I put my head down while entering the room. Everytime I enter my parents' office something bad will happen. I'm not ready to hear it.
My sisters were already there.
"How are you today honey?" my mom's soft voice greeted me.
"Terrible." I stood in front of them. I braved myself to look at my father. He had this stern look, that's enough to scare me off.
The deadly silence continued for a minute until my father spoke up, "You have broken the rules, Eunkyung."
I nodded lightly.
"We've come to a decision where you will be put into homeschool until your legs heal and extra night classes," he announced. I closed my eyes in protest. "This is for your safety. We cannot let any of our princesses in danger."
I bit my lower lip, feeling the stares I got from my sisters. As much as I wanted to object, I couldn't. I broke the rules.
"You will no longer attend the sword fighting class."
My head shot up to them
Are they serious?
"But," my father raised a brow. "but.. will you let me practice too?" I asked, more like mumbling the words. "Other than archery and horse riding, will you let me practice sword fighting too? Please?" I literally begged them.
Again, silence fell upon us. At this moment I was starting to lose hope. My fingers twiddled with one another. I could not even imagine if they took away all of my swords and fighting suits from me.
"Swords aren't toys."
"So are arrows." I replied almost immediately.
"Eunkyung, we've talked about this." my father's voice was still calm. I did not want to make him angry, but I did not want to lose my swords either.
Taking a shallow breath, I continued, "Sonia taught me since I was little. I know how to use swords. I promise."
"What about last night honey?" My mother interfered. "How did you get injured?"
My breath hitched.
I opened my mouth to speak but there's no words coming out. I hid my hands behind my back and nervously looked at my father.
"Is it Seungmin?"
"No." I instantly shook my head. "He saved me, he didn't do anything."
"Save you from who?"
"It's not a person," I half lied. "W-we were lost in the woods and I kept stumbling over roots. And fell for one time. My hand was scratched."
Believe me, believe me please.
"And he was there to catch and treated my injury."
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Our parents left the room. I released the breath I was holding and walked limply to my sisters. Before I could sit down, my sister above me, Min Eunhee pulled me into a hug. Followed by Eunji and the oldest, Eunsoo. When the group hug was formed a tear escaped my eye. I sobbed.
"Don't cry," Eunhee patted my head. "It's alright, they just want to make you safe."
"You still can do sword fighting. They are not taking away the swords right?" I nodded at Eunsoo's words.
Still, I cannot go out. Learning sword fighting with teachers is different and more fun compared to learning alone. I don't have anyone to fight with, I cannot learn new techniques, I cannot observe their movements.
I needed all of that.
My family thinks it was just sword fighting, I did not need it. But I really do. There's reasons in anything I do. Archery is not enough. It was never enough.
Maybe enough for my sisters, but not for me.
"Ah, I'm suffocating." I tapped anyone's arm and they let me go. Eunji threw me a disgusted look while messing with my hair.
"You weakling, it's just a group hug."
"It's not a hug if you squeezed me into a sponge." I hissed, narrowing my eyes towards her. My other two sisters sighed when hearing us bickering again.
"You are a sponge."
I raised my fist. "You-"
Before I could throw hands Eunhee stopped me. She blocked my arm with hers and shook her head in disappointment. "Can both of you stop arguing at times like this?"
Eunji rolled her eyes and slung her arms against her chest. "Come out, I asked the chef to prepare some dessert."
My lips curled up and she clicked her tongue in annoyance. While turning around she sashayed her hair, being the diva of the year. Even with my injured legs I managed to catch up with her. As I closed the door the two sisters shouted, "Leave some!"
"Only if Eunji doesn't turn into a monster this time!"
"Speak like that again I'll stuff your mouth with tissues." the oldie threatened me but I just grinned. "Anyway, father said you're gonna start today?"
I nodded with a low grumble.
"Serves you right. No one asked us to break the rules."
I hummed, "No one asked. I wanted to."
"You know the complications?"
