A/N: Sorry for the long wait, guys! Please enjoy this short chapter of the continuance :)

Chapter 19: Months & Time

Everyone gathered at the entrance of the Flower Palace, saying their farewells to their King. There was a traveling chair ready for him to sit on the way to Namwon. Guards and servants were even surrounding the mini carrier, ready to take His Highness to his destination.

Queen Shim bowed respectfully. “Please have a safe trip, my King,” she said.

King Han gently smiled back. “Thanks for the wish, my Queen,” he replied.

“Come back home safely, Father,” Chanwol spoke.

“I will, my son.” As King Han came to his one and only daughter, he found her smiling sweetly at him. Her eyes lit up as if they were filled with nothing but happiness, but he knew that behind those brown orbs, there was sadness.

“Good luck, Father,” said Yeonhwa. “You’ll do great. I know it.”

King Han smiled and placed his hand on her head, gently her hair. “Three months might be long, but trust me, I’ll be back as soon as I can. I promise.”

Yeonhwa smiled and nodded. Besides Chanwol, her father was the only one who knew about her passion for writing and her respectful lack of royal activities. They knew it wasn’t that she didn’t like any of them, but because they trusted her actions and choices, they were okay with it. Now that her older brother is married and getting his life together, and her father is going away, she only had to deal with her selfish, must-be-perfect mother.

After a few more talks, the King finally departed to Namwon.

And the first day of the three months started.

“Hwayang, wake up,” Myungseok said, shaking the sleepy man. “I mean it, Hwayang. I don’t want to pour hot soup on you.”

Hwayang rolled over to his other side and covered his head with the blanket.

“Hwayang! Wake up!”

“Just five more minutes,” Hwayang slurred.

“Aish! Wake up or I’ll tear your ears off your head!”

Too irritated by the best friend’s whinings, Hwayang threw the blanket away and sat up immediately, rubbing his eyes.

Myungseok scoffed at him, then sat down on the edge of the bed. “Had fun last night?” he asked.

Hwayang sighed as a smile crept to his face. He recalled confessing to Yeonhwa last night and sharing their first kiss. Just remembering the little details and the warm feelings, he bit his lip in embarrassment.

“Hey.” Myungseok waved his hand in front of his face. “You okay?”

Hwayang shook his head and blinked. “Sorry,” he said. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Wow. Did you blush like that when you met the scholar last night?”

“Blush? What blush?”

“Just look at your cheeks.” Saying that, Hwayang felt his hot face. “Judging by your look, I’m sure that scholar is a woman. Am I right?” Myungseok sighed.

Hwayang put his hands down and huffed out a breath. “What are you saying? You know there can’t be any female scholars.”

“Huh, it’s funny you say that. Because yesterday, after you left, I finished my shift and decided to go to that scholar meeting, too. You know, to tag along?”

Hwayang froze and eyed him suspiciously.

“So I asked around, and the thing was no one knew or heard of any meeting. I also went to the library to see if there were any new scholar there or something, but,” Myungseok clicked his tongue. “There was nothing.”

Hwayang blinked and gaped at him before looking away.

“Where did you go last night? Did you go meet a girl or something?”

“...No,” Hwayang breathed.

“Liar. No guy dresses up that fancy just to go meet a scholar,” Myungseok protested as he pointed to the guy’s clothes. Since Hwayang got home late last night, he didn’t have time to change out of his outfit. He was too tired by the time he arrived, so he just quietly snuck to  sleep.

“How do you know if it’s a girl? What if I was-”

“Cut to the chase, Hwayang? Who is she?”

Hwayang held his breath and looked up at his older friend. As much as he didn’t want to give Yeonhwa away, he couldn’t lie to him. He didn’t want to lie to him anyways. “Do you remember that girl I brought in your restaurant the other day?”

Myungseok furrowed his brows. “Her?” he replied as if he never forgot the beauty. A smile formed on his lips. “You’re seeing her?”

Hwayang sighed and threw the blanket off his body before sliding off to sit on the edge of the bed wit Myungseok. “Yes,” he admitted. “It’s her.”

“Really?” Myungseok smiled proudly. “Oh, my goodness. That’s great to hear. You’re dating-”

“Wait.” Hwayang stopped him. “There’s more.”

“What?”

“It’s not what girl I’m seeing… It’s which girl I’m seeing and who she is…”

Myungseok shrugged. “Well, who is she, then?”

Hwayang sighed and ran his hand through his undone, long hair. This wasn’t easy at all. Heck, it wasn’t going to be. “She comes from a we