Chapter 1
“Hana, wake up! Wake up! Appa is calling you downstairs for breakfast, and he wants to speak with you too,” her elder sister says, snatching the blanket off her. Hana groans in annoyance, snuggles deeper under the pillow, gripping the blanket tightly covering her, and looks at her with sleepy eyes. In an irritated voice, she mutters, “What’s wrong, Unnie? Go away. I want to sleep-I haven’t slept all night because of my stomach pain.”
Ha-rin looks at her with an exhausted expression, placing her hand on her waist. “Yeah, Hana, tell that to Appa. I don’t know why he’s so angry this early in the morning. We’re low on staff, and a lot of things are pending. That’s why Appa and Eomma want you to take charge of recruiting commoners .”
Hana stares at her for a moment, back and forth, then throws off the blanket, sits up, ties her hair into a neat bun, grabs her glasses from the side table, putting them on, gets out of the bed, makes her way towards her, and says while whining, “Unnie, I don’t want to work. I am so tired today. Please, can you take charge for me? Please, pretty please".Ha-rin sighs, staring at her with a smile, squeezing her cheeks, and says, “Aww, my mochi, I am sorry, but Appa specially said you will take charge of it, as I have to help Eomma to make the guest list for the New Year’s ceremony.”
Hana sighs, rubbing her temple, then glances at her, pouting, then says in a tiny voice, “Okay, unnie, I will get fresh. I will come downstairs in 30 minutes.“Ha-rin smiles softly at her, caressing her cheeks, and kisses her forehead. Hana’s eyes soften, heat rushes through her cheeks, making Ha-rin chuckle at her and say, “Aww, my mochi is blushing".Hana’s blush deepens, hiding on her shoulder, feeling shy. Ha-rin laughs, rubbing her back, and then she says, “I will go call your personal maid to get you ready, hmm?" Hana pulls back from her embrace, staring at her back and forth, then nods. Ha-rin smiles softly, then leaves the room, leaving Hana alone in her room.
A few minutes later, Jung Yuri, her personal maid dressed in traditional attire, enters the room with a smile, bowing her head respectfully and saying, “Your Highness...“Hana turns around to face her, smiling cutely, walking towards her, and says, “Good morning, Yuri. How are you?”
Yuri looks up to her with a smile and says, “Good morning to you, too, Your Highness. I am okay."Hana smiles softly at her, then nods and says, “Glad to hear that.” Hana stops, staring at her back and forth. “Yuri unnie, can you please make me ready quickly? I have only 20 minutes left. Please keep the dress simple but elegant. Appa is waiting for me downstairs. If I’m late, he will scold me,” she says, pleading, being scared of facing her father’s wrath.
Yuri nods, making Hana’s eyes sparkle in happiness "Thank you, unnie,” she says cheerfully. Yuri smiles at her excitement and then says, “Your Highness, I will find something soft and elegant for you. Until then, you can go take a shower, hmm.” Hana nods went bathroom to take a shower.
Yuri walks toward her walk-in closet, going through the rack of clothes before selecting a soft blush pink hanbok with delicate floral embroidery, along with matching jewellery and shoes. The bathroom door opens, and Yuri glances over as Hana comes out wearing a bathrobe, drying her hair with a towel. She smiles at Yuri, walks over to her dressing table, places the towel on the stool, and begins her skincare routine, starting with toner, essence, serum, eye cream, and finally, sunscreen.
After she finishes her skincare, she turns to Yuri and says, “Yuri, I’m done doing my skincare.“Yuri nods, then takes the hanbok from the bed, beckoning her to come near, helping her slip into the hanbok, and smoothing out her dress to prevent any wrinkles. Hana stares at herself through the mirror, grinning widely.
She swirls around, the fabric brushing her ankles, giggling, then glances at Yuri and says in a tiny voice, “It’s so pretty. Pinky pinky!"Yuri shakes her head, chuckling at her cuteness, and says, “Your Highness, this colour suits you so well. Indeed, you are so beautiful."Hana stares at her back and forth, then looks at herself. A shy smile forms on her face as she shifts her attention to Yuri. “Unnie, I’m still not pretty. I have to put on makeup and jewellery as well... and my hair,” she says, beaming with excitement.
Yuri shakes her head, chuckling, "You are right, your highness, we need to do your makeup, jewelery and hair, then you will look like a living princess, which you already are, a little princess of this kingdom.“She says while helping her wear her jewelery. Hana stares at her and says, while wearing her earings "Thank you, unnie”
“No problem, Your Highness,” Yuri says after fastening her necklace, stepping back and admiring her. Then she adds, “Your Highness, we have to do your makeup, then your hair.” Hana nods, caressing her necklace. Yuri opens the drawer, takes out all the makeup that is necessary, and lays it on top of the vanity. She selects a primer, applies it to her face along with loose powder, then applies light pink eyeshadow, mascara, and finishes it off with pink blush and lipstick.
After finishing her makeup, keeping it simple yet elegant, Yuri smiles at her, then takes the comb from the dresser, combs her mid-length wavy black hair, and picks a pink hairpin from the vanity drawer. It is designed with two sheer pink petals surrounded by teardrop crystals, attached with a wire that connects them to the flower, giving a simple look that matches her clothes.
Yuri smiles, making her stand, glancing at her vanity stand, selecting Champagne Toast, Hana’s favourite perfume of all time. She sprays a little on Hana’s neck and wrists. The fragrance of the sweet and fruity perfume spreads in the room.