"I am already facing it." I shrugged. My mouth hangs open at the sight presented in front of us. "Strawberries chocolate!"
One of the Lady's maid giggled at my reaction, "They are fresh from the royal farm, Your Highness."
I took a place, Eunji sat in front of me. "And you didn't care about the fact that Seungmin guy is going to look after you when you heal fully?"
My hand stopped from transferring the chocolate dipped strawberry into my plate. I glared, "I'd prefer Han to do that for me. What did they see in that Seungmin guy? Han's been my best friend since I moved here yet they don't approve him as a friend."
"Because look what he made you do," Eunji casually replied, causing me to pay full attention fully to her. "He persuaded you to join the sword fighting class."
"You're not wrong, but I wanted that too." I hummed, munching on the strawberry.
"And when you lost, he left you." This time Eunji took a dessert — a pavlova. I gave her a confused look but she did not even look at me. "If he cared then he would be searching for you, not leaving the woods thinking that you might be returning home already."
I was about to speak but she cut me off.
"On top of that, you were shivering, right?" I nodded, remembering what I told her earlier as soon as I got home. "Then you won't leave the jacket just like that. But the jacket was gone too."
"What are you pointing at?"
She remained silent, focusing on her food. I felt something bad was going on.
"Father chose Seungmin because he saw the guy sent you home, not Jisung." she smiled, giving me a - ha, i got you - look. I prompted my fist but she just laughed. "Whatever it is, you'll be stuck with Seungmin after your legs healed."
Suddenly I want to get injured forever.
༆
"Your Highness, your class is starting in an hour."
I nodded and took the clothes they prepared for me. "Thank you."
"The King wished to see you before you start."
I groaned. The maid politely excused herself and I shut the door. I'm already eighteen, why are they treating me like I'm ten years old?
The poor uniform in my hand received a glare. It was similar to my school uniform, except it did not have an extra coat to keep me warm. They kept the skirt on to cover my legs until the laced touched the floor
I hummed in satisfaction.
Even so, I'm not happy with this change of schedule.
After getting ready I went to the dinner room. As usual, all of my family members were already there. The last princess always comes last.
"You look great wearing a school uniform at night, Your Highness." Eunji sneered. Eunsoo nudged her. "I mean, you look stunning."
"Same goes for you in your pajamas, sister." I replied with a smirk.
My parents shook their heads with a small smile decorated their faces. I threw a knowing look to Eunji which she replied with a wink. At least she knew how to lighten the air.
The dinner was filled with Eunhee who constantly speaks up about her college crush. Everyone in the castle knows. She never shut up about him. And we've never met the guy. All we know was his name.
"Where am I studying?" I asked, heart screaming to run away but mind telling otherwise.
"The room next to the library." my mother replied. "Have fun, honey."
"I'll think about that." I smiled, hoping they noticed the sarcasm in me.
I'm not going to enjoy this.
Upon entering the room, I spotted someone familiar. He had his hair white blonde, facing the whiteboard. Just by looking from his back I could make out who was him.
"Yang Jeongin?"
He turned around. "Eunkyung!"
"What.." I looked around. There were only both of us in here. "What are you doing here? Wait, when did you arrive?"
He chuckled as he got up and threw himself on me. I yelped while trying to balance ourselves. This kid was getting heavier year by year. Did he think he's not growing up?
"Just arrived here this morninggggg," he swung my body from left to right.
"My legs are injured idiot! I hurt my back!" I hit his head but he did not let go of me. "Jeongin!"
"I miss uyuuuuu," he pouted and made kissy gestures.
I screamed, pushing his face away from me. My cousin puffed his cheeks, probably faking his sulk again. He was the same age as mine but his attitude never matched with me. He still acted like a baby.
"You don't miss me?"
I scoffed, "No."
"Come on, the whole universe know you do."
"You know the whole universe is a lie, Yang Jeongin." I gave him an innocent smile. His smile dropped.
Ugh, sad Jeongin is a sad world.
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