Commotion on a Bright Morning

The living room of the tiny apartment was far too small for two humans with egos the size of continents.

Sera stood there, her bag still slung over her shoulder, eyes puffy, hair slightly disheveled, and a face that bore the clear marks of having survived the worst night of her life.

Before her, Prince Isac stood upright, impeccably dressed, cold, and… far too majestic for a worn-out apartment with a faded blue sofa and a cracked plastic table in the corner.

Mika lingered near the kitchen, hugging a pillow like a life raft. The royal guards had already been “escorted” out by Prince Isac himself. He needed to speak to Sera—intensely, without any distractions.

Silence.

A dangerous, suffocating silence.

“You ran away from me.”

The first words from Isac hit like a death sentence.

Sera let out a long, deliberate breath. She knew exactly what awaited her when she had to face this problematic prince once again.

“I ran away from people who tried to drag me off while my mother was in critical condition,” she replied flatly. “If that counts as running, then fine. I won’t dispute it. After all, royal orders are absolute… and often utterly indifferent to the commoners they govern.”

Isac’s eyes narrowed. What kind of sarcasm was that?

“You defied a royal command.”

“The kingdom isn’t present in the emergency room, Your Highness.”

Mika instinctively covered her mouth. Wow. Her best friend was talking to a prince like she would scold a parking attendant. If it were her, she would have wet herself by now.

Prince Isac took a single step closer.

“I summoned you for an important matter.”

Sera raised an eyebrow.
“The necklace?”

Isac paused for a fraction of a second.

“… You know?”

“I am not an idiot,” Sera replied sharply. “I knew that jacket was important the moment you panicked half to death in the motel.”

“And you still took it home.”

“I did not steal it!”

“I never said you stole it.”

“Your face said otherwise.”

Isac snorted quietly.
“You took the jacket without permission.”

“YOU vomited on my clothes without permission,” Sera shot back sharply. “So we’re even.”

“You—”

“What? You want to deny it? There’s CCTV in both the bar and the motel! I am more than confident they’d happily show the footage of you vomiting and ruining my shirt!”

“… ”

“Besides,” Sera continued without giving him room to breathe, “I asked for your permission in writing! If you didn’t have time to read it, that is clearly not my fault.”

“You dare blame me?”

“Dare if you are at fault, Your Highness. I will apologize if you are not. But this time, I will act according to the facts.”

Mika’s jaw practically dropped. Was this a world-class debate? Once again, Sera was bravely holding her ground against Prince Isac.

Isac then looked around the room, clearly uncomfortable in such a small, humble space. The contrast to the luxury that always surrounded him was stark.

“That necklace is extremely precious to me.”

His voice lowered, heavier, colder.

Sera paused for a brief moment, sensing the shift in tone. It was impossible for him to keep mentioning the necklace while drunk if it wasn’t important, after all.

“… I know.”

She set down her bag and walked into the bedroom. Everyone tensed reflexively—bodyguards peeking from outside the door and Mika lurking near the kitchen, curious yet cautious.

A few moments later, Sera returned, carrying Isac’s jacket. She held it out to him.

“The necklace is still in the inner pocket. I haven’t touched it.”

Isac immediately snatched the jacket, opened the pocket—and for a moment, his eyes softened.

The necklace was there. Intact. Safe.

Silence fell again.

But only briefly.

“Then,” Prince Isac lifted his gaze once more, cold as ever, “you will come with me to the palace.”

Sera froze.

“… What else? Why do I have to go to the palace? I’ve already returned what you were looking for. Our business should be over, right?”

“This scandal needs to be resolved.”

“What scandal?” Sera laughed incredulously. “The scandal of you being drunk and carried by a bar server?”

Mika: OH NO… HE JUST SAID THAT. Wait, the girl from the news yesterday morning is Sera? My best friend? What the f—!

“The media has caught wind of the story,” Prince Isac replied calmly. “And you are at the center of it.”

“I didn’t drink an entire bottle of vodka, Your Highness. You caused the problem, not me! I am just a bar server—don’t drag me into this.”

Prince Isac stiffened. This girl was proving extremely difficult to cooperate with.

“Do not test my patience.”

“Your patience actually exists?” Sera retorted sharply.

