Chapter 3
The space that filled Jiho’s eyes was no longer a forest.
Sunlight seeped in through the high ceiling and gaps in the curtains. A long table ran down the center of the room, accompanied by sofas that looked luxurious at first glance.
Haerang took her hand and naturally guided her to sit on the sofa. Jiho found herself sitting next to Haerang without quite realizing it.
The sound of tea being poured trickled into her ears, and the floral scent mingled with the subtle aroma of tea tickled her nose.
Following the scent, Jiho turned her head. On the desk she glimpsed sat a nameplate that read “Chairperson Cheon Yuhwa.”
This was the chairperson’s office—the very place she had originally been meant to go.
The woman at the end of her gaze appeared composed, as if she had known they were coming.
The woman placed two teacups before them, then sat down on the sofa.
Her gaze turned toward Jiho. When their eyes met, the woman smiled softly.
Seonhwa High School was a school founded by a celestial maiden (seonnyeo). Therefore, the woman before her, Chairperson Cheon Yuhwa of Seonhwa High School, was a celestial maiden.
Jiho couldn’t take her eyes off Cheon Yuhwa.
All the celestial maidens she had seen until now were beautiful, but Yuhwa was the first to exude such an enchanting, bewitching aura.
This kind of beauty did not belong in the human realm—for it was the kind that stirred wicked desires in people.
“My, it seems our Jiho likes me more than she likes you, Haerang.”
The playful voice was directed at Haerang.
Haerang said nothing, merely smiling as he lifted his cup. It was a somewhat chilly smile, but Jiho did not see it.
Seeing Jiho lost in a daze, staring blankly at Yuhwa, Haerang felt a twist of irritation inside but tried not to show it.
It seemed Jiho didn’t just like his face—she seemed to have a thing for good-looking faces in general.
…Well, at least I’m younger than her.
Haerang quietly nursed his competitive feelings toward his sister and tapped Jiho on the arm. Only then did Jiho snap out of it and hurriedly greet Yuhwa.
“Ah! Hello, Chairperson. I’m Ryu Jiho of the White Tiger Clan.”
“Nice to meet you, Jiho. As you probably already know, I’m Cheon Yuhwa, the chairperson of this school.”
Jiho looked at the pale, slender hand extended to her and hesitated, wondering if someone like her even dared to take it.
But she couldn’t ignore a handshake offered first by an elder.
Jiho carefully took Yuhwa’s hand. Unlike her own calloused hand—roughened from gripping guns—Yuhwa’s was soft.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Chairperson.”
“The honor is mine.”
Yuhwa let out a giggle in response to Jiho’s words.
The atmosphere was warm and harmonious—except for Haerang.
Sensing Haerang’s darkened mood, Yuhwa decided it was time to stop teasing.
“First of all, our Jiho will be in the same class as Haerang.”
Yuhwa released Jiho’s hand as she spoke.
Jiho, who had been nodding unconsciously, quickly spoke up.
“Wait, just a moment, Chairperson. I think I can return to the Celestial Realm now.”
“Oh my, already?”
“Yes. I have found Princess Yeonhwa.”
Jiho spoke confidently.
Even though the princess had told her to try to persuade her, Jiho had no intention of expending that much energy. If she couldn’t drag the princess back by force after she had declared she wouldn’t return, then she would find another way.
Namely, the chairperson right in front of her, and the Celestial Realm.
The chairperson must know what was going on as well.
After all, the chairperson was also a servant of the Supreme God.
She would seek the chairperson’s cooperation and inform the Celestial Realm that she had found the runaway celestial maiden.
“She is right here beside me.”
“Hmph. Is that so? So our Haerang was the princess.”
Yuhwa pressed her lips together, as if about to burst out laughing.
Though Haerang had a face as beautiful as a celestial maiden’s, it was a stretch to see him as a woman.
She couldn’t help but laugh, calling this dark-featured young man a princess.
Well, in the Celestial Realm, Haerang was still Princess Yeonhwa, so it couldn’t be helped.
Jiho probably thought he had merely disguised himself as a man.
In truth, only a handful of people knew Princess Yeonhwa’s true identity. Yuhwa was one of them.
Which was only natural, as they shared the same blood.
Jiho, who surely knew the princesses’ names by heart, hadn’t realized her identity even after hearing the name—probably because of the princess’s male form.
