A World Waiting to devour him
1434 Words
Seungho sat stiffly on Minji’s bed, struggling to keep up as Hana fired off information like an army general preparing him for war.
“Your name?” she quizzed.
“…Minji?”
Hana rolled her eyes. “Full name?”
He hesitated. Why is this so complicated? “Uh… Minji… uh…”
Hana sighed. “Kang Minji. Born September 17th. You’re 18. Your favorite color is red. You hate early mornings, love spicy food, and”she squinted at him
“are really good at science.”
Seungho froze. “Science?”
“Yes, duh. You’re, like, top of the class. People expect you to know stuff.”
Oh no.
Minji was a scholar of science? But Seungho’s expertise was history, literature, and the elegant strokes of calligraphy. He had no idea how modern machines worked, much less complex subjects like chemistry.
“I’m doomed,” he muttered.
Hana snapped her fingers in his face. “Focus! I’m helping you so you don’t look like a complete i***t at school.”
“Too late,” he mumbled.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Hana continued. “Your friends? Jisoo is your friend, Hyunwoo is…” She waved her hand. “I don’t know, a guy you talk to. But more importantly”
She leaned in.
“Minah.”
Seungho frowned. “Who?”
Hana looked like she’d just swallowed something bitter. “Minah. Your rival. The absolute worst. She’s been tormenting you since middle school.”
Seungho processed this. He had enemies here, too? Why was life constantly testing him?
“I assume she is of noble rank?” he asked.
Hana squinted. “What?”
“Is she from a powerful family?”
Hana sighed. “She’s popular, rich, and has a mean-girl army. Basically the same thing.”
Seungho exhaled. “Great.”
At School
Seungho had faced warlords. He had survived palace politics.
But he was not ready for high school.
As soon as he stepped into the hallway, students swarmed him like flies to honey.
“Minji, where were you?”
“I heard you lost your memory! How much do you remember?”
“Are you okay?”
“Do you still like Mr. Kim?”
Seungho blinked. “Who is Mr. Kim?”
A chorus of gasps filled the air.
Hana facepalmed.
“Oh my god,” someone whispered.
A boy smirked. “Damn. She forgot her crush on the science teacher.”
Seungho choked on air.
Crush? On a teacher?
A girl giggled. “Well, this is awkward.”
Seungho forced a stiff smile. “I uh I must go.”
He fled before they could ask more questions.
But then, just when he thought he was safe
“Minji.”
He turned.
And there she was.
Minah.
She stood with perfect posture, her lips curled in an amused smirk. “So, you finally crawled back,” she drawled. “Pity. I was enjoying your absence.”
Seungho stared. She speaks like a villain in a royal court.
Minah tilted her head. “What? No comeback?”
Normally, Minji would fire back, but Seungho who was used to formal speech had no idea how to insult in modern slang.
“…You are… unpleasant,” he finally said.
Silence.
A beat.
Then someone snorted.
Minah blinked. “I’m what?”
“I said what I said.”
Minah stared at him like he had personally offended her ancestors. “Did you hit your head harder than we thought?”
Hana grabbed Seungho’s wrist. “Oops! We have to go. Bye, Minah!” She dragged him away before he could say anything else.
“You’re a disaster,” she hissed.
“I am aware,” he muttered.
Meanwhile, in Joseon Minji
Minji stormed into her chambers, slamming the door behind her.
She had never been so insulted in her life.
That wretched old hag had spent the last hour treating her like an insect mocking her, belittling her, and making it very clear that, as the King’s "weakest" son, she was nothing.
Well.
That wasn’t going to last long.
She turned sharply. “Maid!”
The young woman practically jumped from where she was folding the prince’s robes. “Y-Your Highness?”
Minji pointed at the stool. “Sit.”
The maid hesitated like the wooden stool might explode. “I Your Highness, I”
Minji sighed and pulled it forward herself. “Just sit.”
The maid obeyed instantly, perching at the edge like a frightened bird.
“Tell me about… me,” Minji ordered, motioning at herself.
The maid blinked. “Your Highness?”
“The prince. What am I good at?”
The maid’s expression turned wary. “The physician said you lost your memories, but… do you not recall anything?”
Minji nodded gravely. “Nothing at all.”
The maid’s eyes widened. “Then… you do not remember your skills?”
Minji perked up. “Skills?”
The maid hesitated. “His Highness was secretly skilled in combat.”
Minji sat up straighter. "Wait. He knew how to fight?"
“Yes.”
Minji exhaled.
And now she in his body had lost it.
Fantastic.
“What else?” she asked.
“The Prince was also very talented in literature, art, and history.”
Minji blinked.
Art? Literature? She barely passed history in school. She was a science student. Her expertise was lab experiments, not painting landscapes and writing poetry.
She let out a deep breath. “Great. So I have to learn how to swing a sword, recite history, and paint pretty pictures?”
The maid frowned. “Your Highness, you always loved those things.”
Minji smiled tightly. “Well, surprise. Not anymore.”
The maid looked very concerned.
Minji clapped her hands together. “Right. If I’m stuck here, I refuse to play the helpless prince.”
She shot the maid a determined look.
“Step one? Learn to fight.”
The maid flinched. “Fight? Your Highness”
Minji ignored her. “Secretly, of course. Can’t have my enemies knowing I plan to knock their heads off.”
The maid visibly paled.
“Step two?” Minji continued. “Make allies.”
Just as she said it, a servant rushed in, bowing deeply.
“Your Highness, Prince Dowon is here.”
Minji blinked.
Huh. That was fast.
She turned to the maid. " he’s reasonable, right? Not trying to stab me in my sleep?”
The maid looked horrified. “O of course not, Your Highness!”
Minji nodded. “Good. Then I’ll befriend him.”
The maid’s expression screamed distress.
Minji barely had time to adjust before Prince Dowon stepped inside.
He studied her for a long moment before smirking. “You look like you just bit into a rotten persimmon.”
Minji blinked. “Excuse me?”
He plopped down onto the nearest chair. “That’s the same face you always make after meeting the Queen. Did she feed you her usual brand of venom?”
Minji stared.
So he… got it?
She expected him to be another cold, power-hungry noble. Instead, he spoke so casually like he wasn’t obsessed with court politics.
She decided to test the waters.
“She said I’m weak and useless.”
Prince Dowon snorted. “Tell me something new.”
Minji blinked again. Did he just… agree?
“Gee, thanks,” she muttered.
He shrugged. “I didn’t say I believe it.”
Minji narrowed her eyes. “Then what do you believe?”
He studied her for a second before leaning forward.
“That you’re smarter than you let on.”
Minji sat back, surprised. Huh. That was… unexpectedly insightful.
He smirked. “Don’t let her get to you, little brother.”
Minji sighed dramatically. “Easier said than done. I almost threw my shoe at her.”
He laughed. “I would pay to see that.”
Minji found herself grinning. Maybe she wouldn’t have to navigate this nightmare alone.
She had just found her first ally.
Later that night, both Seungho and Minji stood before their mirrors.
Seungho studied his new face, tracing Minji’s unfamiliar features. Meanwhile, Minji stared at her borrowed reflection, adjusting to Seungho’s sharp, masculine features.
Then
For one terrifying second
Their reflections flickered.
Minji’s breath caught.
Seungho’s eyes widened.
And then BAM.
A flood of memories crashed into them.
Minji saw flashes of a palace a young Seungho kneeling in the snow, his stepmother smirking from above.
Seungho saw a classroom Minji laughing as she threw an eraser at her friend’s head.
Then
They both screamed
- Writer
