Chapter 14 - THEIR FIRST MEETING

"Wow!"

Jieun's eyes become bigger when she and Ayana now walk approaching the castle. She did not even imagine that the castle that they talking about before was too big beyond her thinking. Ayana smiled happily looking at Jieun who was still stunned by what she saw.

The castle also seems to mix various elements from all over the world, but the one that they walked in at that time is English castle just like what Jieun saw in children's book when she was young.

Jieun eyes start to blinking so much because of the palace lights at that moment. The lights is too dazzling but she still amazed by it. On the side of the road there are various types of colourful flowers and Jieun can even smell its soothing scent. Also, around the palace there is a very beautiful lake that seem to reflect the beauty of the palace.

"It's pretty right my lady? Usually I tell you how pretty this castle is but this time you are able to see it by yourself. "

"It's so big." Jieun cannot find the perfect word to describe her feelings now.

The small laugh came from Ayana when she saw Jieun like that. She knows that the girl definitely feel so happy to be out here right now.

"It's really big my lady. So walk closer to me so you won't get lost again. " Ayana reminds her.

"Are this made of crystal?" Jieun asking Ayana when she saw the castle wall that look like glass, but when she touches it, its feel somehow different.

"I think it is. That's not surprising anyway considering that our king is the wealthiest kings out of all the other lands in this world. " Ayana explains.

"This is like an upgrade of Elsa's castle." Jieun suddenly blurted out her favourite Disney movie.

"Elsa? Who is she? " Ayana curious, ask when she never heard of that name from Jieun before.

"Oh, just a story from a book that I read a long time ago. I think you read that book too before." Jieun quick finding other things to say because she doesn't want Ayana to ask her further. "Where should we go now?"

"We can only be in this main castle, which also called south castle. Don't wander to other places because all the route is connected to other part of north, east, west castle that is use by the royal family only. If you happen to be there the castle guard will caught you and only God knows what will happen if you went to jail in there. " Ayana warned.

Jieun is nodding to her new friend understanding the simple rules.

"Make sure you remember that my lady. I don't want to be killed by your granny if something happens to you." Ayana still warns her as she knows Jieun curiosity trait sometime lead to dangerous things.

"I know that. Don't worry. I will just stay beside you as I also doesn't know anyone else here." Jieun says confidently because it is the truth anyway.

Ayana let out a sigh of relief after she was convinced by Jieun's words. They had then reached the palace where the performance would begin in any seconds now. A lot of crowd already flooded around the stage with their light stick and small banner to encourage the performer. Just like idol concert in real world, Jieun thinking silently.

"It's looking like a stage built at the center of the castle." Said Jieun.

"Yeah. The music instrument is already there. I wonder who will perform first. " Ayana said with her voice clearly sound excited.

"Don't they perform together?" Jieun, who just want to understand her new friend interest start to ask questions that actually she didn't even curious.

"Of course they do. But usually they perform separately at first because of their different taste of music. After that, they will perform together as a group. " Ayana explains with a heart in her eyes.

At the time, a soft guitar melody enveloped the entire place. A small grasp from Ayana is heard by Jieun but she cannot see her expression as the atmosphere is already dark because all the lights are heading to the performance stage at that time.

Suddenly the crowd making the high noise, screaming here and there making Jieun startled.

"It's the last prince!"

"Prince Haru!"

"We love you sixth prince!"

There are chanting here and there making Jieun cannot really hear the song well. She tries to see the said prince on the stage, but suddenly her body feels pushed and pulled as well as being squeezed.

She felt congested due to the thing. She feel like her feet walking reverse backward for a long time until her body suddenly hit the wall. She found that she was no longer in the place where she had stood with Ayana. The stage was also out of sight at that time. All that she could see is just the heads of people there.

"Aya? Ayana!? "

Jieun tries to find her companion, but with that many people and the performance already started with loud music, she knows that it's hard to find the girl in this state.

Jieun started to feel uncomfortable right then with so many people so she decided to go back to the castle front door and wait for Ayana there. If the girl found her gone that is. Given that Ayana is too engross with the prince, it probably takes a while for her to realize the disappearing.

In the slightest light of the lamp Jieun try her best to find a way out. As far as she remembers when she entered earlier, she only went through two doors, but she did not remember whether she needs to walk straight or had to turn. Because when she entered earlier, she was too stunned by the beauty of the castle and did not even try to remember the way.

"Fuh, now I somewhat feel like Hansel and Gretel story." Jieun started chatting to herself to cover her worries that began to arise when reminded of Ayana's order about the castle guard earlier.

