Chapter Thirty The soft glow of the morning sun awoke the crown princess. She was never really known to be a morning person, hence she never fancied waking up too early. Yet, when she looked at the clock on her nightstand, it displayed five thirty in the morning. She, herself, was surprised that she was able to wake up this early all on her own.   She laid in her bed, eyes fluttering in haziness and body still limp. Even Lord Snow was still fast asleep, curled like a ball of cloud on her side. She threaded through his cotton-like fur as she tried to recall the peculiar dream she just had.   Red. She was wearing a red dress—no, three different red dresses on what seemed to be one occasion. She remained stoic, unmoving from her comfortable state, then suddenly she realized what vision she just saw in her sleep. She hurriedly reached for her mobile phone, lying just beside her alarm clock and dialed the first person on her mind and the last one on her call history.   The line rang for a couple of seconds before getting answered.   “Ugh, hello?” answered the other person, voice hoarse and deep from fatigue, meaning he was just asleep.   “Oh, sorry, oppa.” She voiced with slight shyness. Yeona pulled the covers up her chest as her cheeks slowly glowed pink. She didn’t expect for him to sound so alluring in the morning.   “Princess,” his tone immediately alighted, “good morning.” She couldn’t see, but she knew he was smiling.   “I’m sorry, I woke you up. You must have been tired from class.” Said she.   “It’s fine. I miss you anyway.” His sweet and straight-forward self never fails to cause her heart to skip a beat.   “I miss you too. What time did you get home last night?”   “Four in the morning.” He replied with a heavy breath.   “Oh, I’m sorry. I should have thought about you before calling.” She was starting to regret her rash decision.   “It’s nothing, Yeona ah,” said he, and she could tell he had that pretty little smirk on his lips, “if I could be with you right now, I would. I’m sorry, I should be there for you more.”   She shook her head. “It’s okay. You’re studying very hard and it makes me so happy knowing that you’re slowly working towards your dreams.”   He respired audibly, “God, I miss you.” There were a few moments of silence, each second was spent simply listening to each other breathing.   “Why did you call so early in the morning?” he asked, breaking the quiet, “Did you have a bad dream?”   She pursed her lips before answering. “I don’t know if it’s a good dream or not, but …” she trailed off for a few moments, “Oppa, I saw myself as the queen.”   “Really?” he asked, voice sounding pretty even, not wanting to agitate her further. Knowing Yeona, she clearly didn’t like what she saw that’s why she called him immediately. He was still trying to figure out what she disliked about it though. “How did you feel about it?”   “I was so young in that dream,” she continued, “I don’t even look a bit older than my current self.” He just remained silent, patiently listening. “I was wearing the red dress robes for the coronation and another red dress to what seemed like a similar occasion, and then another but at that time I was just with you alone.”   “Three red dresses in one event.” He reiterated.   “In a very particular event, my coronation. Which means …” she trailed off once again, afraid of what was to come next.   “The king is dead … in your dream.” He concluded.   Yeona then sobbed as tears unexpectedly rolled down her cheeks. “Why would I dream something like that? Something that indicates my father’s death?”   “I don’t know, princess,” he answered, “but hey, it’s okay. It’s only just a dream. His Majesty is young and very healthy.” If he was physically beside her, she imagined, he would be cradling her in his embrace by now. Lord Snow was already awake, startled by her sudden tears and began to her face in an attempt to comfort her.   “I never really thought about it.” She meant her ascension to the throne.   “And you mustn’t still,” said he, “you have many more years as the crown princess. As “And you mustn’t still,” said he, “you have many more years as the crown princess—as my princess. I don’t want you to worry about something that you shouldn’t. So please, let dreams be dreams and let the reality be the reality.”   She nodded once again, albeit he couldn’t see.   “Can I see you?” he asked, pertaining if she could open her camera on call.   “Of course, oppa.” She answered and immediately switched to video call mode and he did too. She saw him lying on his bed in his loft. His eyes looked tired with visible lilac crescents underneath them, his cheeks were unusually flush and puffy, yet his lips looked as beautiful as ever, same as his long neck, and his broad chest—wait. Only then she noticed he was also sleeping shirtless. Her blush even deepened.   “There now,” said he, “dry those tears. You shouldn’t be crying first thing in the morning. Smile now, princess, okay? You look beautiful still, but you would look more beautiful with a big smile on your face.”   He managed to make her giggle, even when it was very soft. “You look very tired though, you should get more rest.” She pouted, concerned for him.   “It’s nothing. I love what I do.” He also chuckled softly. “But you know what I love more?”   “What?” she shyly asked even though she already knew what he’s going to say.   “You.” Said he, before making a very sheepish grin.   “Cheeky.” She replied, “But I love you too. Get some rest okay? Or I’ll barge into your apartment once again, uninvited.”   “Yes, ma’am.” He was fast to concede, knowing the dangers of what she just suggested. “I’ll make sure to get plenty of rest so that I don’t worry you and the only thing left for you to do would be to love me until I melt in goo.”   “Oh my gosh, I almost forgot how cheesy you could get.” She complained, but she was smiling, tears long forgotten.   “You still love me, though.” He was relentless.   “Arasso, arasso,” she couldn’t help it anymore, “go back to bed and dream of me. I love you.”   “Always, princess. I’ll call you later.” He replied.   “Bye.” And the phone call ended.   At that moment, Secretary Kim and the other ladies were already awaiting her orders just outside her room. She decided to get on with her day and leave all her bad dreams behind. She got dressed and ready for the morning greeting with the elders, expecting her day to proceed as usual but then when she reached the grand pavilion where morning tea was usually held, she just found her grandmother and mother seated before the brewing jasmine tea.   She made the usual great bow before them. “Good morning, halma mama, umma mama.” She greeted, her traditional Korean tongue crisp perfect.   “Good morning, bigung mama.” Answered her ever loving grandmother, who ushered for her to sit beside her.   “If I may so ask, where is appa mama?” said she as soon as seated and served her cup of tea.   “His majesty is busy with affairs of the state in this early morning.” Answered her mother, “it is such a shame that he couldn’t join us on this beautiful weather.”   “Indeed, the king has been plenty busy as of late.” Said the older woman.   That was odd. Days, where the king was absent from the morning gathering of the royal family, meant that something of national importance came about, if not, then another matter which concerned his attention immediately has occurred. Either way, it’s not a very good sign. Yet no matter how much Yeona tried to press the matter, the two elder women seemed to be unfazed and even unbothered by it.   So she convinced herself, maybe it was really just a trivial matter. Her father was, after all, the head of their household, which didn’t only mean he had the ultimate power to decide about this family but also has the moral responsibility to his people, the Korean public. The crown princess, deprived of further information about the subject went on to sip her tea in silence.   Her day was then further spent on attending to her lessons and royal duties. She had a m