Chapter III.

 

 

On the next day, 5 AM.

 

“We better hurry! We don’t want to be late for our first day at work!”

 

Jesse added as he buttoned his cook’s uniform up, finished his look before leaving the room. Yoong quickly nodded as he stumbled out and followed his cousin.

 

There was a moment silence between them since Jesse still was feeling guilty for barely holding his anger yesterday. Not being able to ignore the thought, he sighed and started into a low tone as they walked:

 

“Yoong?”

 

“Yes, hyung?”

 

“I apologize for my conduct yesterday.”

 

“Why, hyung?” A confused Yoong asked as Jesse continued into a solemn tone:

 

“I should be a reference for you and for the sake of our mission. I told you to refrain yourself while I couldn’t stand it. It’s just that pr!ck got into my nerves. I really hate when someone use their authority to get away from everything…”

 

“Haha are you kidding, hyung? That was awesome!”

 

Yoong opened his huge crocodile laughter making Jesse frown in confusion and asking as he halted his steps:

 

“How come?”

 

“I always see you so calm, but when I saw ready to teach that stupid a lesson, it was an incredible scene to watch!”

 

“Hmm… Thanks, I guess.”

 

“No prob, hyung.”

 

The duo grinned to each other in understanding. Once everything was solved between them, they heard a frenetic voice as soon they entered in the kitchen:

 

“Ha! There you are! Good morning for you two! We have a lot of work to do today!”

 

Chef Soo quickly has thrown an apron for both of them as they frowned in uncertainty:

 

“Good morning, boss. What is all this ruckus about?”

 

Sooyoung throws his hands in the air in exasperation and replied:

 

“I was informed recently that the king wants give a huge dinner in a few days and I am lacking the supplies! Argh… Does no one ever heard about planning these days?!”

 

“Calm down, boss. Now that you have us, we will do everything to help.”

 

Jesse assured him with a genuine smile. For some reason, the worried chef took a deep breath and admitted:

 

“Yeah. You two came on the right moment.”

 

“We will do your best, sir.”

 

“You better be or all of us would be fired haha.”

 

Sooyoung laughed as they started to prepare the palace’s breakfast. While working, the spy felt curious about the dinner and couldn’t help to ask:

“But what is this dinner about anyway, chef?”

 

“Yeah, tell us.”

 

Yoong pressed on as the chef gave him a quizzical look:

 

“What? Are you having living under a rock all this time? How come you don’t kn--- Oh, I forgot! I’m sorry. Since you guys aren’t from here, you aren’t very aware from these matchmaking dinners for the princess--! Sh!t! I shouldn’t have said that!”

 

“Matchmaking for the princess?!” Jesse and Yoong asked in shock.

 

It was when Sooyoung gulped since he realized that he talked more than he should, so he readily clamped his mouth shut. However, this was useless since the duo got more curious about the whole thing. Yoong complained like a kid and started:

“Oh come on, chef. You can’t let us in the dark like that! What is the big deal about this anyway? Isn’t like we wouldn’t tell anything? Besides, arranged marriage is seems like a rule wherever we go.”

 

Jesse elbowed Yoong to shush his mouth, but he couldn’t help to also feel curious as well. He didn’t want to meddle into the princess’s romantic life. Sooyoung saw their inquisitive looks and realized that he was in a dead alley. He looked around carefully, closed the door behind him and thinks in his mind:

 

“My wife is right. I am such a bigmouth…” 

 

“Okay, I will tell you this since isn’t a secret. But you have to promise to not spreading about this on the corridors.”

 

“Yes, sir!” The spy duo rapidly answered in anxiety.

 

The chef sighed and finally explained:

 

“It’s been a year since our king is giving these dinners into an attempt to find a good suitor to his eldest daughter, Lady Stephanie known as Princess Tiffany. He wants to retire and pass the crown for her.”

 

“Oh…” The duo replied in understanding as the chef continues:

 

“However, attempt after attempt, he wasn’t successful since Princess Tiffany lost her fiancée two years ago. The former was the guard captain. And since then, she shut her heart for every man from this kingdom or any neighbor nation.”

