『JenSoo Short Stories』

Lend Me Your Hand (4/4)

*Note - How Royals are addressed:

King/Queen - Your Majesty

Princess - Your Highness

Duke - Your Grace

Viscount - My Lord/Lord *last name*

__________________________________

The fourth social event was a staple every courting season: the luncheon at the park hosted by the Duchess of Busan, Lee Sunmi. It was the one event that everyone would attend whether they were still single or were already being courted. No one would miss it because this was the event where people would announce their confirmed relationship since it was the penultimate event of the social season. By announcing it now, it would then make their first official event as a couple the prestigious Royal Ball and who wouldn't want that?

So as expected, gossip was at a high during the luncheon with people guessing not only which couples will have their 'coming out,' but more excitedly, who will come out heartbroken.

One unofficial couple in particular had garnered much attention: Princess Jennie and Duke Hansol.

Trying to keep her head straight, Jennie had met with the Duke whenever possible over the course of the next few weeks leading up to the social event and it didn't take long for everyone to notice. Their gatherings were always relatively simple as they began to learn more about each other, but Jennie will admit that she has actually been enjoying the man's company every time. Or at least for the most part. Jisoo's typical presence wasn't exactly helpful in building her relationship with Duke Hansol, so she always tried to make sure that the woman wouldn't cause too much hindrance towards the progress that she and the Duke have been making.

But to make matters even harder, when it comes to any individuals that were also in the spotlight, as it turns out, Lady Nayeon's words appeared to have come true as some middle and lower ranked men and women were now talking to the Princess' bodyguard. Of course, Jisoo would do her best to politely decline each time (and Jennie is pretty sure she knows why as a particular stylist comes to mind), but persistence held.

Every time Jennie was out in public with Duke Hansol, she never failed to see someone approach Jisoo too. There were even times when she and the Duke were out for a stroll and from the corner of her eye, she would see someone come up to Jisoo and then suddenly she would find herself stealing glances at the two of them rather than keeping her entire focus on Duke himself no matter how hard she tried not to.

What's worse was that each time this would happen, Jennie felt like her stomach was tied up in knots. Jennie knows that she shouldn't be feeling that way hence the fact that she always tries to ignore the woman whenever possible, which leads them to now.

"Princess Jennie?" Jisoo asks as the two were at a park bench quite far from where all the commotion was at, with Jennie sitting and Jisoo standing behind her.

"Yes?" Jennie replies begrudgingly.

"Didn't you say that the Duke was meeting you here? The luncheon started an hour ago and he's nowhere in sight."

"Are you bringing that up to humiliate me?" Jennie turns slightly so Jisoo was in her sight.

"Why, of course not, your Highness," Jisoo responds. "I'm just pointing out just another one of his flaws."

At that, Jennie scoffs, "Can you ever go a day without finding something wrong with the gentleman? Without fail you always have a negative comment about him."