Caught by His Highness

Lili's eyes widened with shock and recognition as she locked gazes with the Crown Prince. The man standing before her was the very one she had met in the forest scantly dressed in the garb of a commoner. But now, he was unrecognizable – adorned in a regal costume reserved only for the highest positions in the land. She couldn't help but gulp in surprise, barely managing to look away from his intense gaze.

The Crown Prince, on the other hand, was just as astounded. "Is she your daughter, Minister Roque?" he queried, still not quite convinced he was seeing the same girl from the forest.

"Yes, Your Majesty," replied Minister Roque with pride. "She studied abroad and is now a practicing Cardiothoracic Surgeon. I trust her completely, and I hope you will too," he added, his voice reverent.

The Crown Prince fell silent, his gaze never once leaving Lili. The minister and his right-hand man exchanged glances, uncertain of what was going in the Crown Prince's head. With a cold voice that caught everyone off guard, the Prince suddenly commanded, "Introduce yourself."

Lili's heart skipped a beat at the Prince's authoritative tone. She awkwardly smiled, trying to ease the tension that had overwhelmed the room. But a subtle glance from her father told her to be formal, and so she quickly bowed at the Crown Prince before introducing herself. "I am Lili Roque, the second daughter of the Roque Clan. I am a licensed Cardiothoracic Surgeon."

The Crown Prince's gaze shifted from Lili to her father. "Minister Roque, you know I don't easily trust doctors, right?" he asked, his voice laced with suspicion.

The minister nodded emphatically, his stance firm. "Yes, your highness, I understand."

"And you know that every doctor who has worked in this palace has been subsequently fired by me?" The Prince wanted to know.

"Yes, your highness," responded Minister Roque without hesitation.

"Then why did you bring your daughter into this if you know she'll end up like the rest of them?" queried the Prince, his voice now tinged with anger.

The Minister locked eyes with the Prince, his voice firm. "I know you won't do that, your highness."

The atmosphere in the room was tense as the Crown Prince and the Minister engaged in their conversation. Lili watched in silence as the two powerful men exchanged words, feeling a sense of apprehension and fear building up inside her. She couldn't help but be drawn to the Crown Prince's face, taking in every detail of his features as she tried to understand the enigmatic man.

As the Minister made his plea, Lili held her breath, knowing that her future as a doctor hung in the balance. The Crown Prince's expression was unreadable as he mulled over the Minister's words. Lili could sense the tension in the air and wondered if she had any chance at all of convincing him to let her stay.

Suddenly, the Crown Prince's lips curled into a small smile, his eyes glittering with amusement. Lili felt a surge of hope inside her chest as she waited for his response. When he finally spoke, the room fell silent as all eyes focused on the Crown Prince.

"All right," he said, his voice low and even. Lili let out a sigh of relief, feeling a wave of gratitude towards the Crown Prince for giving her a chance to prove herself.

But her relief was short-lived because the Crown Prince wasn't finished yet. He turned his piercing gaze towards Lili, causing her to lower her gaze in nervousness.

"Can you prove to me that you're a good doctor, Minister's daughter?" he asked, his tone cutting and skeptical.

Lili bit her lip, her heart racing in her chest. She knew that this was her chance to prove herself, but she also knew that failing meant she would be out of her job. Summoning all her courage, she lifted her eyes to meet the Crown Prince's gaze and nodded.

"I can, Your Highness," she replied, her voice trembling slightly.

Her father looked at her, giving her a reassuring smile. "When will my daughter start?" he asked, eager for Lili to begin her work as soon as possible.

The Crown Prince's lips twitched, indicating amusement. "Right now," he said, his eyes glinting with challenge.

Lili felt a surge of panic at the thought of starting work immediately. She was unprepared, and more importantly, tomorrow was her father's birthday. She wanted to be with her family to celebrate, but she knew she couldn't argue with the Crown Prince. She watched as her father bid goodbye and left the room, leaving her alone with the formidable Crown Prince.

As Lili stood there, feeling lost and unsure of what to do next, the Crown Prince lifted two fingers and pointed them at his eyes before pointing at her, a clear indication that he would be watching her every move.

When she turned to the Crown Prince, she was surprised at how he lifted his two fingers, pointed both of his eyes and then pointed at her. It’s an indication that he’ll be watching her.