 

It was when Jesse looked down and felt a weight in his heart. He couldn’t help but felt sorry for her, even without knowing her properly. Sooyoung nodded his head in sorrow and he concluded:

 

“It was a tragedy to our dear princess. They looked so happy. She was so lively, kind and loveable to everyone. She still is, but I don’t see the sparkle in her eyes anymore. I don’t think that she got over it… Poor girl, I really hope she finds love again someday…”

 

“Me too…” Jesse couldn’t help, but whisper as he wished this deep inside his heart too. Even without meeting the princess in person, he couldn’t help to feel respect and admiration for all her doings and true nature.

 

The trio sighed after they prepared the huge breakfast as Yoong remarked:

 

“Poor princess. She seems really nice…”

 

“She is… And both of you will met her today.”

 

“WHAT?!”

 

Sooyoung added with a confident smirk as he brushed the clothes of the agape duo and saw if everything was accordingly:

 

“Of course! I didn’t tell you to look all neat and clean for nothing, albeit that was necessary to remove that sea odor and personal hygiene.”

 

“Chef Soo?! With all r-respect, I don’t see a reason to meet the princess. We are mere servants! Why would she possibly want to meet us?!”

 

Chef Sooyoung laughed heartily at his appalled semblance and explained with proud in his chest:

 

“Princess Tiffany got this from her dear mother, Queen Hwang. Every morning, the bell would ring and she wanted to make sure to greet every servant in the palace and get to know them more. You can see in her eyes that even with all royalty, she has a very noble and humble heart, just like her mother.”

 

“But, sir—“ 

 

Now Jesse was very nervous. He never meant to meet the princess in person at all. His plan was only to watch her from afar and make sure that no one from his country would harm her. Yoong, in other hand, was amazed with the scene. His cousin never displayed nervousness, much more with this lady in particular. Maybe this one really got on him.

 

“What, cousin?! Are you are afraid to fall for her? Hahahaha!”

 

“Yoong…” Jessed snarled, feeling pissed at his cousin’s daring quote. Sooyoung snapped their foreheads as he heard a familiar bell ringing:

 

“Ya! Don’t get ideas, you two! Now, hurry up because we have a breakfast to serve and princess to meet!”

 

---

 

It seems that after such amazing breakfast, the royal family’s mood lifted up. Once the servants cleaned the table, they aligned in a row as usual, waiting for the princess’s greetings. The king complimented their servants for the delicious food and excused himself while kissing his both daughter’s foreheads and finally left the room. 

 

Meanwhile, the familiar trio was located at the end of the line. Although, Jesse didn’t want to admit, he was really anxious as he remained with his head down all the time, not stealing a glance from the princess not even once. It was when he sighed and let an anxious whisper escape from his lips:

 

“This isn’t how I imagined...”

 

“Whoa, hyung! What are you grumbling there?”

 

“Nothing, Yoong. Keep quiet.”

 

Jesse quickly shushed at the younger one snorted and whispered in delight:

 

“Whoa, hyung! You are losing all the fun. I must admit that Princess Tiffany is really beautiful, but her sister… Wow. I think I am in love~~”

 

The younger spy sighed dreamily and smiled like an idiot once he took a good look at the youngest princess, SeoHyun.

 

Hearing the small commotion, the chef Sooyoung glared at them and muttered between one’s teeth:

 

“Will you two shut up? Do you really want to bring unwanted attention at your first da--- Wow, hello, Princesses! Good morning, Your Highness!”

 

“Good morning, Soo! I must say that I always loved your cooking, but today was superb. Keep the good work!”

 

“Yes, Chef Soo! I loved the sweet potatoes! I have to refrain myself to not repeat the meal.

 

“Oh hahaha. I am delighted to hear that, Your Highness. It’s always a pleasure to serve you.”

 

The chef and both was laughing as a group of good friend as they always were. Once the laughter ceased, Princess Tiffany stole a glance of the two young men beside the chef and couldn’t help to ask with a growing smile:

 

“Chef Soo, I am seeing new faces around here. So you finally found assistants to your taste.”

 

“What was I thinking?! Yes, they are still fresh, but I must admit that these boys are hard working and can make a decent meal.”

