JENNIE
The next morning was a blur of activity. For the first time since I met Jimin, he looked flustered. I dutifully wore the dress he had left in my closet and checked the guest room for anything I might have accidently left behind. I packed up my laptop and stuck my e-reader in my bag to carry in the car. It would be a two-hour drive—nothing too long, but not a trip around the corner.
I finished up my breakfast while looking through the local papers. Thankfully some of them were in English. Unfortunately, my picture was on the front page of most of them.
"How can they do this? They just publish whatever they want without checking facts." I held up the one I was reading. "I'm not pining away for some lover back home." I set that paper down and picked up the next one. "I'm also not suffering from an eating disorder. Look at this! This one says I refuse to eat and the queen is worried. This other paper has a picture of me stuffing a burger in my mouth and calls me an slob. Which is it? Am I anorexic or a fatty?"
"Best advice you will ever receive is to not read the papers." Jimin opened my closet.
"This is crazy! They just post whatever will sell." I growled and threw the papers in the trash can next to the desk. "What are you doing?"
"Making sure we haven't left anything." He opened the drawers of the nightstand.
"I already checked." I shook my head. "Are you okay? You seem flustered."
"I'm fine." His snappy tone made my eyebrows rise. "No. I'm not. I had a fight last night with my… friend. I apologize. I shouldn't take it out on you."
"Want to talk about it?"
"We don't have time." He sighed. "Are you ready? I believe I saw Lisa leaving her mother's sitting room."
"Sure." I pulled my coat on and grabbed my bag. "Jimin, would you be interested in making this a permanent job? Work for me? I know you've been living here, so if you have a life out here and aren't interested in moving, I get that." I wrapped my scarf around my neck. "I really would understand, but I've gotten used to your brand of nagging."
"You're so darling. How could I resist?" Jimin said.
"So, that's a yes?"
"I've already packed." He opened the door for me and we made our way to the main entrance.
"What if I hadn't asked you?"
"It's my job to be prepared for everything." He looked down at his clipboard and a terrible thought came to me.
"That's not why you fought with your friend is it?" He didn't look up from his notes. "Jimin, don't move out there for me. I mean, I want you to move out there for me, but I don't want you to leave something good behind."
"I'm happy with my decision, but thank you." He smiled at me. "Besides, I think we make a good team."
"I think so, too." I frowned as we walked a ways. "Maybe… maybe your friend could come with you. I wouldn't mind, if that's what you're worried about."
"That's incredibly kind of you, but that's not an option."
"Oh." I hated to see my peppy assistant so despondent. "Well, if that changes, the option is open."
"I appreciate that." He smiled at me but still looked sad.
"So long as I don't find you in your underwear drinking milk out of the carton in the middle of the night."
"What if I pour it in a cup first?" Jimin was starting to loosen up and I was relieved.
"That's mildly better. How about we agree on at least pajama pants or a robe with the glass of milk?"
"You do realize that there is an entire suite for me?" He looked over at me with a smile. "I believe in the States they are referred to as a 'mother-in-law suite.'"
"Still. You might run out of milk and try to swipe mine."
"Then I believe that's an acceptable deal as long as it applies to you as well."
"Hey, it's my house." I laughed. "No promises."
We waited at the entrance for Lisa and her assistant. I'd seen him a few times with Lisa, an older gentleman who was very proper. While we killed time, I studied the paintings hanging in the entranceway. There was some beautiful work and some of them even looked vaguely familiar.
"Yes, yes. Tell them that I'll be out there next week." Lisa's voice reached my ears and my heart thumped. I was starting to feel like a schoolgirl. "I have some things to take care of at Manoban and then I will go to Paris." I turned to look at her and she smiled. Her eyes ran over me like a man in the desert looking at a glass of water. My heart rate sped up and I watched as she made her way to me. She quickly hung up and stuck the phone in her suit pocket. "Are you ready to see your home?"
"Very." I didn't even have a joke. I was more than ready to see my place, to find my groove. Not to mention, as usual, the sight of Lisa had erased the majority of my vocabulary.
"Then let's go. Ned, I'll be riding with the duchess."
"Of course, Ma'am." The older man nodded his head.
Lisa and I took the second car in the line; the first car was the escort that seemed to go with us everywhere. Jimin winked at me as he took a spot in the back seat of the front vehicle.
We left with little fanfare except for the ever-present reporters and their cameras. "There are more of them today."
"You're going home." Lisa looked over at me. "They're documenting history."
"And here I was excited to get somewhere I could drink milk out of the carton while wearing my underwear."
"You drink milk out of the carton while in your underwear?" Lisa laughed.
"You've never done that? Gotten up in the middle of the night and wanted a snack?"