And perhaps she was also distracted by what had just happened earlier.
I wonder how things will turn out…
Although Ryu Jiho had come, Haerang had no intention of returning to the Celestial Realm. Yuhwa knew this well.
He was this stubborn because he took after their father.
To her, he was still her youngest sibling, practically a baby.
Given what had happened in the past, as his older sister, she would feel at ease if he returned to the Celestial Realm with Ryu Jiho.
But.
“Help me, sis.”
“I don’t want to follow Father’s will.”
She couldn’t turn away a pleading child.
It overlapped with her own self from long ago.
Perhaps her own helplessness was what had made this child this way.
So in the end, she had accepted it.
Of course, she also didn’t mind the idea of defying her father a little.
“So, Your Highness the Princess, are you going to return to the Celestial Realm?”
Yuhwa asked, feigning ignorance. Haerang answered firmly.
“No. I am not going, Celestial Maiden Yuhwa.”
Frustrated by Haerang’s answer, Jiho shot Yuhwa an anxious look—a silent plea for her to help persuade him.
But unfortunately, Yuhwa could not help Jiho. If this were a stubbornness she could break, she would have broken it long ago.
I don’t want to be the shrimp caught between whales…
Though worried, Yuhwa decided to step back. She had no desire to be the shrimp caught between her father and her younger sibling.
Besides, as the school’s chairperson, she had plenty of her own work to do.
Convincing Haerang and taking him back to the Celestial Realm was entirely Ryu Jiho’s responsibility. Wasn’t that why Father had given her this mission?
“His Highness the Princess says he won’t go. There’s nothing I can do, Jiho.”
“Chairperson…”
Yuhwa turned away from Jiho’s desperate call.
Jiho felt deeply disappointed in this adult. This was why you shouldn’t get involved with people who just rely on their looks—no, that wasn’t it.
Relying on good looks was better than being insufferable. But it seemed both the princess and the chairperson were relying on their looks.
“For now, try talking things over slowly with the princess. And Jiho, you’re now a student of Seonhwa High, so it’s time for you to go do your duty as a student—namely, studying.”
Yuhwa calmly changed the subject.
This left Jiho with only one conclusion.
The chairperson had no intention of cooperating with this matter. She was stepping back.
That meant she was going to be a bystander.
…I’ll contact the Celestial Realm.
Jiho firmly resolved to tell Yerim the moment she got home that she had found the princess.
But to do that, she first had to get through today safely without arousing the princess’s suspicions.
Reminding herself of the safety of the White Tiger Clan, Jiho squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them.
“…Understood, Chairperson.”
“Good. Then, Your Highness the Princess, please help Jiho adjust to school. Shall we all head to the classroom now?”
Yuhwa smiled brightly, more refreshingly than ever. Jiho was certain she would no longer be bewitched by that face.
Creak, thud.
With the sound of the door closing, Jiho steadied her mind.
From now on, she had to deceive the princess. To do that, she had to act as if she had given up.
Jiho let out a deep sigh. It wasn’t entirely an act.
“…Then please guide the way, Your Highness the Princess.”
The Jiho who had knelt to her knees and shown the utmost respect was nowhere to be seen.
One might say her attitude was so presumptuous that Haerang would be justified in reproaching her, but Haerang himself had no such intention at all.
In fact, Haerang preferred this. This informal, unpretentious attitude. It made him feel closer to Jiho.
Haerang spoke, not hiding his excitement.
“Cheon Haerang.”
“Yes?”
“Now you should call me Cheon Haerang, not ‘Your Highness the Princess.'”
“Ah…”
The princess’s words were correct. She was now Ryu Jiho, a second-year student at Seonhwa High, and at this school, the princess was merely Cheon Haerang, her fellow classmate.
Not that it would matter after today, anyway.
So the boy before her was still the princess she must serve.
But to speak so informally so easily…
“…Fine. Haerang.”
It wasn’t difficult.
Though she had switched to informal speech as if she had been waiting for permission, Haerang didn’t seem the least bit bothered. If anything, he seemed even happier.
Jiho gave up trying to understand Cheon Haerang. She just…
Let’s just get through today.
Jiho steadied her resolve once more.
“Then shall we head to the faculty office first? We need to meet your homeroom teacher.”
“Okay.”
Following Haerang’s lead, Jiho moved her feet.
