Chapter Eighteen   Summer has finally arrived and school was over, but the palace walls were seemingly void of any festivities. Nothing has changed; it was still the same traditional institution housing an ancient practice. The crown princess did her best to keep herself occupied all throughout her examination week. She busied herself with studying and royal duties, being detached to the world as much as possible in order to divert her worries. But with the arrival of another season she found herself hollowed of any happiness despite the supposed celebration she should have enjoyed given that she was finally moving up to her senior year and most especially that in a few days time, she would be turning eighteen.   How can she seemingly put herself to an upbeat mood when there were much troubling her mind and even more occupying her hands? Under the joint jurisdiction of his majesty, the king, and she, an investigation was launched regarding the anti-monarchist propaganda. Yet it has been taking a painstakingly slow pace given that there weren’t yet any leads to be found. Yeona was feeling impatient, she wanted to help her best friend the best she could but for the mean time she was useless and all she could do was to stay at the sidelines and wait.   Yuju, on the other hand, was acting as normal and as cheerful as she can. She was careful enough not to trouble her best friend some more, but deep inside she was truly hurting. It was not as if Jungkook can easily barge into her room and spend time with her whenever he liked. His visits were very rare and usually in a hurry for fear of getting caught or worse being sent away where Yuju can no longer follow him. There wasn’t any news from Taeyong lately, but with the presumption that he’s also in the same situation as Yuju, then he must also be having an equally hard time.   Yeona found herself in a deep sigh, asking herself how to push forward when seemingly all odds were against her. This week she had a scheduled appearance at Jeju Island for an annual cultural festival. She stared at the invitation in her hands and convinced herself that she must at least try and have a little good time. After all, Youngho was already away and even though she trusts him, she doesn’t have any clue what he’s doing there as of the moment. They don’t communicate frequently to begin with and she doesn’t want to appear as an excessively clingy girlfriend. So with her pride on the line, she prevented herself to text him or ask him of his whereabouts. If he wanted to tell her something, she trusts him that he will. So be it.   — —   More than thirteen hours away from Seoul and all the way across the globe Youngho found himself back to the city where he spent most of his growing up days in. Chicago, Illinois was still the same and as busy as always. He had just finished his appointment with his previous school, Pritzker School of Medicine and had already finalized his transfer to Seoul National University. He bid goodbye to his old professors and colleagues before he headed to his next agenda, which was the Department of Foreign Affairs. He spent a few hours in the public office, arranging some legal documents before he was told to be back after a few days time to check up on it. This was the less tedious part of his sudden American trip.   The more challenging one would be saying goodbye to his dear friends. It was already nightfall, a few days after he arrived in Chicago, and he was yet to tell news about his brief return. He was headed towards a café; just a five minute walk away from his apartment to have his dinner, when a very familiar face welcomed him in the streets.     “John?” he heard her say and saw that very familiar face lit up to a smile he once so adored. “You’re back!” she cheered as she ran up to him, enveloping him in a tight embrace. If not for his sturdy legs both of them would’ve fallen to the cold concrete but he held firmly. Shortly after he returned the hug with a tiny smile on his lips.   “Seolhyun.” Said he as he her glossy hair, a practice he got used to during those years they spent beng together.   “Oh, I miss you so much.” She said. “When did you get back? Are you resuming your studies at Pritzker?”   He was first to pull away. “No.” was his careful answer and he noticed the color on her face quickly dropped from a lively red to a pale and dull white. “I’m glad we met.” He was quick to add. “Can we talk?”   And so the two headed to the nearby coffee shop and shared a meal together. They had a familiar silence, one that they always enjoyed every time they were together. Yet she was the first to break the ice. “So you’re really migrating to Korea?”   “It’s not as if we aren’t Koreans to begin with.” He answered. “Besides, my whole family is there already. There’s no more reason for me to stay here.”   She looked at him in the eye, hoping for him to see right through her but he remained unfazed and simply gave off his usual calming smile. “What a jerk, you’re really leaving me here.” She half kidded, scoffing but he knew she meant it in a way.   “I guess it has something to do with the invitation from the palace.” She added. “What do the royals need of you anyway?”   “They asked me for a favor, who am I to turn down.” He answered, careful not to give out too much. Part of the agreement was for it to be as undisclosed as possible.   “What favor is it then?” asked she, sipping through her coffee. “For you to leave your opportunities here in America, they must’ve offered you something great. Come on, Johnny, don’t disappoint me.”   She called him through the nickname she, herself, created. He loved it for some time. “They offered me my destiny.” He answered with a cheeky grin. “Impressed enough?”   “You never change.” She muttered in awe and the two shared some laughter.   “I guess this is goodbye?” she was the one who asked, momentarily stopping through her meal and looking down, afraid to meet his gaze.   “It’s a farewell. We’ll still see each other.” Said he.   She hurriedly finished her salad and the rest of her coffee before abruptly standing up, “Then you’re all mine for the rest of your stay.” She had her signature smile on, the one that would bring all boys to the ground during their high school days. It was so captivating and he once loved staring at it.   “Where are we going?” asked he as they left the café, calling up a cab from the sidewalk.   “The usual.” She answered with a smile but he knew she was merely faking it. She was usually fragile and he was the leaning shoulder, the boulder behind her every downfall, so the thing he was most afraid of was to crush her poor delicate soul.   “No, we’re not drinking tonight, Seol.” And he tried to pull her away but she stood firm.   “It’s my time, my rules.” She insisted. “When will I ever get the chance to be with you like this?”   “You can’t drink, you know that.” He argued but they were already off towards the pub they frequent along with their friends.   The music in the club was blaring and Seol