Lili felt a shiver run down her spine at the realization that the Crown Prince was not just testing her skills as a doctor, but also had a personal grudge against her. She wondered if he was getting back at her for the incident in the forest.

Before she could say anything else, the Crown Prince instructed his escort, “Take the Minister Roque’s daughter to her room.”

Lili followed Master Ken, observing her surroundings as they moved through the palace. The place was quiet and elegant, with a large number of servants bustling about their tasks. As they entered a spacious room, Lili couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at its beauty and grandeur.

As Lili followed the Prince Escort, she secretly observed the quiet and elegant palace. It’s large and there are a lot of servants. She wanted to look around more when Master Ken entered a room with one bed, mirror, table, moving chair, sofa and four cabinets. It also has its own comfort room.

“This will be your room, Lady Lili.”

“It’s pretty large, so I like it.” Then, she went near to the cabinets. “But what’s with these cabinets?”

Master Ken gestured towards the cabinets, explaining that the first one was for Lili's clothes, while the rest were for medical equipment and medicines. But Lili suddenly realized that she had not brought any clothing with her.

“I didn’t bring any clothes with me. So, I have to go home,” she said, turning towards the Crown Prince’s escort. “Can I go home first?”

Master Ken looked at her, his expression unreadable. “I'm sorry, Lady Lili, but His Highness instructed me to make sure that you stay in the palace until your work is done.”

Lili felt a sense of disappointment wash over her. She knew that she couldn't argue with the Crown Prince's orders, but she also knew that she was missing out on her father's birthday celebration.

As Master Ken left the room, Lili couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment wash over her. She wondered if she would ever be able to get out of the palace and celebrate her father's special day.

To her surprise, when she opened the cabinet, she found that Minister Roque had already brought her belongings and organized them meticulously. Lili couldn't help but feel touched by the gesture, realizing that her father had already thought of everything.

As Lili examined her clothes, she found that most of them were white. She shrugged her shoulders, figuring that it didn't matter since she was here to work as a doctor and not to make a fashion statement.

Just as she was about to settle in for the night, Master Ken returned, imparting to her all the dos and don'ts of the Palace, as well as telling her all the corners and pathways so that she wouldn't get lost. Lili listened carefully as she tried to memorize everything, determined to make sure that she didn't get into any trouble while she was there.

When Master Ken left, Lili put away her belongings and tidied up her room. She sat down on the bed and stared at the ceiling, her mind wandering as she tried to come up with a plan to escape. She knew that she needed to stay focused on her work, but she also wanted to make sure that she could celebrate her father's birthday.

“What if I invite all the guards outside, will they go to Father’s birthday?” she mused to herself, a faint smile forming on her lips. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Lili rose from her bed and headed out of her room, eager to explore the Palace.

As she walked, she greeted the servants she met, hopeful for a friendly response. But instead, she was met with startled and curious looks, leaving her to shrug her shoulders, realizing that these people didn't know who she was yet.

When she walked towards the grand garden, Lili marveled at the sight of the royal guards who stood perfectly still even in the blazing sun. She wondered if they ever took breaks from their duties and tried to imagine standing in their shoes for hours on end.

Slowly strolling through the beautifully manicured garden, Lili enjoyed the playful antics of the butterflies that flitted about her. She smiled at the sight of a boat floating serenely in the river and wished that she could dance amidst the colorful butterflies.

Suddenly, she heard gunshots and was startled out of her reverie. Following the noise, she stumbled upon a group of male guards practicing their gun skills, with female servants cheering them on. But what caught her attention was the sight of Master Ken in the middle, effortlessly evading the bullets as he commanded the men.

Amazed by his skill, Lili listened as the female servants gushed over him, calling him handsome and cool. She couldn't help but laugh softly, thinking about her sister Mara, who would have reacted in much the same way if she were there with them.

Lili explored the grounds, her eyes fell upon the Crown Prince who sat in the distance, staring directly at her. Uncomfortable with the attention, she quickly looked away and began to retreat in the opposite direction.

"How did he see me from the crowd of men?" Lili wondered to herself while letting out a soft sigh, "I shouldn't have come here."

But as she turned around, the Crown Prince was nowhere to be found. Searching the area, Lili noticed a figure approaching from behind and turned to face it, bowing her head when she realized it was the Crown Prince.

"Your Highness," she greeted him respectfully.

