Since the night of the 'secret event', Areum noticed something strange.
Prince Wang Joon... changed.
If before he seemed stiff, now he seemed to deliberately find chances — to 'tease' Areum in ways that were strange, sweet, and made Areum want to scream from embarrassment.
"Temptation Mission One: Brushing Hair"
Early in the morning, Areum sat daydreaming in the palace garden, munching on a peach.
Suddenly, Wang Joon appeared from behind.
Without a sound.
His hand reached out and brushed a strand of hair from Areum's cheek — gently wiping it away.
> "There's some fruit dust here," he whispered close to her ear.
Areum froze on the spot.
Her face — turned from pale to bright red, like she had eaten a chili pepper.
"Why are you so close?!" Areum jumped up, hugging her cheeks.
Wang Joon just smiled, pretending to be innocent.
"Is it wrong... to help you?"
Areum wanted to throw her peach at his face, but... her hands were trembling too much.
"Temptation Mission Two: Sheltering Areum"
That afternoon, the sky suddenly darkened.
Light rain began to fall.
Areum quickly ran toward the veranda — but before she could get there...
Someone shielded her with a big paper umbrella.
She turned — Wang Joon was standing there, umbrella in hand, with a casual expression.
> "It's cold. You'll catch a cold," he said briefly, but his voice was so soft.
Areum could only follow his steps, walking under the umbrella together.
The drizzling rain, the muddy path... but Areum's heart felt like it was being struck by a thousand Cupid's arrows.
"Temptation Mission Three: The Mysterious Gift"
That night, on her bed, Areum found a small package.
She opened it — inside was a red thread bracelet, finely woven.
> "To protect someone important," the little note said.
There was no need to guess who sent it.
Areum held the bracelet for a long time before rolling around on the bed, wailing.
> "Why is he making me feel like this?!"
Sora, who entered to deliver some soup, could only chuckle.
"Lady Areum... is beyond saving," she said softly.
A More Confused Areum
Areum sat by the window, deep in thought.
Outside, Wang Joon was practicing sword fighting with the other guards.
Sometimes, he would glance at Areum — and flash a little grin.
Areum glared back... before quickly hiding her face behind the curtain.
> "Am I... am I really falling for him?"
Areum slapped her own cheeks until they turned red.
That night before sleeping, Areum made a resolution:
> "Tomorrow... I have to be sure. Do I really like him or not?!"
She then made a 'plan' to test her own feelings the next day —
with the craziest and most hilarious method possible.
To Be Continued...