Chapter Five   Sharp on the clock and Youngho was indeed outside of the school gates after five minutes. It was already pretty late hence the school was mostly empty; even so I stayed inside my Rolls Royce for safety purposes. It took him some time to locate the car and realize that I’m in it.   “Good afternoon, Secretary Kim.” He greeted merrily as he approached the vehicle. He appears to be wearing a white shirt with the top two buttons undone and the sleeves folded up to his elbow. I also noticed he paired it with jeans making the look very easy and casual. His hair is in its usual mid partition—not that it doesn’t suit him—in fact I think it does and he pulls it off really well.   I sighed after I caught myself ogling at him like I’m one of those writers from fashion magazines that published his whereabouts and fashion sense just this morning. I’m still taken aback by his sudden offer and my opinion towards it still stands.   I noticed Soojin bowed down as he draws near and greets, “Good afternoon Youngho doryeonim, her royal highness is waiting inside the vehicle.” And my chauffer opened the door for him.   “O-kay.” He said in English, emphasizing much on the ‘o’, which is a habit, Americans do that I don’t really get.   “Hi.” He greets, again casually, as the moment he saw me.   “Annyeonghaseyo, Youngho ssi.” I replied with a little nod.   He settled himself in quickly before saying, “I’m sorry for the sudden invitation, I noticed you weren’t really prepared.” He gestured towards my uniform.   I looked down, still hesitating to make eye contact. “Yes, umma mama didn’t inform me of any changes in my schedule so I wasn’t able to prepare. I’m sorry if I’m still in my uniform.”   “No, not at all.” He answered. “I visited the queen just this afternoon, actually she invited me in the palace because as I’ve learned you cannot just enter without prior invitation. But anyway, she wanted to discuss about my stay here in Korea.”   “Oh,” was my answer, “so how did it go?”   “That’s what we’re going to talk about.” Said he. “I figured you would want to know. I asked permission from her majesty and she said it’s alright if we discuss it over dinner.”   “That’s the thing, Youngho ssi, I can’t just walk casually into any restaurant.” I answered with a suggestive laugh. “Unless I want to cause an uproar then…”   “I’ve got that covered, come on?” and I noticed he was offering me his hand.   I looked up and saw his bright smile. I’m not sure if it’s just me but I oddly find comfort in his warm beam.   Odd, very odd for me.   I cautiously placed my hand on his before he grips it nice and tight and started dragging me out of the vehicle.   “Would it be all right if the princess rides with me?” he asked Secretary Kim.   “If her highness wishes so…” answered Soojin in which I nodded in return.   “It’s okay.”   “Great, didn’t know it was really easy kidnapping a royal in broad daylight.” Said he, which startled not just me but the rest of my staff.   He laughed heartily before dragging me to his car, which appeared to be an Audi R8, I’d say not bad, if not for his kidnapping remarks a while ago. He opened the passenger seat for me.   “It was a joke, princess.” Said he.   I looked into his eyes before answering, “It’s not a good one.”   “Scary.” He teases before gently pushing and settling me in. “Since it’s you who decided we be casual with each other, I think it’s best we don’t get too uptight.” He says while he buckles my seatbelt. “I’m a friend, Yeona, and I’m willing to help you.”   He closes the door before I get to answer and circles towards his side of the vehicle. He buckles in and proceeds driving.   “Where are we going?” I asked.   “Somewhere the media cannot follow you.” He answered.   “I prefer a more specific answer.”   “Well I could give you two options, do you prefer it more romantic or casual?” he said cheekily and I was starting to feel annoyed. I looked at the rearview mirror and noticed my convoy closely following me. We could get this guy beaten if we wanted to, he better be careful.   “What is the deal with you?” I finally exploded, yet still maintaining composure.   “Oppa.” He said with emphasis and I rolled my eyes, this time for real.   “If to you this is a big joke then I cannot judge, but to me this is a matter of state importance, a matter that is far from being trivial—”   “I was just saying you should probably start addressing me properly.” Said he, cutting me off, a scene that rarely ever happens to any royal, especially to me. “I told you before right, I am taking you seriously. When will you start believing me, princess?”   How can I believe you when you seem to be taking this whole thing like a joke? And how many times am I supposed to remind this person to address me by my name?   The expression on my face probably showed way more than I intend to, for Youngho suddenly chuckled as if he’s so amused.   “Do I irritate you that much?” he asked. “We should really start to learn how to tolerate each other and get along, if you want your plan to work at least.”   “Why are you helping me anyway?” I finally asked with exasperation. I’ve been wondering about that for the entirety of the day.   “Is it really important to you?” I didn’t quite notice but his voice suddenly took a serious tone.   “Yes!” was my eager answer. “Everything, and I mean it, everything comes with a price. In this world where anyone can be betrayed by anyone, I cannot just parade and randomly bestow my trust to people. How am I supposed to assure myself that you are not poison to me? I barely know you and you don’t know much about me as well. If you’re suggesting we make this plan work then I guess this is a good ground for it to be.”   I was not aware of our whereabouts because I was too focused on searching for his eyes and assuring that what he’s going to answer will be out of honesty, but then he suddenly stepped onto the breaks and parked his car. I didn’t know if we already arrived but I didn’t care at that moment. My curiosity eats me and usually it gets the best out of me.   “You had asthma since you were a child and your respiratory track isn’t of the best condition, even when you don’t experience coughs or colds.” All of a sudden, he started talking about my medical records, which really puzzled and took me by surprise. “When you were seven the complications worsened and you had a severe infection in your left lung leaving you with pneumonia and you struggled to recover for years.   “Of all the antibiotics that you could be allergic to, it just has to be the most common find penicillin, it could easily treat you at any given time yet your reaction towards it tends to simply worsen your condition. Aside from medicine, there are only certain foods in which you can ingest, failing to recognize any allergies could be fatal. You once accidentally had oranges mixed up in your salad when you were ten and it almost caused you your life. Recovery years are vital to prevent further complications hence your body’s reaction towards allergic substances is that severe.   “Furthermore, you refuse to be pricked for having developed trypanophobia. You’ve been through too many medical treatments that at some point you refuse to submit yourself to one. It also explains why you particularly do not enjoy embroidery. I could go on, your highness, to what your blood type is, how much you weigh, the condition of your eyesight, your numerous ankle injury due to ballet, and even your monthly cycles, but it would take us quite some time.”   I was so shocked to hear those words from him that I was unable to answer. He looked at me before flashing, once again, his warm smile that seems to have a calming effect on me.   “I met your mother to discuss about your medical records. She personally entrusted them to me with cautious and warning words. From now on I’d be the closest person by your side and in order to be of efficient service to you, it is only my job as an individual from the medical field to know the concerns and precautions about your health. It may not be much, your highness, but I couldn’t think of anywhere else better for me to start getting to you know. I am a loyal subject and I can guarantee that I can look after your health with the best of my abilities. Rest assured that I am no poison to you.”   He made another one of his cheeky grins before proceeding to speak, “I chose to serve you, your highness, isn’t that enough of a reason?”   He is no poison. From his words I really felt his sympathy and sincerity, I immediately felt sorry for being so rude to him. After some time I realized he know almost everything about me now. Great, how lovely and caring of my mother.   “Don’t be shy, your highness, it’s normal for physicians to know everything regarding their patients.” He said before coming out of the car. He goes around