"You're wearing white," he stated plainly.

Confused, Lili looked at herself and replied, "Yes?"

Without another word, he walked away, causing Lili to follow closely behind. But he soon stopped, turning to look at Lili with curiosity.

"Why are you following me?" he questioned.

Lili realized that she had no real answer but replied anyway, "Because I'm your personal doctor. Shouldn't I be following you?"

The Crown Prince rolled his eyes before walking off and leaving Lili baffled.

Back in her room, Lili ruminated on her role at the Palace and how little she had to do. Although she was the Crown Prince's personal doctor, his other servants took care of almost everything else.

"What is the Crown Prince's illness?" Lili wondered to herself. "Is it serious?"

The next day, Lili awoke early and prepared herself to escape the Palace grounds to celebrate her father's birthday. Knowing that the guards and servants would be around, Lili searched for a concealed spot to slip out unnoticed.

As she gazed at the surrounding palace walls, Lili felt a sense of unease. "What if they're already looking for me?" she fretted. "But why would they look for me? I don't have anything to do."

As Lili scanned the area for a means of escape, her eyes settled on a tall ladder leaning against the palace wall. With no one in sight, she quickly made her way up and perched herself on top of the wall, peering out to the tranquil forest beyond. The crisp air tickled her face, and a sense of freedom swept over her.

"Father," she whispered to herself, "please wait for me. I promise, I'll come and wish you a happy birthday in person."

Suddenly, a voice shattered her peaceful moment. Lili jumped at the sound, turning to find the Crown Prince standing before her with his arms crossed.

"How did he find me? I'm dead," Lili thought to herself.

"What are you doing there?" the Crown Prince asked.

Lili's body stiffened. "I-I saw a spider, Your Highness," she stuttered.

"A spider?" he repeated, clearly confused.

"Yes!" Lili replied, trying her best to sound convincing. "I was chasing it, and that's how I ended up here."

The Crown Prince smirked, seeing right through her lie. "Why did you chase an innocent spider?"

Lili's mind raced, trying to come up with a better excuse. "I was scared that the spider would come and scare you, so I was planning to kill it."

"But I'm not scared of spiders," he retorted, his voice low and serious.

Lili fell silent.

"What are you still doing up there?" he questioned again.

"I was admiring the view of the forest," Lili replied, forcing a smile. "It's such a beautiful sight."

The Crown Prince smirked. "Really? Then may I join you and admire the scenery as well?"

Lili was taken aback. "No, Your Highness. It's too dangerous."

The Crown Prince rolled his eyes. "Listen to yourself. Go back inside."

Lili let out a defeated sigh. "Yes, Your Highness."

As they made their way back inside the Palace, Lili's eyes kept glancing over at the Crown Prince. She couldn't help but feel a sense of nervousness standing next to him.

"Do you have something to say to me?" he questioned, catching her off guard.

Lili's heart skipped a beat, "Yes?"

The Crown Prince looked at her expectantly, "You obviously keep on staring at me earlier. So, do you have something to say?"

Lili paused and thought for a moment, "I just wanted to ask if there was anything I could do to be of assistance to you, Your Highness."

The Crown Prince rolled his eyes, "Seriously? What do you think a doctor does?"

Lili thought about it for a moment, "Treat their patient?"

"Exactly," he replied with a smirk. "So, treat me."

"Sure," she replied, ready to start their check-up.

"Not now," he added. "I have a meeting outside of the Palace."

Lili's curiosity was piqued, "What kind of meeting is it? Shouldn't it be held in the Palace's Meeting Hall?"

"It's not a political meeting, but a birthday celebration that I want to attend," he explained.

Lili stopped walking, "Whose birthday is it?"

The Crown Prince paused and looked at her, "Minister Roque's. You invited me, remember?"

A smile lit up Lili's face, "That's right! Let's go now!" But before she could take another step, he stopped her.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"To my father's birthday celebration, right?" she replied.

The Crown Prince shook his head, "No. You're assigned to stay here in the Palace, so why are you coming with me?"

"But I was the one who invited you!" Lili protested.

"And I accepted your invitation. It's not my fault that the inviter couldn't come," he retorted.

Lili couldn't believe what she was hearing. "This is crazy..."

"Did you say something to me, the Crown Prince?" he asked.

Lili quickly composed herself and forced a smile, "Of course not, Your Highness."