"Yes, but I wouldn't bother to put on my underwear." She watched my face as her words sank in.
"What do you… oh." I frowned. "Wouldn't that be cold?"
"It's not so bad when you have someone warm to get back to." Her eyes ran over me, lingering on my hose-clad legs.
"Good point." I looked back out the window as she chuckled.
All in all, the car ride wasn't that terrible. We spent the majority of the ride discussing my property with the occasional phone call or message interrupting us. I spoke to my dad and was thrilled to hear him sounding more like himself. Patricia was in the background, telling him to ask me for more pictures. I laughed and joked with them while Lisa took care of paperwork. It was a pleasant, easy car ride that only seemed odd because neither of us was driving.
As we left the city behind, I enjoyed watching the rolling hills and wooded areas flash by outside the window. Despite the time of year, there was green everywhere. It peeked out from underneath the snow-covered ground and from beneath the frosted branches of trees. We passed small villages and houses that seemed to spring up out of nowhere. There was a lot of farmland and horses. Ryujin had been right—while I had enjoyed the city, I loved it out here.
Eventually the driver turned off the main street and took us down a meandering road. Nestled amongst the trees was a clearing filled with houses and shops. People lined the roadway with signs and flowers. My heart swelled with excitement. I was finally here.
People waved as we drove by and I rolled down my window to wave back. The driver seemed to understand that he should take his time because he slowed to a snail's pace. Lisa rolled down her window too and would point out buildings or people from her side. I hadn't known what to expect—part of me had been waiting for them to all hate me for coming back, or to at least be indifferent, but I never would have expected them to be excited. As we neared what must be the village center, I was surprised to see a small stage and a band playing music. It looked like a holiday celebration.
"Do the children not have school today?" I asked as I waved at a young group.
"The local school closed for your homecoming." Lisa looked over at me in curiosity. "Didn't Jimin tell you this morning?"
"He may have mentioned it." Jimin must've been even more frazzled than I had realized if he had forgotten to tell me about all this. "Am I supposed to speak?"
"That would be a nice gesture."
"Shit." I drew the word out and she laughed quietly.
"Unprepared?"
"Guess I'll have to wing it." I looked at her with worried eyes. "How do you say thank you again?"
She said the words a couple of times while we waved and I practiced it under my breath. When we pulled around the center, Becca was out of the car ahead of us in a flash and by my door. Jimin was right behind her, but at a more respectful pace. The cars behind us unloaded Lisa's security detail. We were led to the stage where there was a small podium and several important-looking people. I shook the hand of the woman that was the equivalent of the mayor, but I couldn't pronounce her official title. Thankfully, she told me to call her Simone. There was a clergyman and several other men who made up the local council, all smiling and bowing.
Lisa received bows and thank-yous from everyone. They all seemed to be floating on a high, as if my coming home and Lisa's presence was something to celebrate. It weirded me out. Jimin handed me some paper while the woman in charge spoke to someone offstage.
"This is a speech I wrote on the way here. I forgot to tell you about all this and I feel terrible." He shook his head. "But we don't have time for that right now. Look it over while Simone speaks. It's short and sweet. I tried to channel you."
"Sounds good." I smiled at him, hoping he would understand that I wasn't angry. Everyone makes mistakes.
I glanced at the speech and tried to memorize the highlights. There was no way I would be able to say it all verbatim. If I tried I'd get tongue-tied.
The reporters who had followed us from the palace set up beside the locals, all waiting to hear what I had to say. Or rather, what Jimin had written for me to say. Lisa's voice brought my attention up from the notes and I realized she had left the chair next to me and was speaking to the crowd.
"I'm very pleased to be able to bring Jennie Kim home and I'm proud to say that she lives up to her family's reputation. She is sensible, loyal, and intelligent. I have no doubt that Duchess Kim will fit in here with all of us. I'm very glad to be able to call her neighbor—and my friend. So, without further ado, I present Jennie, the Duchess of Kim, and the real reason we're all here today." Lisa turned toward me and smiled.
Jimin cleared his throat and I realized it was my turn to talk. I stood up slowly and brushed at my skirt. The three steps to the podium were the longest three steps of my life. Never before had I worried about tripping and falling so much. Lisa held her hand out to me and I shook it in turn. When she pulled me in to kiss my cheeks, I felt my face flush and the sound of whispering and cameras clicking filled my ears.
"Relax," Lisa whispered in my ear. "Just keep it simple and be yourself."
"Thanks." She let go of my hand and took her seat while I was left to face the crowd. I had no way of judging how many people were actually standing in the village center watching me, but it felt like I was giving a State of the Union address. I squeezed the paper in my hand, the one I couldn't remember anything from, and gave the crowd a smile.
