Perfect Crown in Royal Academy of Korea - Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen: An Impossible Thing

"So that is exactly a family meeting, what else."
 
When Wan countered irritably, Court Lady Choi was at a loss for what to do.
 
"Are they not calling it a Royal Hospital inspection."
 
"That is an excuse, and the hospital's board chairman is Yoon Irang's father."
 
"The Royal Hospital is a hospital operated under the sponsorship of the Royal Foundation. The Royal Family must show continuous interest...."
 
"Therefore—"
 
Wan, who cut off the middle of her words, knitted his brows.
 
"Why are they taking me to such an important place."
 
The more important a place was, the more his father excluded him. When that kind of father went out of his way to call him, there was a reason. Whether he had something to nag about, or whether he needed a familial atmosphere.
 
But recently he hadn't done anything to be nagged about. No, he did do something, but he didn't get caught. Furthermore, there was a good shield called the university entrance exam season. No matter if he was the King, Royal Father likewise was a student's parent, so he didn't seem to have a mind to disturb his son's entrance exam season.
 
In the midst of that, a Royal Hospital inspection of all things.
 
It couldn't be helped that a blatant antipathy arose. It wasn't that he disliked Yoon Irang, and it wasn't that he disliked Yoon Irang's father, but he disliked this kind of prearranged play. Because even if it weren't that kind of place, every single day of Wan's day was a play.
 
But seeing him call him with a completely unheard-of excuse like a Royal Hospital inspection or whatever, he didn't seem to have that kind of intention at all.
 
"Hah.."
 
Wan, who let out a sigh, looked at Court Lady Choi, who appeared anxious. If he held out saying he wouldn't go, Court Lady Choi alone would suffer a hardship, so there was no method.
 
"I'll go, so loosen your expression."
 
"Is that true, Your Highness?"
 
"An excuse that I am busy with entrance exam preparation won't work anyway, will it."
 
"Presumably so."
 
"Then I must go. Is there any help for it."
 
Only then did Court Lady Choi begin to choose clothes with a relaxed mind. In the dress room of the Grand Prince, who was barely nineteen, there were many sharp-angled suits.
 
Wan, who arrived at the Royal Hospital wearing the suit Court Lady Choi chose for him, bowed his waist deeply to his Royal Father who arrived first. The King, who looked at his son with displeased eyes, only threw a single word saying "You are late," and only the Crown Prince, who stood at his side, expressed welcome even if only with a gesture of his eyes.
 
"Grand Prince, Your Highness, thank you for making a precious step."
 
To such a Wan, a man with a benevolent face paid his respects. He was the hospital's board chairman, who would become the Crown Prince's father-in-law in the future. Wan stared blankly without hiding his curiosity. Because it was a face he saw every time there was an event hosted by the Royal Family, it wasn't awkward. Above all, the shape of his eyes resembled Irang's.
 
"I have heard many words from Royal Father."
 
Wan, who gave an answer into which not even 1\text{g} of sincerity was entered, looked at his father and shrugged his shoulders. Five pages of a reflection letter would be added as a crime for acting lawlessly, but it didn't matter.
 
The hospital inspection, which he thought would only be tedious, had a meaning in its own way. From encouraging the young patients and their families at the children's ward to dropping by the research building and promising sponsorship, there was no unnecessary moment. Because the photographs taken in that process numbered in the dozens, the people's interest would also increase.
 
Thanks to that, Wan was able to shake off even if only a little the feeling that he was putting on a show for the people.
 
But the expression of his older brother, who was walking a step ahead of himself, was somehow pallid. His face, which was already white, being turned even whiter didn't appear good at all.
 
"Brother."
 
Wan, who called Hwan softly, examined his brother's complexion.
 
"Are you alright?"
 
"......"
 
Instead of an answer, Hwan closed his bloodshot eyes long and opened them. In the first place, he was an older brother who didn't like crowded places. For an older brother who didn't like being photographed, not to mention loud things, it was obvious that this kind of schedule would be agonizing.
 
"Royal Father."
 
In the end, Wan called his father.
 
"It would be good to rest for a moment."
 
"......"
 
The light in his father's eyes as he stared intently was cool, but Wan added without paying mind.
 
"Has it not already passed more than three hours."
 
"Leean."
 
Wan, who lightly ignored his father's calling, turned his gaze to the board chairman.
 
"Is there a space where he can rest quietly."
 
