Noble Heart

3

Danbi's eyes were full of salty tears. The bells of the church were ringing from behind as her father's casket was being let down into the cold soil. Her mother was crying bitterly next to her. Pulling her mother into her embrace, the woman let her tears silently roll down her cheeks. She was only twenty-two.

It was as if it happened in slow-motion. It took awfully long until she had to witness her father being buried under brown mud and stones. The sky looked grey, heavy clouds depressing it as the graveyard was full of people with long faces. Danbi's breath hitched as she turned around last to leave the grave behind.

Later as they had come together to go out to eat after the funeral, she couldn't bare to even look at the food. Danbi felt sick to her stomach, she needed air. That was why she excused herself for a while.

Outside, she sat on a little bench under a lifeless tree. The winter was biting cold, the wind was like little knives cutting her skin. Usually, winter had been her favourite season since she was little. However, now she could only associate it with her father's passing. Sniffling silently, she watched the remaining leaves of the trees die.

Out of nowhere, a warm jacket was put on her shoulders. Without knowing whom it belonged to, she muttered,

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

As she recognised the Prince's voice, her eyes got big as she hadn't even realised that he had attended the funeral along with his parents. It was an honour that the King and the Queen attended the funeral of their closest advisor, they were only simple people after all. Now that Mr Kang was gone, the mother and daughter had realised this once more as the connections to the palace were now cut.

Danbi wanted to get up to be respectful, but the Prince encountered,

"Don't, it's fine."

Instead, he sat down next to her. The female tried to dry her tears with a handkerchief she had already held during the entire funeral. It was no use, they kept flowing. When Youngjo put his hand on her back, she broke down again.

"It's okay. Let it out, I'm here. Don't suppress it." His soothing voice assured her.

Then, the male pulled her closer. She immediately put her head on his shoulder as he was holding her face with his other hand. Prince or not, she needed anyone right now and she was glad that it was him.

They hadn't been able to meet up often only occasionally when their parents had decided to have dinner together, which was rare because their fathers used to prefer to do so in private. In addition, his duties as prince were getting more and more important, consuming more time.

They had exchanged their numbers long ago, yet she never knew whether she should text or call him, thinking that he'd be busy anyways. Suddenly, she had gotten interested in watching TV when it was about the Royals. She saw Youngjo's face all over charity programs in diverse countries she had never even dreamed of visiting. The media knew exactly where he was and when. How could he be happy like that? She couldn't.

A letter was sitting on her table when Danbi returned home from work. There was no address of the sender, on the front only her own address. Carefully opening the letter, she held the expensive paper in her hand. It was an invitation to the Christmas ball in the palace of the Royal Family. It was hand-signed by the Prince. The brown-haired girl didn't understand. Why?

"Danbi" her mother called from downstairs "did you open the letter yet?"

The called hurried downstairs at once.

"So you have."

"What's the meaning of this?"

"The Royal Family has invited us to the Christmas ball, as it says there. In honour of your dad."

Looking at the date, she realised that it was only a few days away. Danbi had never expected to go back to the castle once more after her father's passing, but she was delighted that the Royals treated them like friends, even if it was just for her father's sake.

»»---------------------►

The day of the ball had come shortly before Christmas. It had snowed all day long, so the whole residence was covered in uncountable white crystals. It made the female remember what she adored about this season so much. Danbi and her mother were wearing dresses they had specifically bought for this event. Ms Kang was wearing a deep green dress while her daughter's dark hair was complimented with a dark blue one.

Showing their invitations to the security, they entered the palace. It had been ages since the two women had visited the main palace and it was always overwhelming to come back. An uncountable number of high-class people were enjoying themselves in between hurried butlers. One of them immediately greeted the two and offered them a glass of champagne which they gladly accepted.

At the same moment, the King got up on his little balcony to greet his guests and hold a little speech for the visitors. Danbi figured that it was being broadcasted somewhere because of the cameras that were pointed at the aged man. Behind him stood his wife, the King in Consort and beside her, their son. Instead of paying attention to the speech, Danbi inspected the well-dressed Prince and couldn't hide a smirk, looking at him and thinking that he would be the king who stands on this balcony someday.

Danbi had stuck to her mom, who was happily chatting with all kinds of people around them. Danbi wasn't too keen on socialising, so she stayed quiet, she felt so little in-between those important people. At some point, she was getting bored. Later, she saw that the Royal Family had joined the main event. From afar, she spotted her friend. Patiently waiting for him to notice her, she waved once he did. The Prince made his way through to her.

"You seem like you could use some fresh air?"

The woman smiled. Finally, she had a chance to get out of there.

"Indeed, let's head outside," she bent over to her mother "we'll be outside to get some air."

The taller male linked arms with her, which surprised her. Wouldn't people stare at them? Seconds later, they had already escaped the hustle and bustle. Chatting while finding a spot to sit down together, they were making their way through thick snow. Diverse topics were addressed when they got stuck on one; their parents.

Danbi was still mourning her father's death which was why she wanted to remember all the good things her family had lived through together. Their holidays, their vacations and even the little moments. Now, that he was gone, those moments were the only things she wanted to remember about her father. Now, that he was gone, she only realised how much impact he had on her life, positively.

"You sound like you have a happy and close family..."

"We do! Aren't your parents close? Didn't they marry out of love?"

"Out of love?" Youngjo had to suppress a light chuckle "Out of love for the country perhaps. They belonged to the two most important families at that time."

The female sighed, looking into the distance. The sky was dark, black almost, covered in white glowing sprinkles and a bright moon. It was icy, yet they were enjoying sitting in the garden of the palace, away from the loud party noises of the dancing guests.

"My goal is to marry for love." The Prince stated, turning his head to Danbi whose eyes met his.

"I know you will."

"It's hard."

"I know."

"Do you?"

Did she? Perhaps not. Perhaps she didn't know what it was like for him as a Prince who was meant to rule a whole nation someday and she was somehow elated that she didn't.

After a short pause, he said, "Let's get back, shall we?"