You Got Me (JenLisa)

Chapter 51

The first thing that caught her attention was the King's Maybach parked and guarded significantly away from the rest of the cars that were parked methodically on one side of the grounds. Oddly though, Pranpriya observed that there wasn't any of the cars owned by the members of the King's Private Council. What she saw, however, among the many cars deployed for the King's guard's perusal, was her mother's car and the Benz from the Ministry.

Great! Pranpriya thought bitterly. Now she had to face the Minister, himself. Or someone important from the Ministry. She was doomed, she knew. There was no other word for it. Inviting anyone from the Ministry could only mean there would have to be long talks about legal stuff. Perhaps they would discuss revoking her papers or whatever. Or worse, the diplomatic relations between their country and South Korea could be put in jeopardy. The thought made her feel nauseous. If she'd have to appeal her case or whatever, she would. But how she'd exactly do that, she didn't know. She angrily and hurriedly parked the Lexus right in front of the palace. The loud screeching sound was gratifying. A member of the King's guard came marching probably to assist her but was quickly waved off by Captain Pakpao.

"Good evening, Your Highness," the lady captain greeted her as soon as she pushed the door beside her open. "You might want to hurry inside, ma'am. I'll attend to your car and carry your stuff to your chamber," said Captain Pakpao with a hasty look upon her.

"Why? What's going on?" Pranpriya asked the lady captain, baffled. But the woman only slipped past her without providing her answers to her inquiries and immediately took over her place behind the wheel as soon as she stepped out of the car, leaving the Princess dumbfounded.

"Your Highness!” the butler said loudly from the entrance. “Thank goodness you're back! Come! Come now!" Lek said while practically running down on the marble steps towards her, flapping his arms wildly on every steps, reminding Pranpriya of Charlie Chaplin because despite the obvious urgency, it looked comical.

"What happened?" Pranpriya anxiously asked the butler when the small man finally made it in front of her. Her heart was pounding all over again against the cavities of her chest, it was actually painful. The worried look on Lek's face and the concerned look the lady captain had given her were definitely not a good sign.  "Am I going to prison or something?" She was rambling as she and the butler were climbing on the steps towards the palace entrance and into the grand foyer where Pranpriya saw a group of royal guards manning the area. They bowed at the sight of her.

"Not that I’m aware of, Your Highness. But you have to hurry up, ma'am. They're still in the drawing room," Lek replied, leading the way towards the corridor that would lead them to the drawing room.

"Wait, Lek. Who's they?" Pranpriya asked while sniffing her nose. There was something curious hanging in the air. "My mother's here, isn't she? I saw her car outside," she said, her steps faltered a little.

"His Majesty and the Princess Mother are with the guests right now, Her Highness," Lek said, his voice was still laced with agitation, among something else.

Pranpriya nodded but her brows were still knotted in curiosity. She knew her mother’s perfume and it wasn’t that. There was something oddly familiar in the air but she couldn't define what it was exactly. "Did she look for me?" Their steps now echoed loudly on the deserted long corridor.

"The Princess Mother immediately asked for you upon her arrival, ma'am. But did not say anything after learning that you went out on your own. She did not seem bothered, actually," Lek replied.

Pranpriya was pleased. Expect her mother to pick her side always, no matter how wrong and bad her decisions were. But it did not answer her curiosity, though. And while her mother was unbothered that she went out alone, she, however, was bothered by the scent thay was sending her senses into spirals. Because she knew that smell but her imaginations could also be playing tricks on her at the moment.