite you and your mother here because I obviously cannot send my men or ask the good Bruschweillers to go to Korea and fetch my daughter. Doing so would’ve only confirmed things and will jeopardize her privacy as well as theirs. You looked confused upon the mention of the Bruschweillers, I noticed. My daughter hasn’t told you about them, I suppose?”

Jennie shook her head. “No, Sir,” she replied while still trying to recall if Lisa had mention the Bruschweillers. Lisa did not exactly, but Jennie remembered Lisa telling her about her stepfather.

“Perhaps she deemed it necessary to do so. She's rather fond of Marco,” His Majesty said with a faint hint of concealed bitterness on his voice.

“I understand Lisa – I mean, Her Highness, Your Majesty. Maybe because we are alike in a lot of ways and...”

“And you love her,” the King concluded Jennie’s sentence, his all-pervading gaze not leaving her face which made her flushed. “Like how you brazenly claimed so earlier?” he asked.

"Yes, Sir. I do," she replied. It was the whole truth of her whole being and it was burning inside her at the moment, like a beacon. She felt hopeful. And so her mind drifted towards Lisa, sulking somewhere in the palace, unaware that here she was, discussing their affairs with His Majesty. She wondered if Lisa would be proud of her, as she bravely admitted, yet again, for the second time tonight, her love for her, in front of the King. She just wanted for things to get better. She wanted Lisa to feel better. And she couldn't wait to tell Lisa everything that she and His Majesty have discussed right now.

“And how far can your love go, Miss Kim? How far are the lengths that which your love can influence the stubborn and rebellious nature of my daughter?” His Majesty challenged her.

His words pulled her away from her reverie. Jennie's brows furrowed. Her heart was thundering. She did not quite understand what exactly His Majesty was trying to tell her.

"I have a proposition for you," His Majesty said.