Areum was running lightly through the palace corridors, mumbling nonstop.
"This doesn't make sense... where's the button to go back to Seoul? Where's the portal? Where's the remote control?!"
Suddenly— Thud! She slammed into a big wooden pillar.
"Ouch! Ugh... why doesn't this era have motion sensors?!" she grumbled.
The palace maids around her could only bow their heads, pretending not to hear.
One of them whispered, "Could Lady Areum be... a descendant of gods from another world?"
"Areum's New Mission: Find the 'Secret Library'"
Areum had a new idea:
> "In dramas, there's always a secret library! Maybe there's a book on 'How to Return to Your Own Time'!"
With blurred determination, Areum sneaked into the palace library.
Unfortunately...
She accidentally stepped on a loose shelf — causing all the history books to tumble down.
Pulled the wrong rope — accidentally opened a secret door... leading to the palace kitchen.
Entered the kitchen, and accidentally triggered a flour explosion while trying to bake a modern cake!
Kitchen Explosion Scene:
"A little baking powder, a little sugar... and... boom?"
BOOM!
The entire kitchen was filled with white flour like snow.
Areum sat in the middle of it, face full of flour, looking blurred but adorable.
"Uh-oh."
"Prince Wang Joon Arrives"
The guards quickly reported the chaos to Prince Wang Joon.
"Your Highness... that strange girl... has destroyed the palace kitchen."
Wang Joon struggled to hold back his laughter.
In his heart, he thought:
> "Is she a disaster... or a blessing?"
He hurried toward the kitchen.
From afar, he already saw Areum — frozen in the middle of the mess, covered in white dust, her eyes teary, looking like a lost kitten.
For some reason, Wang Joon's heart softened.
He took off his outer robe and walked slowly toward Areum.
Without a word, he wrapped her in his robe.
Areum, startled, looked up at Wang Joon with wide round eyes.
"Your Highness... I'm sorry... I... I just wanted to make chocolate cake... but..."
She was close to tears.
Wang Joon gave a small smile, bending down slightly to meet her gaze.
"Don't cry," he said gently.
"I think... your cake may have failed, but you succeeded in making me laugh."
Areum froze.
Her face turned even redder — not from embarrassment, but because it was still covered in flour.
The Palace Abuzz About the 'Chaos Girl'
The next morning, the entire palace was buzzing:
"The magical girl who blew up the palace kitchen."
"The Prince himself protected the strange girl."
"Could this be fated love?"
Areum just listened in a blur to all the gossip.
All she knew was — her mission to return to her own time had failed.
"Never mind... Areum! Never give up! Next plan!"
She began sketching a new plan behind her wooden fan:
> PLAN B: Find the 'magic mirror'!
Meanwhile, from a distance, Wang Joon kept watching the girl with growing interest.
> "You're weird... but I like your weirdness."
He smiled to himself, his curiosity toward the little blur girl growing even stronger.
After the kitchen chaos and Wang Joon's unexpected protection…
The next morning, Areum was given a special room inside the palace.
By Prince Wang Joon's orders, several young maids were assigned to look after her needs.
"What's going on? Am I some kind of VIP now?" Areum muttered, confused as she noticed three traditionally dressed girls following her everywhere.
One of the maids bowed deeply.
"Prince Wang Joon has decreed that we must guard and attend to the safety and needs of Princess... uh, Lady Areum," she stuttered.
Areum's jaw dropped.
She almost burst out laughing but held it back.
Inside, she screamed:
> "Princess??! Hello, I'm not a princess, I'm just a café worker from Seoul!!"
To Be Continue...