Chapter 101 - JEALOUSY ACT

After accepting the challenge that was suddenly given by Princess Lia of the Winter Region, Jieun in fast went into her resident to get ready. She takes a deep breath a couple of times and let it out harshly there. Her face clearly looks angry, not like her usual self at all.

"Who did she think she is? Why is she provocation me like that ?!" Jieun  started talking about her unsatisfied feeling there while opening her dress at that time.  Although her surrounding is cold because of the winter season, she feel like it is still summer. Sweat also began to appear all over her body.

She opened her closet there thinking what the most appropriate clothes that she can wear to get into the woods. She wants to change into clothes that are more suitable for extreme activities.

She calculated there. The forest is the forest that she once entered due to a horse incident, which Eun-Woo rescued her at the time. She never knew about the suspension bridge that Princess Lia talked about earlier, but as she looks at the maps that she requires somehow inside the palace library, she can see that the places are a bit far inside.

It's probably taking some time, even if she's moving in the now even though the present time is still early in the morning. If she succeeds, she may be able to return to the palace again in the evening. But if not, maybe by nightfall.

"Who cares about tonight's party. This is my pride we are talking about!" Jieun is determined now. Didn't want anything hindering her from proving herself to that girl.

Tonight, there will be a theater play in the palace hall at the request of King Arthur himself, so all of them needed to be there to see the acting by the popular troop paid by King Liam.  But she cares that less. Her mind already fixed to the current goal.  She will win this bet and make Princess Lia paid for it.

She also didn't actually know why she worked up so much like this. But thinking that Eun-Woo hugging tightly the other girl before, while the girl is crying making her furious. Also, he dare to praise other girl by saying, 'You're the best'? Sounded not like him, but that is what make her more annoy now.

Jieun properly prepared there. She is wearing her long sleeve blouse with pants that Granny Susan makes for her before, to not gather attention. Also put on a long thick sweater as it already snowing but still it's not that cold yet as the sun still shine brightly. She is also wearing a boot there making it easy for her to move on snow.

She then took a medium size backpack there.  Throws some necessary in her bag such as simple first aid, a change of clothes, knife, matches, also toiletries as she always prepared if something happen. Who knows if she got lost! 

But this time if she really did, she knows Princess Lia will tell others or even find her herself.  She is the reason why she is going anyway. 

Then, she left the bedroom and headed to the kitchen. She makes a tea and pour it inside a thermos to bring it together with her, a bottle of water, also, grab some fruits and quickly make some rice ball that happens to have all the ingredients in there for her lunch.

She wanted to use the magical pouch that Mia gave her, but instead she wanted to do this more normally as it was not like she was going to travel far. So, she just go as simple as that. Feeling satisfied, she got ready to get out now.

But, Ayana, who had not been there suddenly returned home, and came across Jieun at the door. She looked Jieun from top to bottom with a suspicious look.

"Why are you looking like this my lady? Are you going somewhere?" She asks to figure it out.  Jieun clearly look different, as she looks just like before she got married and become a princess.  And that is not a good sign to Ayana.

Jieun wreck of her brain now looking for a reason so that Ayana doesn't hold her there. But the most important things is she cannot get caught by Eun-Woo. She knows that the man will never let her wandering in the forest alone, in addition to the snowy weather like this.

"Princess Lia asks me something so I need to do that... in fast. If anyone search for me just say that I will get back soon." Jieun make an attempt to sneak out there but Ayana quickly grabs her hand. Stopping her action.

"Wait! You didn't say anything yet. What that something? Did Prince Eun-Woo know about this?" Ayana doesn't want Jieun to get stuck with something dangerous.  That's why she asks a lot.

"Aya, King Liam already gives me permission to do things with Princess Lia today. It just happens that way. Don't get worried okay. Now, I really need to go or I will be late for tonight's show. Bye!" In fast Jieun pushes Ayana's hand away and runs out there. Do not want to continue to be interrogated or she will blown up her own plan.

Looking at Jieun, Ayana felt uneasy there.

"Is she going to be okay?" She asked herself.

"This doesn't feel good..." Ayana then went inside while tidying up the residential area. Try to soothe her worries.

Meanwhile,

Jieun who is running as fast as she could and even succeed in avoid from coming across people that she know, now breathe a sigh of relief when she is already walking on the road leading to the forest area. Luckily, this is the first snow, so, it doesn't fall too much.

Without her realizing it, from a distance Princess Lia looked at her with a smile.

"Next is Eun-Woo." Lia said her plan.

After about one hour of walking, Jieun had been already deep into the forest and started looking at the map she was holding in her hand. Surprisingly, she is in a correct direction.

"I'll be alright..." She keep talking to herself now. The deeper she was in the forest area, the more she felt nervous and her confidence began to falter a little because that was the first time she had entered the forest so deep, as well as the first time in a long time she was alone in an unknown place. However, the sunny surroundings made her calmly continue her journey.

Hopefully no big birds attack her this time around like what happened in the woods near Hilleo Village before. She walked carefully enough this time so she not  step on things that should not be.

Remind about that make Jieun smile to herself. That is one of a memory that she can't forget in her life. Where she met Eun-Woo again after the incident that happen inside the palace. When he saves her again.

But after Princess Lia's face reappeared in her mind, she started walking while stomping her feet there. That beautiful memory kept flying, passing away just like that.

"Wait! Did he go to this suspension bridge just the two of them together?    With that Princess Lia?!"    Jieun loss of her words there. While here she is coming there alone without company.

Suddenly she feels enrage when she thinks that the two of them are walking together, side by side, both of them, in such a lonely place.

"You now didn't even want to touch me and distance yourself, but you can hug another woman first and say you're the best to her! Am I a joke to you?!" Jieun said screaming as she stepped on the snow at her feet while imagining it was Eun-Woo.

"Just wait and see me cross that bridge. If you are not saying those words to me, I swear I will hunt you down." Jieun didn't realize that she is being a bit childish now.

After calming down a bit, she resumed her journey. According to the maps she is almost there. So without taking a break as her passion is too much to bear right now she just walking non-stop.

After about 2 hours of non -stop walking, Jieun finally arrived at the suspension bridge and the situation there left her stood speechless.

"What... is this?"

The suspension bridge is made of wood and the rope, look very old, also there is an inscription on it showing that the bridge is 2 km length. It also sways here and there when the wind touches it. This time there's no fog like Princess Lia mention to her so she thinks of it as a good sign.  For now.

Jieun tries to look down at the bridge.  There is a river a bit far below that looks deep and is flowing fast. Luckily, it's not frozen river in case of something. She just thinks of the worst case scenario that can happen, played in her mind.

Krrrrohhhh ...

As she put her one leg on the bridge boldly to get started, her stomach suddenly rumbled loudly there asking for food.

In fast she pulled her foot back there and said,

"Look like I'm having my lunch first then."