"...Of course, Grand Prince, Your Highness."
 
Following behind the board chairman who guided them to the chairman's office, Wan thought. That the reflection letters he must write today would likely become ten pages, not five pages. But his brother's expression as he whispered "Thank you" was no different from a rabbit that had barely survived.
 
Therefore, it couldn't be helped. If his brother were to collapse right in the middle of the hospital, and if an article were to break out because of that, that would be a bigger problem.
 
The rest in the chairman's office was not long. Around the time the awkward tea time did not even pass 30 minutes, it was because Irang arrived. Irang, who appeared clad in a neat one-piece dress, paid her respects with a flawless bearing, and the expression of Royal Father looking at that appearance was truly the same as looking at a daughter.
 
When Hwan and Irang became a married couple in the future, it was obvious that today's episode would also be talked about as a single romantic episode. The kind that started with 'They nurtured love while volunteering at the Royal Hospital.'
 
Above all, today's story would spread from mouth to mouth by word of mouth. Because they would have plenty and to spare to chatter about whom the Crown Prince met, how well the Crown Prince and the board chairman's daughter suited each other, and how satisfied the expression of His Majesty the King looking at that appearance was.
 
It must have been Royal Father's plan, as he worried about the Royal Family's marriage appearing too political.
 
"Go in safely, Your Majesty the King."
 
Therefore, he must be receiving greetings in front of the hospital where everyone looked, right.
 
Wan, who shook his head to shake off his sick-and-tired feeling, headed to his car standing at the very back. He wished to return to his private residence quickly and rest. But—
 
"Leean."
 
His father called and stopped him. When Wan turned around after suppressing with effort his mind that wanted to pretend not to hear, a command like a bolt from the blue fell.
 
"Follow behind. Because I have words to say at the palace."
 
"I am tired today, though...."
 
"Do not make me say it twice."
 
"...Yes, Royal Father."
 
At the atmosphere where he felt like he would die if he resisted further, Wan lowered his tail. His brother, who stood between Royal Father and himself, checked his facial color and boarded his car. Because he hadn't even expected his brother's help, he wasn't disappointed either. What could a human who thought he would die if he resisted Royal Father do.
 
At any rate, he really couldn't tell who was the older brother.
 
Tsk, Wan, who clicked his tongue, boarded the car. Wan, who said to the driver, "I will go to the palace," leaned his head against the headrest. A suffocating feeling rose up to the end of his throat, making him want to shout or something. But he knew that that single movement would create another ripple and bind him.
 
Even if he fought tooth and nail....
 
At that moment, a vivid red memory flashed through his mind. It was the memory of a certain girl who made an impossible thing possible even by fighting tooth and nail. The voice that snapped at him without being intimidated even in front of him occurred to him. The loftiness that never became humble even while having become the winner in the end was also vivid.
 
"...Sung Heejoo."
 
Wan, who murmured the name softly, began to snicker and laugh. As he came to think about what it would be like if his brother's partner were that junior instead of Yoon Irang, he couldn't hold back his laughter. No matter if he was Royal Father, it would have been difficult to handle if he brought in that kind of daughter-in-law.
 
But that kind of thought also crossed his mind. Even if that junior grew old and became an adult, could she be as hot as now? Would she not end up picking her words and her opponent like Yoon Irang, who boasted a perfect bearing as if measured with a ruler. If it became like that, would she not live accepting impossible things and giving up moderately.
 
Like himself right now.
 
When his thoughts extended to that point, Wan became a bit gloomy. He was ridiculous for worrying about the future of a junior he didn't even know well, but he couldn't stop that strange worry either. He wished that junior wouldn't change, and if he could help with that, he wanted to help too.
 
But that likewise was an impossible work. It was his father who commanded him to keep a distance even with Yoon Irang, who would become family. He didn't wish to give another hurdle to that junior, who already lived a life with many obstacles.
 
Therefore, he should just cheer her on from afar.
 
After making a vow, it felt like his heart grew light... but a gloomy thought crossed his mind again before long. It was because he recalled the fact that he would graduate soon. Since the junior was barely in the 9th grade, it meant the days they would encounter each other didn't have much remaining either.
 
"Being uselessly young...."
 
Wan, who murmured, rested his chin on his hand irritably.
 
"Does she not do early graduation?"
 
It was Wan saying any random word out of his regretful mind.