secret love

Episode 3

Herry crossed his arms and gave Max a pointed look. "Our people are truly kind, aren't they?" he said, nodding toward the mother and daughter as they disappeared into the distance.

"They had been standing out here in the cold for so long, yet all they wanted was to thank you. And you…" Herry paused, raising an eyebrow. "You show up in the dead of night, lost in your own thoughts."

Max remained silent, his gaze fixed on the palace gates.

Herry sighed dramatically and placed a hand on Max’s shoulder. "You’re a prince, Max. You need to be more mindful of your people. They look up to you, trust you. You should care for them just as much as they care for you."

Max let out a slow breath. He knew Herry was right. But for some reason, his mind was still stuck on the girl’s smile. The warmth in her eyes. The way his heart had reacted so strangely…

"I know," Max finally said, his voice quieter than usual. "I will."

Herry gave him a knowing smirk. "Good. Now, let's head inside before you freeze to death thinking about… whatever it is you’re thinking about."

Max shot him a look but didn’t argue. Together, they stepped through the palace gates, the night’s chill still lingering in the air—yet, for some reason, Max felt a warmth in his chest that refused to fade.

As they walked through the grand halls of the palace, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows on the marble floors, Max remained silent, lost in his own thoughts. Herry, however, suddenly stopped before heading to his chamber and turned to face Max.

"Listen," Herry said, his tone both teasing and serious. "I can see it in your eyes—you liked that girl, didn’t you?"

Max stiffened slightly but didn't respond.

Herry smirked and crossed his arms. "It's fine if you did, but don’t forget your duty. If you start thinking too much about her, then who will take care of the kingdom?"

Max exhaled, shaking his head. "I know my responsibilities, Herry."

Herry nodded, then added, "Father will choose the right girl for us when the time comes. That should be enough."

Max’s jaw tightened for a brief moment, but then he gave a small nod. "Yes… I know."

Herry studied him for a second, then patted his shoulder. "Good. Now, get some sleep."

With that, Herry turned and disappeared into his chamber. Max stood there for a moment, staring at the flickering flames in the lanterns along the hallway.

Then, without another word, he walked to his chamber, closing the heavy doors behind him. As he lay down on his bed, his mind should have been filled with the duties of a prince, the expectations of the kingdom, and his father’s decisions.

But instead, all he could see was her smile.

And for the first time in a long while, Max fell asleep with something other than the weight of his responsibilities pressing on his heart.

Max stared at the ceiling, his mind refusing to settle. Thoughts of the girl kept surfacing no matter how much he tried to push them away.

"She is just a commoner… someone I met by chance," he told himself. "Her world is different from mine. Thinking about her won’t change anything."

The dim glow of the lantern flickered in his chamber as he exhaled slowly. "Wherever she is, I hope she’s happy. That’s all that matters."

With that final thought, he forced himself to bury the emotions stirring within him.

"I have to forget her. It’s for the best."

And soon, exhaustion took over, pulling him into a deep slumber.

The King took a sip of his tea before looking at Max and Herry. His voice was calm yet firm as he spoke.

“I have decided to send a doctor to that village,” he announced. “There isn’t one there, and after what happened, I cannot let my people suffer due to the lack of medical help.”

Max felt a strange sense of relief at his father’s words. At least now, the villagers wouldn’t have to worry about such emergencies in the future.

The King then turned his gaze toward Herry. “Besides, whatever happens, happens for a reason. In the end, this incident has led to something good. From now on, no one in that village will have to worry about not having a doctor.”

Herry nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. “That’s true, Father. Sometimes, unexpected events bring about necessary changes.”

Max remained silent, but deep inside, he couldn’t help but wonder—was this truly just an unexpected event, or was fate trying to tell him something?

Herry took a bite of his food and then spoke, his tone calm yet confident.

"Father, yesterday I went to meet the people of our kingdom," he said. "I talked to many of them, and thankfully, no one seems to be facing any serious trouble. The harvest is good, the merchants are satisfied, and the soldiers are keeping the borders secure."

The King nodded in approval. "That is good to hear, Herry. A ruler must always know the state of his people. If they are at peace, then so is the kingdom."

Max listened quietly, but his thoughts drifted elsewhere. While it was true that the people of the capital were safe and content, he couldn’t forget the girl he had saved. The village she came from had no doctor—what other struggles did they face?

As he pushed his food around on his plate, he wondered if he would ever see her again.

After that, Max says to himself, "Forget everything." He tries to convince his heart, but deep inside, the girl's smile refuses to leave his mind.