As early as dawn, Areum was determined.
> *"I need to know. Does he like me... or am I just deluding myself?!"*
With 200% enthusiasm, Areum devised a crazy Love Test Mission.
*"Mission 1: Fake a Fall!"*
Areum chose the bustling palace garden, where many people passed by.
She pretended to stroll while holding a flower—acting all delicate.
When she spotted Wang Joon walking from afar, Areum pretended to trip on a stone...
*Thud!* She fell flat on her face.
On purpose!
Hoping Wang Joon would rush to save her.
But...
Wang Joon stopped.
He stared at Areum, who was clutching her knee.
His face was serious... *deadly* serious...
> *"You fell like a potato."*
*AREUM:**"..."*
Sora, who was watching from the side, almost rolled over laughing.
Areum wanted to cry—where was the heroic prince-saves-princess moment?! *Where?!*
But then, Wang Joon suddenly reached out his hand, pulling Areum up gently.
> *"Next time, watch where you're going. I'm not scolding you... I'm worried."*
His voice was so soft.
Areum instantly melted, though inside she was screaming.
*"Mission 2: Flirt With Another Guy"*
The second mission was even crazier.
Areum deliberately struck up a long conversation with the palace guard, Jin Ho—laughing loudly—while stealing glances at Wang Joon from afar.
Her tactic? To see if Wang Joon would get jealous!
But when she peeked... Wang Joon wasn't angry.
He just stood in the distance, arms crossed... with an unreadable expression.
Only after Jin Ho left did Wang Joon approach.
He stared at Areum for a long time.
> *"You were trying to make me jealous?"*
Areum froze.
> *"If so... it worked."*
Wang Joon smirked slightly, then patted Areum's head gently.
Areum felt like her brain was steaming.
*"Oh my god... I got reverse psychology-ed!"* she whispered to herself, her face red as a boiled crab.
**Mission 3: "I Have a Secret Admirer!"**
Areum faked a letter.
Pretending she had a secret admirer!
She folded it neatly and deliberately left it on the table in the palace hall where Wang Joon often passed by.
The letter read:
> *"Lady Areum, there is someone in this palace who has long held feelings for you..."*
(Note: That "someone" was entirely made up by Areum.)
When Wang Joon read the letter, his face darkened.
He folded it and then—*POOF!*—burned it with a candle.
Areum, who was spying from behind, nearly fainted.
> *"No need for secret admirers,"* Wang Joon said calmly, walking past the stunned Areum.
> *"I'm enough."*
That night, Areum lay in bed, hugging a pillow.
She recalled all of today's incidents—the potato fall, the failed flirting, the burned letter...
But...
Her heart was full of blooming flowers.
> *"Does he... really like me?"* she whispered softly.
Sora, who had just entered with tea, could only shake her head.
> *"If his behavior is getting worse, then yes, he definitely does."*
Areum rolled around on the bed—almost falling off from sheer excitement!
To Be Continued...