"What that I'm afraid about? This is a dream anyway. I'll be fine right? Of course I will. " Her voice a bit crack in nervous.

After a long whirlwind Jieun finally realizes that she is lost. The area where she was at that time was completely empty. She began to panic for fear of entering the forbidden palace area.

"I'm totally lost now. How can Ayana find me like this? " Jieun started to get frustrated. With the dress and high heels that definitely not suitable for long walk make her more angry with herself.

Dup... Dup... Dup...

Jieun heart at that time started to get faster. Her eyes also started to get blur while her legs just keep walking as if possessed by something.

Arriving at one of the doors there her feet suddenly stopped. Jieun blinking her eyes whose vision has returned and look at the area.

"Why am I suddenly here?" Jieun actually didn't realize that she was walking there by herself. She then look at the lock room right in front of her. She wasn't sure why the room seemed to be calling her. She tried to open the door, but was certainly unsuccessful. She then peered into the keyhole to see what was in the room.

Her eyes can catch something red as if a small crystal is in the middle of the room. Suddenly the stone emitted a very bright light that made Jieun narrow her eyes from peeping.

"Lee Jieun…"

Jieun totally surprised then when there is a male voice as if coming out of the light and saying her name. Now she started to feel a little scared. Jieun gather her courage then tried to peek back. The red light is still shining.

"Is the stone talking to me?" Jieun say in confuse.

"Run now!"

"Hah!" Jieun out a little gasp by the sudden warning and then she heard a footstep from a far getting close to her. She took off her high heels and held them with her left hand before starting running from there. But she really doesn't know where she should go now?

"Who is that?!" She could hear a loud hoarse voice said that to her. Without looking back Jieun just ran fast from the area. Her right hand, then spontaneously gripped her necklace.

"Help me." Ask her wholeheartedly to her lucky charm.

Suddenly the chain came out of her grip and seemed to float around her neck while pointing the direction in which she should go. Although shocked by the matter, Jieun had no time to think about it because her priority at that time was only one, which was to escape from being chased by the castle guards. So she just followed the direction indicated by the chain at that time.

After several times she entered door after door finally the chain stopped floating and fell back to her chest. Jieun was sure she's safe now. She gasped for air at the time and leaned against the wall to regain her strength. She put on her high heels again while ignoring the pain in her feet.

After the fatigue gradually disappears Jieun hold the necklace again. Carefully examine the star-shaped chain.

"Thank you." She speaks softly.

"Let's see. Where am I now?" Jieun started looking around where she is. The room looks a bit friendlier than before that for sure. Not a single eerie feeling she can feel now so that make her calm a little bit.

"Why is this castle so big? I wonder if Ayana has already realized I'm lost and is looking for me now." Jieun started talking to herself as her hands busily knocked and touched the walls of the room while trying to find a door to get out. Due to the dark atmosphere there without lights, making the search difficult.

"How am I supposed to get out of here?" Suddenly the area was brightly lit a sign of someone turning on the lights. Jieun start to panic for fear in case she is finally caught by the castle guard.

"Who are you?"

Suddenly she heard a voice that makes her spontaneously stare at the man behind her back. She seemed stunned. The man's deep voice making her enchanted by it. Also, this is the first time in her life she saw a man with a handsome figure like that. An onyx black eyes, fit body along with dark brown hair with a perfect bangs on the forehead compliment the good look. He is attractive, even to someone that never paid attention to opposite gender like Jieun.

"Huh?" After being stunned for a while, only that she can answer.

"Why are you in my closet?" The man is talking again.

Jieun, who finally realizing her position missed out her foot, causing her to fall down. She can see by split second that the man in front of her also surprised by what just happen. Being shy and all makes her only looked down on the floor. Her long hair also covered part of her face when the ribbon that used to tie her hair came loose.

"What should I do?" Jieun started to feel nervous. "Who in the world owns such a big closet anyway? This is bigger than my room for God sake. " She started her unreasonable ranting now.

"Are you trying to steal something here?" The man sound cold now.

Listening to the accusation Jieun raise her face, daring herself to cross her eyes with the man that she did not know.

"It's not like that. I just… " Jieun deny it.

"If not. How come you are here when this is a private room? " The man still questioning.

"I…" Jieun actually doesn't know how she should explain. Its seems like whatever she talks will be meaningless at this point.

At that time...

Knock... Knock... Knock...

The knocking sound from outside the room make Jieun start to feel scared again. She then knelt in front of the man as she brought both her palms closer together as she saw the man with full of hope. Asking for help in silence. Her eyes are now glassy as she holding back her tears.. She no longer knew what she should do then.