Chapter 98 - A long vacation [2] (1/2)

Moon Jiwoo was inside the palace only one time previously, and since that was due to official reasons, she was unable to roam around the palace for sightseeing.

Earlier she had arrived in the Underworld with Aera. While Aera decided to rest in her house, Jiwoo thought about paying Sookyung a visit. It had been a while since she had last seen him, and she was curious to see how that man was being.

However, once she had entered into the palace, Jiwoo found herself being lost. The inside of the palace was quite large, and having no clue on where Sookyung could be, she wandered around aimlessly.

Moon Jiwoo thought about asking one of the guards regarding it, but she could not spot any of them close by.

Letting out a deep sigh, Moon Jiwoo continued to walk through the hallways in hopes that she will be spotting someone soon. Even if the palace was large, sooner or later she was bound to find someone.

Staring around the palace, Moon Jiwoo found the place to be quite empty and lonely, instead of intimidating. The air around the palace was quite cold.

This made her wonder about what type of king Sookyung was. Over the period of six months, it was inevitable that the man had grown up, and maybe he would not be the same as she had met last time.

The changes in him would be understandable. As a king, he would have lots of responsibilities on his shoulder, and in order to be successful, he was required to be different.

Now that she did not have the task to protect him, she wondered if both of their worlds could collide together or eventually they will be turning different ways, becoming strangers to each other?

Sooner or later, Sookyung would be having a life that would not contain her, and when that happened, the only thing she will be remaining to him would be a distant memory— someone who he is grateful to.

In midst of her deep thoughts, Jiwoo found her footsteps getting slower, and when her face collided against someone's ċhėst, she halted in her steps. A sharp pain went through her nose as the impact caused her to stumble backwards slightly.

”Are you alright?”

Hearing that voice, Jiwoo raised her head. Before she was able to say anything, she was taken aback by how attractive the man before her was. Although she had been used to handsome men, the one before her was a different story.

His appearance laid more to the angelic side, and Jiwoo found herself being captivated by the soft smile on his face. His brown hair neatly fell on top of his head, making him appear quite gentle.

'What a delicate beauty.'

Realizing that she had been staring at him for more than necessary, an awkward chuckle left her mouth, and raising her hand, she patted the back of her head while cursing at herself mentally. Then again, she could not be entirely blamed; not everyday did she meet such an ethereal beauty.

”I am fine,” Jiwoo said, ”Are you from the palace?”

”Well, you could say that. I believe you're his Majesty's protector, Shin Daerin,” the man spoke out.

Nodding her head, Jiwoo answered, ”Yeah, I guess you know me. Do you know where Sookyung could be? I have been searching around the palace for an hour now, and there has not been a clue of him yet.”

A chuckle escaped from his mouth. One word Jiwoo could use to describe that sound would be refreshing— a feeling akin to having cold water on an extremely hot day.

”Sure, I can take you to him. His Majesty was just in a meeting currently, but I think the meeting is over by now. I am Oh Jihoon,” the man introduced.

”Ah! Then, thank you, Oh Jihoon-ssi. You are life saver!” Jiwoo spoke out.

”It's my pŀėȧsurė,” Jihoon stated.

°°°

The entire walk had been completely silent— not that Jiwoo had a problem with it for she observed Jihoon's beauty the entire time and wondered how someone could look that angelic and harmless.