 

“Oh, really? For you to speak that it must be because they are really good.”

 

“Oh, don’t flatter them too much, Princess. I don’t want them slacking the work.”

 

They ended up laughing again as the chef Sooyoung cleared his throat and started:

 

“This one here is Jin Yoong.”

 

Once the latter took the cue of his name, he directed to the princess and bowed in respect with a polite smile:

 

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”

 

“The honor is mine, Yoong. It is great to have good people like you two helping our dear Chef Soo. I didn’t want him to overdoing again.”

 

“I will do my best, Your Highness.”

 

“I appreciate that. Now, tell me. What it was your doing?”

 

The kind princess asked with a curious grin in her face. It was when Yoong shrug his shoulders and remarked sheepishly:

 

“One of them was the sweet potatoes, Your Highness.”

 

“It was you?? It was absolutely delicious!”

 

Tiffany was surprised when her younger sister asked in pleasant shock at the discovery. Although her sister was very kind, she was the quiet and shy type. Once SeoHyun stared at Yoong expectantly, the latter felt his heart drumming loud as he jumped in his mind:

 

“She is talking to me! Nicely done, Yoong! Don’t freak out! Smooth, smooth.”

 

The poor boy tried to mouth some words, but nothing came out from his throat. When he heard Sooyoung’s nervous cough, he took courage and finally recovered his voice:

 

“Really? I – I am glad that you enjoyed, Princess. It is my favorite too.”

 

For a moment, the younger duo kept staring at each other like nothing around them matters. Seohyun also felt her heart and her stomach doing weird movements. Why was she affected by this young man? Something in his doe-eyes made her feel calm and warm.

 

After the “mood” between those two, Tiffany hid her grin after seeing her sister’s odd reaction. She clasped her hands once something off caught her attention. The older assistant beside Yoong didn’t participate of their conversation not even once; he remained with his head low all the time. Feeling curious about this figure, the princess inquired playfully:

 

“I see. That is good to know. But I believe that both of you have another pair of hands to help, am I correct?”

 

“Sure thing, Your Highness. My cousin here is the best cook that I know. He was one to made the sweet toast (*French toast*.”

 

“Yoong…” Jesse despaired muttered since he didn’t want any attention. However, he felt his pride boost when he heard the princess’s genuine reaction:

 

“Really?! I simply loved it! It tastes so much like the ones that mom used to cook!”

 

Now, a pleasant curious princess felt the need to meet this quiet chef’s assistant more than ever. She walked to his direction and stopped before him.  Then, seeing his shrunken form, she realized that she would be the one to “break the ice”. With a smile in her face, she started gently:

 

“I am Stephanie, but I prefer to be called Tiffany. And you are?”

 

Jesse couldn’t felt to feel involuntary shivers at her husky voice. Unconsciously, his heartbeat increased the pace slowly. After realizing that he was in silence for a while, he recovered from his thoughts, cleared his throat and started slowly, into a respectful tone while bowing:

 

“Jin Jesse, Your Highness. It’s a-an honor.”

 

“Wow… His voice, it’s beautiful and so smooth…”

 

Although the princess didn’t want to admit, his voice gave chills to her spine in a good way. It was when she tried to mask her own reaction, she spoke playfully:

 

“Why are you lowering your head like this? Isn’t like I will throw you in the dungeons? *Chuckles*”

 

The rest of the group cracked at the remark, yet Jesse remained nervous as he politely answered:

 

“I understand, Your Highness. You are very kind, but… there isn’t much to say about this servant.”

 

“I will judge that. Can I see your face now, please?”

 

The princess confidently prompted as Jesse felt on dead alley. He knows that he doesn’t have choice. So, taking a deep breath, he nodded and finally lifted his head slowly. At the moment that eye met eye, soul met soul, and both hearts quickened the pace. Only one phrase passed by his mind in amaze:

 

“She is… beautiful.”

 

Little did he know that the princess’s reaction wasn’t so better from his own. Tiffany was flabbergasted into a very positive way. His features were so well outlined. However, the main feature that most caught her attention was his eyes. Despite his serious aura, his eyes were tender and kind, like a window of his soul.

