Chapter 18: First Act

The others looked at Jinwoon's skeptical face. "What? It's romantic and Sung Hoon is known for being a very romantic person." Ki Ha was the first to speak up. "Who said that?" Young gave Ki Ha a weird look. "Sung Hoon is a loner?!" Jinwoon coughed to hide his laugh.

Ki Ha frowned at Jinwoon and Young. Sung Hoon was red in the face and stopped Ki Ha from saying anything that would embarrass him further. "Jinwoon, if you know anything better, just tell us." Jinwoon thought about it."

"Can't we change it to a few weeks? Except for going to Beom Seok, have you left the palace in that so-called year?" Jinwoon asked Sung Hoon? The other shook his head. "Then isn't weird." Ki Ha didn't find it weird. "We can say Sung Hoon brought you over straight away."

Jinwoon looked at him with a blank stare. "Would you believe that?" Ki Ha scratched his head. "Then you come up with something better?" Jinwoon thought about it for a few seconds. "We don't have to make something up. Let's just tell the truth."

Ki Ha frowned. "What do you mean?" Jinwoon laughed. "The elder told him about his destined one. When Ki Ha went to Beom Seok he found a woman that looked like the description and told Sung Hoon. Sung Hoon went over to see if it was true and it was." Jinwoon gave them a triumphant look.

"Simple..." Sung Hoon smiled at Jinwoon. "I like it." Ki Ha didn't look happy but since Sung Hoon had agreed and Young was also nodding, he couldn't disagree. "Let's go with them." He mumbled before standing up. "I'm going to ask where the selection is going to be held."

"I'm going with you. I want to know what the queen is planning." Young grabbed his stuff and left the house with Ki Ha. "Don't worry about him." Sung Hoon told Jinwoon. Jinwoon shrugged. He wasn't worried about Ki Ha's feelings. He was sure that Ki Ha would forget about it soon.

"Are you going to tell them that I'm... Inter-sex?" Sung Hoon shook his head. "That doesn't concern them." Jinwoon finally remembered something. "Is there a mirror? I feel like I look awful." Sung Hoon laughed. "If this is awful, then I don't want to know how you look when you look at your best."

Sung Hoon stood up and walked away. After a few minutes he came with a small handheld mirror. He gave it to Jinwoon. Jinwoon could finally look at himself. He nearly dropped the mirror when he saw himself.

He saw a person that looked nothing like the old him. The person in the mirror was a stranger. The person in the mirror had black-bluish hair, more blue than black. His eyes were almond monolid with a flat nose. To top it off, he had small red heart shaped lips. But what was most striking were his one green and one amber colored eyes.

'What did Tae Jinwoon do!!' Jinwoon didn't know what he felt about his looks but since he already looked like this, there was nothing he could do about it. He now understood why everybody thought that he was a girl.

Jinwoon could feel his face turn red. "Are you alright?" Jinwoon snapped out of dazed. He gaped at Sung Hoon. "Y... Yes." He put down the mirror. 'I might fall in love with myself, if I look any longer.' He scoffed at his own thoughts.

"What should I wear? I really don't want to wear a dress." Sung Hoon laughed. "That's not a problem. I'll ask Ki Ha to get you some nice clothes when he comes back." Jinwoon shook his head. "I already have cloths." But Sung Hoon shook his head.

"You can wear them when you're inside but when you go outside you need to dress more elaborate. You'll understand when we go to the selection." Jinwoon found it a waste, however if he was going to be the mate of the king, he should also look the part.

Two hours later Ki Ha returned without Young. Jinwoon was shocked to see his haggard face. "I really hate going to the queen's residence. It's so far away and the servants are a disrespectful bunch." Sung Hoon lifted a brow. "Not at the throne room?" Ki Ha tiredly shook his head.

"No, she changed at the last moment. The ministers, Young and I were already in the throne room waiting. After 30 minutes one of her servants came to inform us that the queen wanted us at her residence."