The air heated instantly. “H-Huh?” Isac was momentarily speechless.

“YOU entered my apartment without permission!”
“YOU ran from my guards!”
“YOUR GUARDS WERE LIKE TRYING TO KIDNAP ME! Like a terrifying mafia!”
“THAT IS SECURITY PROCEDURE!”
“THAT IS TERRORISM!”

Mika finally shouted, “CAN YOU TWO TURN DOWN YOUR VOLUME?! THIS IS AN APARTMENT, NOT A PALACE!”

Both froze simultaneously.

They turned to look at her. Mika immediately shrank back, regretting speaking out without thinking. Why did she even say anything? These two were like cats and dogs fighting, ridiculously loud.

“… S-Sorry… Please continue your debate… he he he,” Mika mumbled, awkwardly smiling to save face.

Prince Isac exhaled sharply.

“I don’t have time for this. Cooperate, don’t be stubborn.”

“And I have no energy left. You should also cooperate with me and not be stubborn!” Sera replied, her voice growing weary. “My mother nearly died last night. I haven’t slept. I just found out I lost my job. I was fired for dealing with you… And now—a prince stands in my apartment, demanding explanations as if I am a criminal… Your Highness, can you show mercy to this poor servant?”

Prince Isac studied her for a long moment.

For the first time—not in anger.

But in assessment.

“You were fired?” he asked tersely.

“Side effect of your tantrum at the bar. They didn’t want to risk keeping me on,” Sera replied coldly.

Mika nodded quickly. “Yes, Your Highness. The boss panicked immediately.” Mika had been in touch with Sera since she confirmed her mother’s condition was stable.

Prince Isac fell silent.

For a few seconds.

Then—

“I will take responsibility.”

Sera let out a bitter laugh.

“Oh, of course. You have to do something for your reputation, right? Are you going to pay me hush money?”

“No.”

“Employment?”

“Worse.”

Sera narrowed her eyes.

“What?”

Prince Isac stared at her directly.

“You will become part of the solution to this scandal.”

The room fell silent instantly.

“… Explain. I don’t understand,” Sera whispered.

“You will stay under royal supervision. For the time being.”

Mika nearly dropped her pillow. Why was she the one panicking when Sera was the one ordered to stay at the palace?

“STAY?!”

Sera looked at Prince Isac as if he had just declared he wanted to crash the moon.

“YOU ARE CRAZY.”

“This is the only way.”

“No. Your way always causes the most trouble!”

Prince Isac stepped closer, his voice low and sharp.

“The world does not care about your reasons, Sera. The world only cares about the story.”

Sera looked up, meeting his gaze without fear.

“Then, Your Highness,” she said coolly, “welcome to the loudest story you have ever created.”

Isac fell silent.

Then—a thin smile appeared.

Dangerous.

Intriguing.

“You are far more troublesome than I expected.”

Sera returned a cynical smile.

“So are you.”

Mika hid her face behind the pillow.
“I have a bad feeling… this is going to be long…”

“The final order: come with me willingly, or I will drag you!”

“I refuse both options!”

“Choose one. This is a royal order from a prince of your country!”

“You are a tyrant, Your Highness!”

Their fierce debate continued—until Sera suddenly staggered a few steps.

“Ouch… my stomach—” she whimpered weakly.

Suddenly, a sharp, stabbing pain ripped through her abdomen. She clutched her stomach, her face turning pale, nearly collapsing to the floor.

Mika panicked, but Prince Isac reacted instantly.
Without a second thought, he grabbed Sera, holding her body with one hand supporting her back and the other under her knees—carrying her like a prop in a royal drama.

Sera looked at him, half-panicked, half-disgusted.

“Your Highness! Let me go! I can walk myself—” she said, her voice weakening from the pain.

“I won’t take any risks,” Isac replied coldly, glancing sharply at Mika. “You follow quietly, don’t speak much.”

Mika could only nod, still clutching her pillow like a life raft, and followed them out of the apartment, trailed by royal guards.

Sera was mortified beyond belief, but the pain in her stomach far outweighed her embarrassment. Ugh… she felt like she was about to faint.

“Your Highness…”

“We’re going to the hospital now!”

And their scandal escalated even further when it turned out that many journalists had already emerged from their hiding spots.