Chapter 13

"Cursed?" Lily’s eyes widened. "Why are you cursed?"

Jin sat with his head low, his voice quiet. "Because I am a crown prince."

Lily blinked. "You’re a... what?"

"A crown prince. The future king."

"Then why are you cursed, Jin? Did you… do something?"

He smiled bitterly. "The biggest mistake of my life… I lost my crown."

"Lost your crown? Was there… an actual crown?"

"Yes." Jin’s eyes darkened. "As a crown prince, I was born with it. But the crown… it’s only visible to the people of my kingdom. They believed that if they killed the crown prince, they’d take the throne for themselves. But they were wrong… because the throne is tied to my fate. No one else can claim it."

He paused, his voice growing colder. "When they couldn’t kill me, they tried to manipulate me instead — to make me their puppet. But my mother’s death… kept me in my senses."

Lily’s heart twisted at the pain in his voice. "They killed your mother?!"

He nodded slowly. "Because of that cursed crown. They tortured my people just to break me. I was so angry… so reckless… that I tried to destroy the crown myself." Jin’s jaw clenched. "But I didn’t know that by losing the crown… I’d lose my powers too."

Lily sat there, stunned. The weight of his story settled heavily between them. "Is there… is there a way to get your crown back?"

Jin’s eyes lifted to hers, desperate. "A way…?"

But before he could answer, a sudden sharp pain hit him, and he groaned, clutching his shoulder.

"Jin!" Lily rushed toward him, panic rising. "Does it hurt that bad?!"

"I’m fine." He gritted his teeth, trying to suppress a whimper.

Lily’s anxiety only grew. "Why isn’t Yoona home yet? I’m starting to get really worried about her!"

"Don’t stress." Jin tried to soothe her. "She’ll come home. She always does."

"I just… I hope she’s okay."

Jin watched her, a small smile forming. "You seem to like her, princess."

"Of course I do! She’s so kind."

He chuckled softly. "Is she, though?"

Lily frowned. "Why are you saying it like that? She is kind and sweet!"

"Hmm. If you say so… You know, she doesn’t really have any friends. Except me."

Lily’s surprise showed on her face. "Really?"

"Yes. Her father is the royal physician. When my mother fell ill — very ill — he came to the palace every day to treat her. Her disease was… strange. Unpredictable. And Yoona was just a little girl back then… she’d always tag along with her father." Jin’s voice softened at the memory. "We both didn’t have any friends, so we became close pretty quickly. She’s like a little sister to me. My one and only true friend."

"Hmm. That’s not what she told me. She said you don’t even consider her a girl!" Lily teased.

Jin laughed. "Obviously. She only looks like a girl — until you see her bossing people around like a queen."

"Oh, please." Lily rolled her eyes. "I don’t believe that. She’s so sweet. I feel so comfortable with her."

Jin tilted his head, his eyes glinting mischievously. "So… I make you uncomfortable, then? But I haven’t done anything… yet."

Lily’s face heated up. "Stop!"

"Stop what?" he teased, that playful smirk growing.

"Yoona’s still not home, and you’re sitting here flirting!"

"Princess, relax." Jin grinned. "I know her well. She’ll come home."

And right on cue, the front door creaked open.

"See?" Jin’s eyes twinkled. "And here she is.”

“Lily?” Yoona’s voice called out as she rushed inside, her face full of concern. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to leave you alone for so long.”

“Yoona! What took you so long? I was worried!” Lily’s eyes softened with relief.

Yoona sighed, brushing back a stray lock of hair. “There was a patient… he was unconscious for hours. I couldn’t leave until he came to his senses.”

Her gaze fell on Jin, noticing the bandages and the faint traces of blood on his shoulder. “What happened to you?” she asked, her voice sharp with worry.

“Nothing much,” Jin said, brushing it off like it was nothing.

“I can see that!” Yoona shot back.

Lily crossed her arms. “He got attacked on his way here.”

Yoona’s eyes widened. “Attacked? By who?!”

“Who else?” Jin’s voice was calm, but there was an edge to it — like he was used to this.

“But why now?” Yoona’s voice lowered, her eyes flickering toward Lily. “She’s with you, isn’t she?”

“That’s exactly why,” Jin replied grimly. “We have to be careful.”

“Why me?” Lily’s voice cut through their conversation, confused and frustrated. “What does this have to do with me?”

Yoona opened her mouth as if to say something — but Jin’s warning look stopped her.

“Because they might use you,” Jin said, his tone gentler now, “to get to me.”

Yoona’s face tightened with concern. “You came here alone, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t want to lead any trouble here,” Jin said quietly. “Right now, we’re the only ones who know about Lily.”

“Know what about me?!” Lily’s patience was wearing thin. The way they kept talking around her was making her head spin.

Jin turned to her, his eyes softening. “It’s just because you’re with us. That’s all,” he said, though his words didn’t quite ease the knot of worry building inside her.

Yoona sighed, stepping closer. “You’re not going back to the palace in this state, are you?”

“I have to, Yoona,” Jin said firmly.

“But you’re hurt!” Lily protested, her heart twisting at the thought of him leaving.

“I’m fine, Lily.” His voice softened, his smile meant to reassure her. “I’ll come back in the morning, okay?”

“You better,” Yoona warned, tying off the bandage with a little more force than necessary. “And you’d better not show up with any more injuries!”

“Understood,” Jin teased, flashing her a grin.

Yoona rolled her eyes. “I’m going to freshen up. Don’t you dare sneak off while I’m gone,” she muttered, disappearing into her room.

As the door closed behind her, Jin turned to Lily. The warmth in his eyes made her heart flutter. “Lily,” he said softly, “we need to be more careful from now on.”

“But Jin—”

“I’m okay, princess. I was just teasing you earlier.” His familiar, teasing smile returned — but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“You—!”

“Ahh, lovebirds!” Yoona’s voice sang from the doorway, making Lily’s face flame.

---

Two hours had passed since Jin left for the palace. The house was silent, the only sound the soft rhythm of Yoona’s breathing from her room.

But Lily couldn’t sleep.

Worry twisted inside her, keeping her wide awake. She didn’t understand why she felt so uneasy — like something was about to go terribly wrong.

The longer she lay there, the heavier her eyelids became. Slowly, sleep pulled her under. But the fear… the fear followed her into her dreams.