"She is losing points with the ministers." Ki Ha nodded in agreement. "The ministers were complaining all the way." "What happened next?" Ki Ha sat down with a moan. "I need to wet my throat first. She asked me so many questions."

Jinwoon stood up but Sung Hoon indicated for him to sit down. Sung Hoon went to the kitchen. He came back with a bottle of juice and some glasses. He noticed that the other two were not talking. "Are you still angry?" Ki Ha gave him a confused look.

"About...?" Jinwoon and Sung Hoon laughed. "Nothing, forget it. Here." He handed Ki Ha a cup. "Yes. I'm so thirsty." Ki Ha chugged the drink before asking for a refill. After his second cup, he could at last tell them what had happened.

"Hold your pants. It was crazy." Ki Ha stood at the edge of his seat with bright eyes. "When we arrived the queen didn't give anybody a seat. We all had to stand in the receiving room. This made many ministers furious."

"She told us that she had chosen 8 girls and women for the princess selection. She didn't give us any names. Even the ministers didn't know who they were. I heard later that none of the minister's daughters, nieces or granddaughters were choses." Sung Hoon was also surprised.

"Isn't it normal to ask the ministers to submit their candidates?" Ki Ha nodded. "That's why the ministers were confused. Each one of their candidates were refused." Sung Hoon stroked his chin. "What is she up to?" Ki Ha shrugged.

"Nobody knows but Young then told the queen and the ministers that the selection was a waste of time because Jinwoon, he didn't mention your name, was already selected. The queen was pissed. She started to shoot me all kind of questions."

"I told her what we talked about and kept quiet for the most part. She wasn't happy with that. I was lucky to have Young with me because he answered most of the questions. Sung Hoon, this action has helped you in a good way. The ministers didn't even complain or reject your choice."

Sung Hoon was happy to hear. "The queen is not helping her case. How does she want to proceed?" Ki Ha sighed. " Tomorrow at one o'clock, she wanted the ministers and us to return to her residence for the selection."

"But the ministers objected. They said that her receiving room was too small for such an important event. They decided that it will be held in the throne room as always. The queen had nobody to back her up, so she had no choice but to agree."

"I swear we could hear a vein pop." Ki Ha burst out laughing. Sung Hoon didn't really find it funny. " Could you do one more thing?" Ki Ha's laugh died down. "What now?" Sung Hoon ignored the complaints. "Jinwoon needs clothes for tomorrow. Could you buy some? Don't go over the top."

Ki Ha looked offended. "What do you mean with 'over the top'! I have great taste." Sung Hoon ignored his protest. "No dresses. It should be sexless." Ki Ha stood up, turning to Jinwoon. "Don't worry. I'll get you some great outfits." "Thank you." Ki Ha smiled back before leaving the room.

After Ki Ha left the room became quiet. Sung Hoon was deep in thought. "Is there something wrong?" Sung Hoon looked up. "I don't know. It's just strange that she has picked 8 girls, who might or might not be part of the upper-class."

Jinwoon remembered Young's words. "Is there a way to find out who the girls are?" Sung Hoon stroked his chin again. "No, even if the queen wouldn't say who they were, their families would have broadcast their selection and we would have reached our ears."

"So what should we do?" Sung Hoon grinned. "We'll present you as my queen." Jinwoon turned slightly red. "Young had already told the queen and the ministers. We just." They turned when they heard a loud knock on the door.

"Jinwoon, could you go to the kitchen? Help the servants with the preparation." Jinwoon knew what Sung Hoon was suggesting. He quickly stood up and walked into the kitchen. He had no idea what was going on.

After a few minutes one of the servants was asked to bring in refreshments. "Who is it?" Jinwoon couldn't hide his curiosity. The servant pulled a ugly face. "It's the queen. She is staying for dinner. We have to change everything." He heard the other servants sigh.

"She was asking about the prince's candidate."