I put down my books and visibly sighed. Other royals were having lunch. Only me and Han left inside the classroom. He looked up from his notebook while raising an eyebrow. "Caught?"
I shook my head, "Just tired."
"Maybe you should really rest in the castle." he shrugged and continued writing, more like copying works from other classmates because he was not listening to the lecture earlier.
My nose scrunched and I shook my head again. "That sounds so old. I'm just eighteen."
When he remained silent I took a peek at the borrowed notebook. I whistled when I saw the handwriting. It was too neat and pretty compared to mine. "Did you borrow a girl's book?"
"It's Seungmin's." he replied.
"Who?"
Han looked at me in disbelief. "You don't know our classmate?"
"If it's a guy then no." I gave an innocent smile and he shook his head lightly.
Pulling me down to sit, he rested his grip on my arm and spoke in a low voice, "Her Royal Highness, he's Archer Kim's son, he attends the same sword fighting class with us, the same archery class with you and sits in front of me," his hand gestured to the seat in front of us. The table was tidied while the one in front of me was a mess. There's a brown notebook under the table and it looks like a diary. "You don't know him?"
With my eyes glued to the diary, I answered, "Nope."
Han sighed and let go of my arm. "He's nineteen."
"Was he there too yesterday?" he nodded. "Oh, I was too focused on defeating you I guess." Right after I say that someone entered the class. We both stopped talking. The newcomer's footsteps were nearing my ears but I did not bother to look. It's obvious it was a guy just by hearing the way the person walked. The footsteps sound firm, as if he wore a lead boot. Could be he's a horse rider.
The chair in front of us moved but did not produce any sound. It seemed like he lifted the chair while pulling it out. My lips curled up a bit. This must be the Seungmin guy Han mentioned just now.
"Han Jisung," the new voice sounded stern. I decided to just look at this guy, not wanting to play with my own guessing game anymore. He had his body halfway turned to Han and his arm rested on the chair's backrest. His face looked slightly done with the guy next to me but because of his light brown hair he did not look intimidating. More like an angry puppy with his facial features.
Han's hand froze. He slowly raised his head and gave him a sheepish smile. "May I...?"
I just watched the two having a staring contest. One was like a puppy trying to kill a squirrel with his eyes while the squirrel was holding the books close to him as if the puppy would snatch his acorns away. I stifled a laugh as I imagined them with ears and tails, being two non-intimidating furries.
The guy snapped his head to me and I immediately looked away, suddenly finding the chandelier interesting. I heard Han sighing, "Sorry.." he closed the borrowed notebook and handed it to this guy. As he took it he sent a glare towards this poor squirrel, making him lower his head with a pout.
I nudged Han, "Is that him?" I whispered. He nodded. "Woah, he doesn't look like a sword fighter."
"I swear you're looking down on guys too much," Han groaned. I scoffed. "By the way, can I borrow-"
"No."
His shoulders slumped down, "Why are you guys so mean."
"It's you who need to focus on the lessons more." Seungmin suddenly interrupted. In sync, me and Han looked at each other with our eyes widened. We were whispering and he was listening?
The guy didn't bother to turn to us and continued what he was doing earlier - writing in the notebook he took from under the desk. I wanted to ignore his existence because I barely care about the other students in the class. However the black handwrap on his right hand caught my attention. It was like a bandage but I've never seen the black one. Or was it really a bandage?
I refrain myself from asking Han about it because if I whisper again this Seungmin guy would hear me. So I let it be.
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When Han told me Seungmin was in the same archery class with me, he was not lying. This class only had ten people but I've never seen him before. Did I ignore the world too much?
Looks like it, because there's another important person I missed. Felix Lee. His father was our family's helper. I don't want to call him a maid because his works are different from the maids inside the castle. Usually he would be the one who brings the King and the Queen when they have somewhere to go.
In short- my parents' driver.
That Felix guy was in this class too. I just noticed him when I searched for Seungmin and saw them talking. I really need to pay more attention.
"Her-"
"Eunkyung." I quickly cut off Archer Kim's words. He was a bit startled so I apologised. "I'm sorry, but just call me Eunkyung."
He wanted to protest but just sighed and nodded. "It's your turn."
I smiled and nodded, bringing up my bow. Eyes were on me. They probably were anticipating me to hit the bullseye.
But I didn't. It missed by a circle. There were sighs around me but immediately quieted down when I shot them a glare.
Why are they expecting me to be perfect?
"Next up!" Archer Kim's announced after I shoot two arrows. I sensed someone was standing behind me so I stepped aside.
Wait, but why is he using my board?
"Excuse me-"
"Could you please move a little, your highness?"
I blinked my eyes twice at Seungmin. He had a small smile played on his face as he raised his bow. My eyebrows furrowed. I was about to tell him to go off but he already shot.
Bullseye.
"Another one!"
He reached out for another arrow from his back and adjusted it on the bow. It was a second later when again, it hit bullseye. The other eight students cheered for him and I even heard an imaginary sigh.
But wait.
"Are you trying to compare with me?" I stopped him from walking away.
He raised both his eyebrows in confusion and tilted his head lightly to the side.
Can I just snap it into half.
"No?"
"But you used my board," I emphasized the word 'my'. "And that is yours." I pointed to the empty board next to mine, which was a feet away.
He turned his head to the boards and let out a small "oh,"
"What?"
"I just want to make the bullseye occupied, you know." He smiled not-so-innocently.
"Excuse me?"
"Felix Lee!" his father announced.
"Look, the board is far away," he sighed while pointing to Felix who was jogging to the next section. "Using yours is time consuming."
"But still, you are practically comparing our results."
"If I hit a bullseye on my board it would be a comparison too."
I gritted my teeth when I couldn't find any words to shoot back. He had this boring look on his face and it pissed me off.
This is why I don't like guys.
"If that's all I'll take my leave, your-"
"You do realise who you're talking to." I used my so-called power as a royal.
"The last sibling of Eun and last princess of Eirene Kingdom, Her Royal Highness Min Eunkyung."
"Sibling of Eun?"
He nodded, "I thought your sisters' middle name was Eun?"
Now, who gave the name to our siblings? I've never heard of that before. "Did you just make it up?"
"I heard some people talk about it in one of my classes." he shook his head, his fluffy hair swaying from left to right.
Wait, I did not just think of that.
Oh my god.
I sighed, disliking this guy's presence even more. The fact that he used my archery board irks me. I just want his face to get out from my eyes already.
There was a moment of silence.
Clicking my tongue in annoyance, I nodded lightly. "Next time be more polite and use your own board." I muttered and left the class. Some of the students were calling out my name but I ignored the call. I left the field, going straight to the door of the castle.
Just because of the small matter, the feeling to continue any classes already left my body. His action was just too disturbing to me and it's kind of disrespectful. It does not matter if I am a princess or just a mere citizen but I don't think he should do that.
Kim Seungmin, I already don't like him.
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