Walking with Myungsoo to our rooms, I tried to carry a conversation with him.
"Can you hear me?"
Looking at me with a tired look, Myungsoo nods his head in agreement.

Awkwardness falls on us until we reach our room. "Have you've slept any since the incident?" Shaking his head,  Myungsoo walks past me and collapses onto his bed. When I walk over to the our bunk beds, I noticed that he was already fast asleep. Shaking my head while smiling, I go to the bathroom to take a shower before heading to bed. When I walk out of the bathroom, I notic that Myungsoo still had his mask on.

Does he ever take that off? It's got to be uncomfortable for him...

With a heavy sigh, I squat near the foot of the bed and reach out to remove his mask but strong hands push me away causing me to fall back onto the ground.

"What the...did he just hit me in his sleep or was it intentional?" Suspiciously watching Myungsoo for awhile, I dismissed the thought.

He must have had a bad dream or sonething.

Climping onto the top bunk, I close my eyes and rest my body. Soon I was having a dream of a handsome fox chasing down a cute bunny.

*******

Feeling someone tapping my forehead, I groan in annoyance. "Go away." I grumbled as I roll over in the bed.

Small hands shook my shoulder while whispering my name.

"Yeollie? Are you still sleeping?"

"No, I'm just resting my eyes for a prolonged amount of time."  I muttered.  Yeollie... no one has called me that in ages...who would know my nickname?

With a gasp, I shoot straight up in bed. "Meera!" Coming face to face with the Queen, I couldn't help but look away. Realizing that I didn't have a shirt on, I pulled my covers over my exposed upperbody.

"You shouldn't be in a man's room, Meera. Rumors will begin to spread..." I whined as a slight blush began to creep up my face.

"You guys have been sleeping for almost two days though." Meera pounted as she climbed down from my top bunk and hopped onto the ground.

Rubbing my eyes, I wipe my groggy face with my hands so I could wake up. "Give me a couple of minutes to get dressed and I'll meet you there. Have Myungsoo escort you to your room."

"That's the problem. I can't get Myungsoo to wake up and his breathing is....irregular. I think he is having one of his nightmares." Hearing her words pierce my foggy mind, I remembered Myungsoo harshly pushing me last night when I tried to take his mask off. What if he pushes Meera when she tries to wake him up?

"Close your eyes, Meera." I commanded as I began the descent down the top bunk.

"Relax, Sungyeol. It's not like you have abs to show off." Meera joked as she turned her back on me to give me some sense of privacy.

Aish, this girl. I smiled as I crouch down near the sleeping Myungsoo. Hesitant at first, I begin to shake Myungsoo's shoulder. Myungsoo brushes my hands away as he turns his back to me. I grab one of his arms in annoyance and pull him onto the ground.

"That should wake him."  I thought with a smirk.

With a start, Myunsoo's eyes flashed open dangerously and with a tint of fear. Grabbing me, he flips me over onto the ground and pins me underneath him. Seeing a deadly glint in his eyes, I begin to panic and struggle underneath his hold on me. "Wake up, it's me, Sungyeol!"

With a start, Meera turns around at us in surprise and gasps. Before I could explain to Meera, the door to our bedroom was pushed open revealing Hoya.

"Sungyeol, I found some...." the words died on Hoya's lips as he looks down at us. Both of us looked up at him in surprise

"It isn't what it looks like!" I yelled in my defense.

With disgust, Hoya walks over to us and pulls a sleepy Myungsoo off of me. "Close your eyes your Majesty. What I'm about to do to these perverts might be considered as rated r for violence when I get done with them."

"Oh, but ..but ..I think it was an accident..." Meera stuttered before Hoya interrupted her.

"I highly suggest you leave the room, while I talk to these two." When Meera quickly leaves the room, Hoya's fury focused on the both of us.

"I don't care what you two do in private, but I thought you two had enough decency to not do it in front of a woman. Let alone the Queen of our country!"

Not giving us time to explain, Hoya began to admonish us. When he finally finished his tirade, he just glared up at us. "You are both dissmissed. Go put some shirts and report back at the dinning room."

When Hoya left the room, I let out a sigh in relief.

"That is the last time I'm going to try to wake you up." I said bitterly as I headed for the bathroom. Looking apologetic, Myungsoo wrote down on his pad that he was sorry.

"I have nightmares a lot and can't control myself when I sleep." He showed me his pad while giving me a sad puppy face.

With a heavy sigh, I told him to forget about it. What a way to start a day!

*******

The Spring Festival Ball came upon us before we knew it. During the Spring Ball, everyone in the country is given an invitation on one comdition: they had to wear a mask to hide their face. Even the Queen was given the opportunity to hide her identity as everyone could for one night, disregard social status. Dressed in a formal suit with a silk maroon vest which made me feel very uncomforable, I wait outside of the ballroom's doors. A simple black mask covered my face which made me feel.....stupid.