 

“He is… gorgeous.”

 

The princess finally confessed in her mind with a warm feeling spreading in her heart. Meanwhile, Sooyoung, Yoong and Seohyun watched the scene with a particular interest. For their side, they never saw this behavior coming from both sides.

 

When they felt the weight of their friend’s stare, the pair rapidly broke their dazzled eye contact while laughing in embarrassment. As always, Princess Tiffany was the first to speak up to hide the blush on her cheeks:

 

“Well, Mr. Jesse, you and your relative are great acquaintance for our kingdom. I really hope that both of you enjoy working with our great chef Soo.”

 

“The honor is mine, Your Highness. I will prove my worth. Oh and if pleases the Princess, just Jesse is good.”

 

The spy added with a respectful bow, like a true gentleman. This action didn’t pass unnoticed from the Princess. Not that she wanted to judge him, but he was very eloquent. Maybe it was his charm. Oh dear. The Princess quickly shook her head to remove these weird thoughts of her mind.

 

“I agree. So from now on, I will call you Jesse and Yoong.”

 

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

 

She nodded her head with a satisfied smile as she realized that the time flew so fast and she needs to start her royal tasks as well. With a final grin, she looked to her sister and the cook’s crew to depart:

 

“It was a pleasure to meet both of you. If you excuse me, I need to leave. In the name of Hwang Kingdom, welcome to our castle. I hope to see you too again. Good day.”

 

However, apart from the pair, Sooyoung, Yoong and Seohyun couldn’t help to hide their grin when Tiffany subtly (well not so subtly) directed her last sentence to Jesse. The latter understood and smiled in return as all of them bowed in respect to both princesses. 

 

Before they left, Tiffany couldn’t help to steal a glance from the spy. Her sister chuckled at her reaction as they walked outside the room.

 

Nonetheless, Jesse kept looking at the door where the Princess left with a longing look and sighing deeply. Sooyoung and Yoong looked at each other knowingly as the chef finally pushed them back for the kitchen:

 

“Now, shoo! We have a lot of work to do and it’s better to fill your head with other things!”

 

 

---

 

 

While the princess went to their office to start their royal duties, Princess Tiffany couldn’t help to notice her younger sister knowing smirk and staring at her even now and then. Unable to hold her curiosity, the eldest princess stopped her steps and demanded:

 

“What?”

 

“Hmm? Oh, nothing.”

 

Princess Seohyun barely held her smirk at her big sister’s frown. However, the latter pressed on in a serious tone:

 

“Seo Jo Hyun…”

 

“Nothing, sis… *pftt*”

 

“All right, something definitely is going on. What is it?!”

 

When the youngest princess saw her sister losing her calmness, she finally decided to share her piece of mind while adding with a cheeky grin:

 

“I saw that…”

 

“Huh? You saw what?” A nervous Tiffany asked.

 

“I am not a child anymore, sis. I know what I saw and I am very sure that I was not the only one.”

 

“I still do not know what are you talking ab---“

 

“Does the Soo’s chef new assistant refresh your mind? What is his name again…? Hmm, is Jesse?”

 

Now Tiffany felt her cheeks burn slowly as her eyes widened in shock with her sister remark. Unconsciously, she felt her heartbeat increasing the pace as she started to walk rapidly to her office, already stammering:

 

“I – I don’t know what you are talking about…”

 

“Ha ha! You should have seen your face, sis! I never saw you like that. I wouldn’t imagine that he would make THAT impression on you!”

 

When the princess felt herself cornered against the wall due the “accusations”, she also remembered that her sister wasn’t very different from herself with the other chef’s assistant. With a confident smirk, Tiffany pointed out smartly:

 

“Hmph, as if you were different. I saw the way you interacted with the assistant Yoong at the moment he mentioned your sweet potatoes. Your eyes practically shinned when both of you were chatting happily.”

 

“Err… I think we should start to work.”

 

“Certainly.”

 

Tiffany smirked in victory at the moment she saw her flushed sister practically dashing to her office. At least she was able to divert her attention, for now.