"People use the word honored in award speeches, they talk about how grateful they are and humbled. Well, I'm not sure how to catalog today, but it feels as though I've won an award and I am all of those things: honored by your reception, humbled to be a part of such a wonderful legacy, and grateful that Her Majesty sent Her Highness to find me." I paused, trying to remember what else I was supposed to say, and was surprised by the applause. I looked over the crowd, stunned. "I'm going to keep this short because I hate to keep you all out in the cold—you might turn into Popsicles." There were chuckles from the crowd. "Thank you so much for coming out here to meet me. I look forward to learning more about each and every one of you." Very carefully, I said the words for "thank you" in Lilarian and silently prayed that I got it correct.
People stood up and clapped. I should have felt proud, but I just felt silly—like they were humoring me. I stepped away from the microphone and let Simone shake my hand. She turned toward the crowd, still holding my hand and motioned to me again while the crowd cheered. Not sure what to do, I waved with my free hand and smiled. When she let go, I moved to where the others had stood. They shook my hand like they hadn't already been introduced to me and told me how happy they were that I was back. It was very surreal and I didn't really understand why they were so excited. I was starting to think I never would understand.
People stopped me just off the stage. There was a lot of handshaking and smiling. So many names and faces I would never be able to keep up with. Through it all, Lisa stayed by my side. She was a living, breathing wall of support. Every person that she spoke to felt at ease; the women swooned and the men felt important. By the time we got back in the car, I felt like I had seen a whole new side to Lisa.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she settled into her seat and raised an eyebrow at me.
"Thinking."
"About how incredibly sexy I am?" she turned to look at me with a smirk.
"How do you have room in your head for anything other than your ego?" I laughed. "And no, I was thinking that you make a really great princess."
"Why is that?"
"You put people at ease and they still respect you." I smiled. "You're a natural."
"I've had years of practice. You didn't do so bad yourself." She pulled at my coat pocket and retrieved the speech Jimin had written. "Was that really what Jimin told you to say?"
"I couldn't remember it." I winced.
"So you winged that?" Lisa whistled in appreciation as she unfolded the paper. "Wow, this wasn't bad either, but I think you nailed it." She read over the paper quickly.
"It may have been the shortest speech in history." I looked out the window as the car finally began to move.
"It was exactly what you needed to say." She folded the paper and stuck it back in my pocket. "It's exactly what the crowd wanted."
"Thanks." I met her eyes and bit my lip. Would it be wrong to take what I wanted? Would it be worth it if I let myself give in? The more time I spent with her, the harder it was to fight my attraction to her.
"You're welcome."
Surprisingly there were no cars following us except for our own detail as we drove through the winding roads. When we came to a thin driveway with a gated entrance, the first car pulled in and the driver punched a code into the small keypad. I craned my neck to try to see the house through the trees, but they were too dense.
I sat up in my seat and leaned forward as we pulled through the gate. Seeing this house in person would clinch the whole deal for me—it was where I thought I'd finally be able to understand my place in this weird direction my life had taken. The trees cleared and I was rewarded with a breathtaking sight. The house wasn't really a house. With the stone walls it looked more like a castle.
A short burst of laughter exited my mouth. I had seen pictures, but they hadn't done it justice. There was a large staircase that led up to a massive door with elegant statues and stonework on either side. There was a small garden in the center of the circular driveway, a light frosting of snow sitting on top of the sculpted bushes.
"It's something out of a fairy tale."
"Welcome home, Jennie." Lisa's warm voice drew my attention from the house. Her eyes were warm and there was a soft smile pulling at her lips.
"Thank you." I whispered the words. I meant for everything—for coming with me, for not running away every time I pushed, and for being my friend when I needed one.
She reached out and wrapped her fingers around mine before lifting my hand to her mouth and pressing a soft kiss on my knuckles. There were no words, no explanations, but they weren't needed. She had said she wouldn't kiss me until I asked, but this didn't count. It was less than the kiss I had wanted in the bookstore, but more than I could ask for right now.
She got out of the car and walked around to open my door. I stepped onto my family land for the first time while Lisa stood next to me. It felt right for her to be here. A shiver ran over my body as my eyes drank in the surroundings. A long time ago, my ancestors had lived here. Not many people could trace their family as far as the queen had done for me.
The front door opened and a man stood at the top of the stairs. He was tall with a friendly face and silver hair. I took the stairs carefully, Lisa a step behind me. The man at the door bowed and I held my hand out.
"Duchess Kim, it's a pleasure." The man shook my hand briskly. "I'm Stanley West." He motioned to the open front door. "Welcome home."