"Good," he replied with a smirk. "And don't forget to address me with proper honorifics. I am the Crown Prince, after all."

Lili let out a sigh, "Yes, Your Highness."

"Anyway, you're wearing white again, huh?" he commented, changing the subject.

Lili wondered and looked at herself once more. "Are you referring to my attire, Your Highness? Most of my clothes are white," she questioned.

The Crown Prince's forehead furrowed as he asked, "What's with white?"

"My mother said that I looked neat and beautiful in white, so I always wear white clothes and dresses," she responded.

"Neat and beautiful... seriously? Your mother said that?" The Crown Prince scoffed.

Lili nodded, "Yes, why do you ask?"

"Does she have a blurred vision? White doesn't even suit you. You look like a monkey wearing a white dress," he snickered.

Lili gasped, appalled at his words. She realized who she was talking to and quickly composed herself, "I mean, why would you say something like that, Your Highness?"

"I only said what I observed," he responded brusquely, leaving Lili with no chance to say anything further.

Lili punched the wind in annoyance. "All my life, this is the first time I've been called a monkey," she fumed. She touched her face and muttered, "How could he call me a monkey with this kind of face?" She then placed her palm over her chest and winced in pain. "Why does it hurt so much?" she asked herself in frustration, before heading back to her room to think.

As she lay on her bed, Lili couldn't stop thinking about the Crown Prince's words. She searched for any evidence that proved she looked like a monkey but found none. Her mind raced with conflicting thoughts.

"I used to be called beautiful. Now someone called me a monkey?"

"How could he judge me without any basis?"

"He's not even handsome! He looks like an orangutan!"

"Aren't they the same species?"

"He's so annoying!"

"Why didn't he take me with him?"

"I shouldn't have invited him."

"Why does he even care about my clothes?!"

Just then, there was a knock on her door. Lili got up from her bed and opened it, revealing a middle-aged woman and three lady servants.

"Good morning, Lady Lili," they greeted in unison.

"Good morning to you too. What brings you here?" Lili asked, wiping away her tears.

Without seeking permission, the women barged into Lili's room carrying a variety of colorful garments.

“Lady Lili, here are your clothes," they announced, presenting the array of colors to her.

Lili gazed at them with confusion, "My clothes?"

“The Prince ordered us to change the color of your clothes, Lady Lili. Don’t worry, these are all lovely," assured the middle-aged woman.

Lili questioned their actions, “Does he have to do this?”

“Yes, Lady,” the woman replied nervously.

Lili was about to protest, "I mean, why does he want to change my clothes? And anyway, I’m not wearing pure white. They're also mixed with other colors in the design."

“I don’t know exactly, Lady Lili. I’m just following his highness’ orders," the servant responded.

With no choice left, Lili sighed, “Okay, just put them there. I’ll arrange them in the closet later.”

“No, Lady Lili. It’s our task,” the woman insisted.

The servants began removing all of Lili’s white clothes and replacing them with the colorful garments they had brought.

“What are you doing? Why are you removing my clothes?” Lili questioned, taken aback by their actions.

“It’s his highness’ order, Lady Lili," they replied.

Lili sighed once again, whispering to herself, “Why is he meddling with my clothes?”

One of the women, who seemed to be the leader, approached Lili and handed her a yellow dress, “His highness also ordered you to wear this dress right now, Lady Lili.”

“Why now? I’m not in the mood,” Lili complained before returning to her bed to lie down.

“Because the Prince is waiting for you at the Alriver," the middle-aged woman informed her.

Lili immediately got up, a curious expression on her face, “Why is he waiting for me?”

The servant simply smiled and walked out of the room, leaving Lili to get ready.

Lili timidly changed into the yellow dress and found herself feeling different than she usually did. She wasn't accustomed to wearing such a bright color.

Before leaving her room, Lili looked at herself in the mirror, admiring the dress on her. After preparing herself, she headed to the Alriver, the place full of dancing butterflies she had visited the day before.

As she reached the location, she saw a man dressed in all black, a sword by his side, watching the river full of colorful butterflies. He looked dashing, and Lili couldn't help but stare.

She struggled to speak, watching him instead of the river. The man turned around, and their eyes met.

“Y-Your Highness…” Lili stuttered.

He then surprisingly smiled and said, “Beautiful…”