 

Nonetheless, she still couldn’t understand why her heartbeats didn’t slow down. When her mind brought back the image of Jesse, she couldn’t deny that he is gorgeous. But why is this big issue? Isn’t like she never met a handsome man, royalty or not before. It wasn’t just that, deep inside, he held a mysterious and yet, tender aura that she simply couldn’t look away. It was like a magnetic force pulling her to him.

 

Only time will tell what lies beyond what eyes can see. She stared at the wall, deep in her thoughts:

 

“Who are you, Jesse?”

 

---

 

Late at night, Jesse was at the kitchen’s back door, going back and forth while carrying the groceries inside. His cousin was deadly tired after reallocating all the food countless times. They wouldn’t ever imagine that a life inside the kitchen’s manor would be such a frenzy routine.

 

At the same time, even with all tiredness, Jesse’s mind couldn’t stop replaying the earlier encounter out of his head. Whenever he realized, there was he thinking of a certain princess again and with only her image, his heartbeat was like a drum inside his chest. This was until he heard a tired, yet teasing laugher filling his ears:

 

“Are you thinking in a certain princess again, hyung?”

 

“YOONG!”

 

Jesse quickly woke up from his reverie and “angrily” glared his smug cousin. This only resulted into the latter to increase the laugher:

 

“I didn’t know that the princess did such IMPACT on you! You should have seen your reaction! It was priceless!”

 

“Yoong, I am warning you. She is a princess and we need to show respect!”

 

A nervous Jesse flushed as he shushed his cousin to not drawn unrequited attention. Once the laughter ceased, Yoong wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and answered sincerely, still smirking:

 

“It’s not my intention to disrespect her, hyung. But ever since I met you, this is the first time that I saw you genuinely affected by someone and there is nothing wrong with that.”

 

After taking a deep breath, Jesse remembered the reason of their staying being here and whispered earnestly:

 

“Yoong, we should keep our thoughts hidden and control our feelings. We can’t forget that we are here in mission and our primary objective is to guarantee that sadist dictator won’t harm the princess or this nation.”

 

“I know, hyung. I didn’t forget that, but you really should think about it.”

 

The eldest spy couldn’t help, but let these words travel inside his mind. He knew he has a mission to fulfill and he should stay completely focused on that. This was until he realized his cousin dead tired semblance. Then, he tapped his back and spoke while removing a box from his hands:

 

“I finish this, Yoong. Go get some rest.”

 

“What? No, hyung! I can handle it.”

 

His dongsaeng stubbornly grabbed the box back while arguing into a tired tone:

 

“What kind of partner would I be if I couldn’t help you?”

 

“Yoong, you are doing this whole day. You look you are going to faint any moment!”

 

The eldest one raised his hand and crossed his arms into a serious pose. After a staring contest, Yoong finally sighed and confessed:

 

“Okay, okay, cousin. I am beaten. Happy now?”

 

“Very. Now, get out, take a shower before sleep. You need it.”

 

The eldest affirmed and scrunched his nose in disgust after his cousin’s smell entered in his nostrils. Yoong dropped his head in defeat and replied:

 

“Okay… Wait. Why did you say I need a bath?”

 

Jesse gives him the “look” as if he was “Are you kidding me?” His dongsaeng finally took the cue when he was aware of his own odor. He said good night and whispered to no one in particular:

 

“Hyung is right. I certainly need a bath…”

 

Jung let a chuckle escape from his lips as he shook his head and whispered: “Kids…” After he dismissed his cousin, he resumed to his tasks as he carried the boxes to the kitchen.

 

Meanwhile, a small commotion followed by an unlikely scene caught his attention. In the middle of the night, he could see a group of ten or maybe more homeless people crowding close to someone. Once he took a real look on the whole situation, he realized that what appears to be a young woman was giving free and warm food to the small crowd.

 

He raised his eyebrows in surprise at the moment. He couldn’t see her face since she was using a cloak and most part of her face was covered by a hood. However, he could listen her voice from afar and without knowing, his heart felt much calm with such gentleness.