Hana sniffs the air, smiles, making the room fresh and alive with its scents, and then glances at Yuri and says, “Unnie, I love the smell so much that I will never get tired of this perfume.” Yuri smiles, smoothing her dress. “I know, Your Highness, you have loved this perfume since the Queen first introduced it to you, Your Highness, when you were in your early teen years. Since then, you got addicted to it.”
Hana sighs softly, sniffing her wrist, inhaling the scents again, letting out a soft “Humm,” she murmurs, letting out a happy sigh. Just then, she hears her Appa calling her from downstairs, making her stumble on her steps, her eyes widening in fear as she glances at the clock hanging on the wall, as it’s more than 30 minutes past breakfast, and says in a shocked voice, “Oh shoot, I am late, Appa will surely scold me, gheez.” She moves her attention towards Yuri, who is looking at her with a concerned look, making Hana bite her lips in nervousness. She quickly gives her the bottle of perfume, then runs downstairs, making Yuri shake her head, chuckling, keeping the perfume on the vanity stand, then follows Hana downstairs.
“Appa i am coming .” She says in her hurried voice, coming down the stairs while holding her dress, as Yuri follows her behind. As she reachs last step glances at Kim Min-Su, who was staring at her with a stern look, with his arm crossed against his chest, making her laugh nervously, fidgeting her fingers, looking down to avoid his stare.
Kim Min-su notices it sigh, pulling his arm away from his chest, walking towards her, making Hana look up to him, being scared of moving back. He stops in his place and says in his stern voice, “Don’t move, I am not going to eat you humm.” Hana stops moving, glancing at him, then she says in her tiny voice,” Appa, I am sorry I was getting ready.”
Kim Min-su’s eyes soften as he opens his arms and says, “Come here, my little light,” while glancing at her. She giggles and runs into his embrace. Min-su grins widely, hugging her back, caressing her hair, and softly kissing her temple. Then he adds, “What am I gonna do with you, huh, my little light? I can never stay mad at you.”
Hana giggles, pulls back from his embrace, and looks at him with affection, saying, “Because I am cute-that’s why no one can stay mad at me for long.” Min-su chuckles, looking at her fondly, then says, “Oh really, my little light?” Hana nods and replies, “Yes, really, Appa.” Kim Min-su nods, laughing, and says, “Oh, my little light, using your cute card. I see very well,” giving her a thumbs up, which makes Hana burst into laughter. Min-su's heart swells seeing her happy, full of life.
Hana’s stomach growls in hunger, making her embarrassed. She glances at Min-su, who chuckles at her and says, “Come, I’ll tell the maids to make you a light breakfast. How about having oatmeal?“Hana shakes her head and says whiningly, “Appa, I don’t want to eat oatmeal. I don’t like it, Appa... umm...“She makes a thinking pout, then adds, “I want to eat spicy noodles.“Min-su raises his eyebrows and says sternly, “No, my little light. Your stomach hurts. You have to avoid eating spicy, greasy, or acidic food for the next few days.“Hana pouts, then pleads, “Appa, please.“Min-su shakes his head at her stubbornness and replies firmly, “Hana, I said no means no.“Hana sighs in defeat.“Okay, Appa.“Min-su smiles.“Good girl. Come on, my little light, let’s go feed your tummy before you pass out, without discussing your duties for today.“Hana nods reluctantly, and they make their way to the grand dining room.
As they arrive, Kim Min-su takes the head chair and calls out for one of the maids. She hurries to him, bowing respectfully but not quite meeting his eyes, clearly nervous.“Yes, Your Majesty. How may I serve you?“Kim Min-su nods curtly, looking her up and down.“Bora, can you make oatmeal porridge for Princess Kim Hana? Keep it light and simple, alright?”
“Sure, Your Majesty,” Bora replies with a nod. She bows again and heads to the kitchen. Min-su watches her leave, then turns his attention to Hana, who is smiling at him.“Hana, you already know what I’m going to tell you from Ha-rin.“Hana nods, smiling.“Yes, Appa. I already know. She told me that you want me to take responsibility for recruiting staff since we’re short on people.”
Kim Min-su nods, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest.“You’re right, my little light. I trust that you’ll handle this in your way, despite your childishness, hmm?“Hana giggles softly, then pouts.“Yeah, Appa, don’t make fun of me. I know I’m childish, but I always give one hundred per cent to my work. Never underestimate me, Appa.“Kim Min-su laughs, seeing her show off her biceps, though she’s willowy.“Yeah, yeah. Appa’s little light-I can see that very clearly. Those aren’t muscles. It’s only bone without meat.”
Hana pouts, making Min-su laugh as he ruffles her hair, which only deepens her pout. Then she says in a whining tone, “Yeah, Appa, it’s not funny.”
Kim Min-su chuckles, smiling at her with affection, and replies, “Okay, my little light, I won’t tease you anymore.”
Just then, Bora comes toward the dining table with a bowl of oatmeal porridge. Hana glances at her with a soft smile and says, “Thank you.”
Bora nods with a smile and says, “You’re welcome, Your Highness.”
Hana stares at her for a moment, raising her eyebrows slightly as she notices that something is off. She sets her spoon aside and asks, looking at her innocently,
“Is something wrong, Ajumma?”
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Mi Amore
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Love from Aisha
