In The King's Court

Chapter 18

Y/n watched all of the people that were gathered around the motor carriage to see Jimin and herself arrive to the festival. She was a bit taken back by the number of people who were gathered around them as they stepped out. As soon as Jimin stepped out and helped y/n out she was blinded by the flashing lights of cameras rapid-firing what seemed to be millions of pictures.  Y/n did her best to not shut her eyes and keep a smile on her face. Jimin held out his arm to her and she gave him a quick smile as she took and looped her own arm through his.  

    "Prince Jimin!  Prince Jimin!  Look over here!"  called different photographers as they were trying to get Jimin to look at them to get a good photo.  

    "Lady (n/y)!  Look this way!"  I heard shouted.  There were so many people calling for our attention it was hard to focus.  This was way more than what had happened when I had been out with Jin to see the Royal Ballet Company.   An arm as wrapped around my waist for a moment.  

   "Pose for a few pictures and we can get away from here,"  Jimin whispered as he drew his mouth near my ear.  I nodded as but my hand on my hip like I had seen other girls do in press pictures with princes.   I let out a lit gasp as Jimin suddenly pulled me closer to his chest before pulling away and twirling me.  Causing my dress to float around me.  There was a chorus of praise and excitement as this happened.  Jimin just gave me a cheeky smile and a wink before bowing his head towards the photographers and press people.  

    "Please, enjoy the festival!"  he encouraged with an award-winning smile.  He continued to usher me forward along with some of the festival attendants to where we were supposed to go next.

    "Alright, (y/n), we have about 2 hours of time to go out and mingle with the people before we need to be back here for soundcheck and a quick run-through before our performance. I nodded. I knew that I also had to go early so I really only had maybe had before needed to go to my soundcheck for my solo performance.   Jimin didn't need to know, not get anyways. I wanted to surprise him with my performance.  It had been requested by the queen to perform. I was more than happy to oblige. Dancing was one thing I was always confident in doing no matter what.  

   "What would you like to do with our bit of free time?" I asked him. He paused to think for a moment.

 "Well this is like a traditional festival. There are games, food, music, competitions, events, what would you like to see? This is your first time here at the Spring Festival. I attend every year. "he replied.

"What do you usually do when you attended before?"I inquired as we walked out into the festival grounds. 

    "Hmm.   Before I would usually go out with Tae and we'd play some games, and check out what kinds of performers that will be performing tonight, but I'm not sure if that would be a good idea since I know that you don't want me possibly seeing your special solo," he smirked at me.  My eyes widened.  I knew that he knew about it thanks to his mother at the dinner table, but that just made me more on edge.
  
    "You're mother and I will both kill you if you dare try and sneak in before my actual performance "  I warned him.  He chuckled at me and poked my cheek with his index finger.
   
    "You're too cute.  No, I'm not going to peak, even though it is really tempting.  Anyways I suggest we go check out the center of the festival and walk around a bit.  It will be good for the people to see us, and it's a good way to scope out what we'll want to do tomorrow for the second day when we actually have more free time."  he suggested as we began to walk towards where people were walking.  "I'm also sure that there are lots of little girls and boys who would love to see a pretty princess."  he teased.
   
   "I'm not a princess."  I replied with an eye roll.

"Not yet,"  he winked at me causing my cheeks to heat up as I smack his upper arm.   "Ouch, so mean."  he fake pouted.  I stuck my tongue out at him in reply before smiling at him.  I was about to say something when a heard a high pitched voice.

    "Mommy, Mommy look!  A real life princess!"  exclaimed a small girl in a cute little flower dress who looked to be about 4 or 5 years old.  She was dragging along her mother who looked up at us with wide eyes as she recognized us.  The girl must've figured her mother wasn't fast enough and let go of her hand before running up to us and looking at my dress with huge eyes and a big smile.
   
    "Wow,  You're so pretty!  I've seen you on the TV!"  she smiled and then looked at Jimin.  "Prince Jimin!"  she exclaimed before running over to him and hugging his legs as he couldn't help but laugh as he bent over to hug the little girl.  Her mother reached us, slightly out of breath.
   
    "I'm so sorry you're highness, my Lady."  apologized the mother. 

  "No need to apologize."  chuckled Jimin before bending down so that he was at the same height as the girl. 
  
     "What's your name, little princess."  he asked the girl.

  "I'm Mai-lee, your highness.  I'm not a princess."  she smiled back. 
     
      "Do you know who that is?"  he asked her as she pointed at me.  I squated down, causing my dress to poof out as I went down to the girls height as well.  Her mother watched us interacting with her daughter with a smile on her face. 

    "She's the princess that's always on the TV with you...are you guys going to get married?"  asked the girl excitedly. 

"Mai!"  exclaimed her mother at her daughter's question.

   "If I tell you, then you can't tell anyone else, alright.  Its a secret."  said Jimin, ignoring her mother.  I couldn't help but feel a smile twitch on my own lips.  Mai-lee nodded furiously.  Jimin leaned over and whispered in her ear.  Mai-lee had a smile grow on her face, ear to ear as she listened. 
  
     "You're so lucky,  Princess (y/n)!"  smiled Mai-lee as she looked over at me.   I reached up to hair and pulled out one of the many pins that had crystals/gems on it and leaned over to the girl and gently put it in her pony tail. 
 
    "There!"  I declared.  "Now everyone can see that you too are a princess!"  I smiled.  Her eyes lit up as she reached up at touched the pin in her hair.  I didn't notice the smile that was on Jimin's face as her mother walked over to us.
 
    "Could I take a picture of you two with her, Your Highness?"  asked the mother.  I smiled and answered before Jimin had the chance.
 
    "Of course we will, right Jimin?"  I agree.  He nodded, the smile never leaving his face.  We stayed squatted down as Mai-lee's mother took out her phone and took a picture of us.
   
    "Let's do a silly one."  I suggested.   Mai-lee leaned over and stuck her tongue out and gave a peace sign, I scrunched up my face with a smile, and I didn't notice the bunny ears that Jimin had reached over to give behind me.  Jimin gave a cute mochi smile as his eyes turned to little crescents. 

   "Okay, honey.  It's time to say bye to Prince Jimin and Lady (y/n)."  encouraged Mai-lee's mother.

"Bye bye Prince Jimin!  Bye bye Princess (y/n)!"  called Mai-lee as she went back to her mother.

    "Thank you!"  called her mother as the pair went on their way.
 
"She was so cute!"  I gushed aloud.
 
     "She was.  You'll get that a lot if we keep walking around, especially tomorrow."  he reminded me.  Tomorrow, everything would be different after tonight...when I was declared Jimin's pick in out of the Collection...in front of the world...every thing will be different.