 

Instantaneously, he could only watch the kind woman from afar and whispered to himself in awe:

 

“Maybe angels still exist in this world…”

 

He stood there flabbergasted, admiring her care with all those people from afar. Although her actions were selfless, he couldn’t help to feel anxious. A desert street certainly isn’t a place for a lady in the middle of the night, to no one actually. You never know what kind of predator it would be lurking around.

 

Nonetheless, as if someone did listen to his thoughts, he widened his eyes in concern as a group of thugs pushed the crowd away and cornered the lady, clearing showing that they did intend to do something not good. Then, Jesse suddenly heard an angry scream:

 

“TAKE YOUR DIRTY HANDS FROM ME!”

 

Jesse’s heart stopped when he saw the scene and feeling anger filling his soul, he realized that he couldn’t stay there and do nothing. He gritted his teeth furiously, already rushing to their direction:

 

“Damn cowards, you will pay for that!”

 

 

Meanwhile, before Jesse rushed to the scene.

 

 

“TAKE YOUR DIRTY HANDS FROM ME!”

 

“What do you have there, woman?”

 

“I – I don’t have anything! Just leave me alone!”

 

The lady’s voice trembled as if this only fueled their dirty thoughts when a much strong thug, maybe the leader, added with a sinister grin while grazing his finger dangerously on her neck to her covered cleavage:

 

“Who told you that we want your money? Maybe you can give us something… else?”

 

Jesse couldn’t take it anymore. He definitely would allow these filthy men touch on her! However, when he already was dashing to her rescue, he jolt in shock when he heard a noise like if something cracked followed by a piercing scream and calm voice:

 

“I told you to leave me alone”. The lady added with a smug grin in her partly covered face.

 

So, the gang’s leader felt humiliated and gave an angry cry for his men while holding his bleeding nose:

 

“That b!tch broke my nose! What are you waiting for?! Kill her!”

 

“Maybe she isn’t a lady in distress after all”.

 

Jesse’s mouth drop open in awe when he saw how the lady in hood dealt with such amateurs bandits. The way she moved and dodged, he could tell that she was truly skillful. Yet, being coward bandits, one of them quickly removed a knife from his belt ready to stab the young woman from behind.

 

Mortified with the scene, Jesse rapidly jumped in and held the blade before it could pierce on the woman’s back:

 

“NO!”

 

The latter swiftly turned around, making her hood fall from her head and expose her widened eyes in shock after seeing the situation’s gravity. Slowly, blood slid from his palm and he used his free hand to give a strong punch on the bandit’s face and a kick on the stomach from the next one. He gritted his teeth in anger and barked:

 

“COWARDS! Trying to backstab a lady?!”

 

Not holding himself in anger, he sent them to a knockout after giving them a hard punch on their faces. Once they done with the bandits, after taking deep breaths to calm down his nerves, Jesse turned around to see if the young lady was unharmed. Nevertheless, he was surprised by the nth time when he finally realized who was the person in front of him. Not being able to hold his stupefied form, he blurted in shock:

 

“PRINCESS?!”       

 

“YOU?!”

 

TBC

 

@Rpr363: Thank you, my friend. I have a lot of ideas, but I am short in time. Yes, he certainly will on the near future. You will get more jeti moments. Thank you for reading.

@casugac: I am glad that you liked. Oh, you are going to see more interactions in the future, trust me. Thanks for reading.

@nichkhunfans: Thank you. Its good to know that you are enjoying the reading.

@Thea050713: Haha anytime. I will try to update more often. Thank you for your reply.

@missyJung: I am counting on that. Thank you =)

 

A/n: Hello again, dear ones. I am sorry for not updating as usual, my time is very short for a head full of ideas. I am trying to use the best ones for you. I dont know if I mentioned before, but I wanted to clarify 2 things: One is that although everything SNSD passed trhough the years, I wanted to thank you for still sharing your time with my story even if it isnt like before. And second, this fic will be the last one that I will write. I already had this one in mind before the happenings and I really wanted to share with all of you, even if it isnt the best time. I feel discouraged to write because I know the feeling isnt the same, but I wanted to be fair with all of you and give a final gift before "retiring" of fanfics in general. I want to thank all of you so far to making an effort, I will always treasure that. God bless all and stay safe.