I really don't want to go in....

Before pushing the doors open, Sungkyu had pulled me to the side and told me to keep my eyes open for anything suspicious.

"If someone where to strike and try to hurt the Queen, now would be the best time. I have guards stationed outside the premises and elite men hidden throughout the guests. I will again entrust her Majesty into your hands. Don't disappoint me again. Spare no one this time..or else..."

"The Game will begin." We said in unsion.
"I thought Myungsoo would be her escort tonight?"

"He was suppose to but I needed him to be my ears. Many people think he is also deaf as well as mute so their lips become loose around him. He also has this trusting aura that is very important for a spy."

"Spy? You act as if you know the guy." I joked.

"I did once..."

Giving my leader a questioning glance, Sungkyu just shakes his head and dismisses me. "I'm going to gather some information." Leading the way, he pushes the double doors open to reveal a room full of vibrant colors. Dresses of varying rich colors swirled across the dance floor as the women spinned to the sound of the music. Men in vibrant clothing danced beside their female partners as the music intensified.

Why am I here again?

While I was gawking at the sea of people, I had lost sight of Sungkyu. Surveying my surroundings, I can immediantly spot Myungsoo guarding the rear door. He was dressed all in black and must have hidden his staff since his hands were empty.

In order to better blend in, Sungkyu must have forced him to leave his usual mask behind and replace it for a festive one that only covered his eyes. With further observation, he must have put makeup on his scared mouth so that no one could see them.

"He doesn't look too bad without his mask" I smirked.

Myungsoo was carefully staring down at soneone which made me follow his gaze. Surprised, my eyes landed on a beautiful girl with thick wavy locks wearing a crimson red dress. Even with a golden mask on, I could recognize her as the Queen.

Walking over to her, I bow and request to dance with her.

"It's about time you came Yeollie. I thought you chickened out on me since I know how you hate these events." Meera smiled as she accepted my offer.

Taking her hand, we carefully dance to the sound of the sweet music which echoed throughout the ballroom.

"How did you know it was me?" I asked curiously as I tried to gracefully spin her but failed miserably as our arms got tangled up.

"Your height. You and Myungsoo are the tallest and probably the most awkward guests in this room." She laughed as we untangled ourselves and decided to take a break from dancing.

"Could you get me a drink?"

Shaking my head, I offered to get her water instead.
"I'm not a child anymore. I already turned 21 last month." Meera pouted when I refused to give her any of the alcoholic beverages offered.

"And I'm 25 but I don't think you should drink. Alcohol numbs the senses and makes one do things that they wouldn't normally do."

"As if you don't drink." Meera said angrily.

"I do...but not tonight. My job is to keep you safe and I can't do that if I'm drunk."

"But Sungkyu drinks. If he wasn't my bodyguard since receiving the crown, I would have believed the many rumors and scandals surrounding him."

Frowning, I stare at my drunk leader who was stumbling about the ballroom. He was suppose to be gathering information.

"Sungkyu actually proves my point. If you don't want to act like him, then I strongly suggest that you control yourself. Besides, I would trust him with my life."

"Why do you say that?"

"Many rumors that I have heard are of him being a coward and that he became the Leader through trickery or bribery. But after getting to know him, he isn't what the people's gossip describe him as. He's actually the bravest man that I have ever known and I respect him....when he isn't drunk. So....please don't drink, Meera."  I begged her.

"Why do you have holes in your ear?" Meera asks as she tiptoes and pokes at my cartilage.

"You're changing the subject." I admonished her but she ignores me.

"That is a lot of holes! How many do you have?" She asks excitedly.

"I use to have piercings but I had to take them out."

"Why?"

"My Leader told me that piercings were not allowed in the presence of Royalty. So I took them out and haven't put them in since being with you. Some of them have probably closed up by now..."

"Aww, that's a shame. I wanted to see you wear them."

"Really?" I asked with surprise. Meera shrugs her shoulders and winks at me. "Haven't you've learned already that I tend to break a lot of rules."

That might not be a good thing...

Before I could reply, Hoya wearing a bright purple mask approaches us while leading two guests.

"Your Majesty and Sungyeol, I would like to introduce you to the current titled Narrator: Jang Kkotip. And the young man beside her is her brother." Bowing towards the Queen, a tall woman and what looked to be her younger brother were presented to us by Hoya.

"Sungkyu instructed me to introduce you to them." Hoya whispered in my ear.

"What's your name?" Meera asked the Narrator's brother curiously after all the formalites were finished.

"Jang Dongwoo, at your service." The exotic looking man said with an amused smile.

Reminds me of a fox...

*****

Yay, another member has been introduced! How am I doing so far? Has my story interested you? There are a lot of mistakes and spelling errors in this books so feel free to point them out if you wish  :)