Eun-bi had never once received education on how to read or write proposals, manage finances or an academy. While she could delegate the roles to others, she ought to learn the basics so that she would not put herself, or her husband, to shame.

Despite her motivation to learn, it blew her mind away with how complicated everything was. The terms in the documents were far too difficult to comprehend and the numbers in the seemingly endless pages sent her mind spiralling downhill. Several times, she almost pulled her hair out of her roots.

Fortunately, the King assigned a few ministers and officials to provide her with their help. However, when he wasn't present, most of their expressions changed from hospitable to disdain.

They narrowed their gazes at her, as if she was a sore to their eyes. While they obliged to her requests, rather reluctantly at that, it was apparent that they weren't supportive of her idea.

Their sideway stares annoyed her.

She straightened her back. "Ministers, your eyes must hurt from reading your documents the entire day. Shall I call the royal physician to brew some tonics for your health?" she asked with an innocent smile. "Or shall I brew it instead?"

They reacted immediately; some pretended to hide behind a cough while the rest averted their gazes. "N-no, Your Highness. We appreciate your kindness."

"Is that so? What a shame. I promise to use the best herbs you can find in the market! It has been a long time since I last stepped into the kitchen—oh. This reminds me I don't know how to cook, but I can certainly figure it out!"

However, her impish grin only made them retreat with anxiety, their eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

"W-we are feeling exceptionally well today, Your Highness. You do not have to worry about us."

As they rushed out of the room, Eun-bi snickered at their backs.

The only person who treated her with genuine sincerity is the Minister of Taxation—the King's right-hand man. When Eun-bi arrived at his office for advice on the allocation of budgets, tea and snacks were already prepared to welcome her. His warm reception definitely raised his score by several points.

With the face of a wise, friendly old man, the folds around his eyes crinkled into a smile.

"Congratulations on your marriage, Crown Princess."

"Thank you. You sound thrilled," she teased. "I must have been such a delightful subject during your tea sessions with the King."

Minister Park broke into a rueful smile, pushing the plate of snacks in her way as if he was offering peacemaking. "I apologise for partaking in the act to fool you, but I was curious. The younger generations are interesting to watch."

She reached out for a biscuit and munched on it. "So, between the King and you, who won the bet? I reckon one of you must have thought I would fail his challenge."

He placed his chin on top of his hands and shut his eyes. "I bet against you," he answered regretfully. "However, you have sparked an interest in the King ever since your first meeting. He was highly confident in you succeeding at the Selection, which you did."

Eun-bi snorted out loud. "I'm sorry, but not sorry that you lost your money."

In fact, she hoped he lost a lot.

How dare he believe she would fail?

Whatever expression she was making had Minister Park burst out in laughter. "I apologise, Your Highness. I realise how wrong I was. In return, I will assist you in the construction of your academy to the best of my abilities."

"You will? I must look like a clown to everybody else."

He let out a sigh. "It's not like that. They dislike having a new person interfering in the court affairs. You're increasing their workload and bringing in a fresh change to society."

"Ouch. If you put it that way, it seems like I'm hitting all of their sore spots."

Minister Park chuckled before handing over a book. "The budget has been allocated, and you may find the details written in this ledger. Come, let me introduce you to the accountant who will handle the academy's finances."

He summoned his subordinate, who soon entered the Taxation Office and offered them a respectful bow. Donned in a green uniform, he was a good-looking man in his early twenties, wearing a fresh face and charming smile.

"Greetings, Your Highness & Minister."

Pleased, Minister Park introduced him to Eun-bi. "This is Accountant Cha Ye-joon. He came in first during the national civil service examinations for his cohort last year and often aids me in handling ledgers. He's a trustworthy and diligent worker."

"I see. Pleased to meet you..." Eun-bi squinted her eyes, finding him familiar. Similarly, he studied her intently, recognition flickering in those bright eyes of his.

"Have I, perhaps, seen you before, Your Highness?"

Her body froze. This voice. 

He was the Lantern Thief at the festival. The night when she dressed up as a boy.

Raising her brows, she snatched up another biscuit and suddenly found interest in the books on the shelves. "No, I'm afraid not. You've probably seen somebody else."

She kept a straight face as she threw out a lie. She couldn't possibly let others find out that she had snuck out in a male disguise. Otherwise, how else was she going to sneak out again?

Accountant Cha was silent, thoughtful, and fairly amused. "I see. I apologise for mistaking you for someone else."

Minister Park glanced back and forth between them during their exchange, before shrugging away his confusion. "I've got another meeting to attend," he announced. "I shall have Accountant Cha guide you while I'm away, Your Highness."

After he left them alone, Eun-bi flicked open the ledger and jolted at the sight of the pages written in unreadable words. The book slipped out of her hands and hit the floor, leaving an awkward silence hanging in the air between her and the official.

Accountant Cha picked up the ledger and handed it back to her quietly, a smile working its way onto his face. While she risked another peek into the ledger again, he continued to study her. "Are you really not the person who I met before?" he questioned quietly. "Even though you wore a disguise the last time, I'm positive it was you."

Exasperated, Eun-bi almost picked up a book to throw at him. "I told you before. You look like someone that I don't know—"

Her slip of the tongue gave her away. She let out a silent groan, berating herself for saying the same words she spoke to him on that night.

"I'm right." He smiled even wider. "It was you."

She grimaced, afraid of all the nagging she would receive if this spread to the Queen Dowager. She didn't wish to mend another ruined flowerbed. "Do not speak a word of that night to others. It's an order."

His chuckle was low and soft. "Forgive me, Your Highness. I'm just excited that we've met before outside the palace and you've made quite a deep impression on me before. It was the first time I witnessed a girl dressing up as a boy."

She rolled her eyes. "Are you going to tell me that it's bad?"

"No. I'm simply amazed, because it takes a lot of courage to do that," he said. "And meeting the Crown Princess in person is going to excite anyone. You're well-known in the country."

Eun-bi scratched her temple. "Really?" The weight of her title hadn't quite sunken into her mind yet, so it was rather difficult for her to grasp what people thought of her now.

There was just something about this man that perturbed her—was it his over-friendliness? Unlike the others and their difference in status, he didn't seem the least bit intimidated by her and even pushed forth the subject.

"I take it that you had plenty of fun outside the palace," he said.

"Now that is an understatement," she corrected him. "The festival, the atmosphere and the crowd... It's not everyday we get to experience such things in the palace."

His smile faded a little, bringing a subtle hardness to his tone. "You're right. The palace life isn't as glorious as one thinks."

The abrupt change to his mood spooked her, but he soon regained his smile. "But thanks to the Crown Princess, the palace has become alive."

Now Eun-bi was confused. All along, she thought she was a weird person, but it turned out there was somebody else who had a personality more bizarre than hers.

"Did working with numbers everyday turn him insane?" She muttered those words under her breath before shaking her head. "I should head back to my room. I'm exhausted."

As she turned to leave, he sent her off with a hearty grin. "I look forward to serving you, Your Highness. I think what you're trying to accomplish with this academy is truly admirable."

If he was trying hard to earn her favour, he wasn't getting any. She gathered all her documents that she needed and returned to her bedchamber with her servants, eager to get some rest.

As soon as she stepped into her room, she skidded to a stop at the sight of the Crown Prince, who was already waiting for her to spend the night together. After a day of hard work, her heart soared in immediate happiness.

"Yul?"

However, there was a strange tension in the air that she couldn't quite put a finger on, not until he turned around slowly, revealing the wintry anger on his face. It was the sight of the cold-hearted Crown Prince, whom she hadn't seen for a really long time.

Because in his hands were the novel and the threatening letters she hid from him.