My Name, His Voice

He suddenly turned around, and our eyes locked. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. His expression remained calm and composed, but there was something about the way he looked at me that sent a wave of nervousness through me.

"Good morning," he said, his voice deep yet gentle.

"Good morning," I replied awkwardly, my voice coming out softer than I expected.

"I'm preparing vegetable salad and bread toasts. Want some?" he asked as he turned back to the stove.

"Yes, thank you," I answered as I slowly made my way to the dining table, trying to keep my composure.

"Wait, I'm almost done," he said, focused on his task.

I watched him work, unable to look away. The way he moved, graceful yet efficient, made it clear that he wasn't just some royal who relied on others for everything. His sleeves were slightly rolled up, revealing his forearms, and his neatly styled hair was slightly tousled as if he had just woken up. Even from behind, he looked effortlessly attractive.

A few minutes later, he placed the dishes on the table with a quiet elegance, then handed me a set of utensils.

"Help yourself," he said simply.

"Thank you," I murmured, taking a small portion onto my plate.

As we ate, silence settled between us. The only sounds were the quiet clinking of utensils and the occasional turning of a page from the book he was reading. I stole glances at him between bites, he seemed completely immersed in his meal and his book, exuding an air of quiet confidence.

The atmosphere felt oddly domestic. Comfortable, yet nerve-wracking at the same time.

I cleared my throat lightly, gathering my courage to speak. "Uhm, I'm sorry I didn't talk to you properly last night. It's nice to finally meet you, Mr. Yi… not as a passenger but as a…"

I hesitated, suddenly realizing what I was about to say. My face grew warm as the word fiancé flashed in my mind. It felt too soon, too intimate to say out loud. I bit my lip, embarrassed at my own thoughts.

"Since I'm not a passenger anymore," he said, closing his book and looking at me, "just call me Seungho."

I blinked. "But… you're a prince. I have to respect you."

"You can call me 'Your Highness' in public," he said matter-of-factly. "But if it's just the two of us, please just call me by my name. It would make me feel more comfortable."

His words surprised me. I expected him to be formal and distant, yet he was asking for familiarity. He seemed so serious, so straightforward, and yet…

"Okay… Seungho?" I said hesitantly, feeling strange yet oddly comfortable saying his name.

At that moment, he smiled... just a small, subtle smile, but it was enough to send my heart racing.

"Yes, Hyorin," he said, my name rolling off his tongue effortlessly.

Hearing him say my name like that made my heart flutter. I smiled, unable to hide it.

Then he suddenly asked, "You have a class?"

My eyes widened. "Oh yes!" I gasped, suddenly remembering my schedule.

He glanced at the clock. "I'm sure you only have ten minutes left before class starts."

"What?!" I exclaimed, my mind going blank for a second before I panicked. I quickly shoved a last bite of toast into my mouth, chewing as fast as I could while grabbing my bag.

"I'm off now. Thank you for the food," I mumbled, the words barely understandable through my full mouth.

"Drink first," he said calmly, handing me a glass of water.

I took it and gulped it down quickly before wiping my mouth. "Thank you!" I said, still in a rush.

As I turned to leave, his voice stopped me.

"Take care," he said.

I looked back at him. There was something in the way he said it, firm yet gentle, like he truly meant it.

I nodded before hurrying out, my heart still racing, not from the rush to class, but from the fact that my engagement to Prince Seungho suddenly felt more real than ever.

Author's POV:

Hyorin walked through the grand halls of Yeonghwa University, her steps steady and her expression composed. Studying had become part of her daily routine, something she had gotten used to, but today, something was different. No matter how much she tried to focus, her mind kept drifting back to Seungho.

She could still hear his voice from that morning, the way he had casually called her name, the warmth in his gaze when he told her to take care. It was unfamiliar yet comforting, and it left a lingering effect on her.

Why does he have to be so calm while I'm here overthinking everything?

By the time lunch break arrived, she found herself seated with her friends in the university cafeteria. No one seems to know that Prince Seungho is back in Korea yet.

Her friends were chatting as usual, completely unaware of the fact that she had just had breakfast with her fiancé that very morning.

"Prince Seungho is seriously the perfect man," Minji gushed, resting her chin on her hand. "Smart, handsome, disciplined… Hyorin, I still can't believe you're engaged to him."

Hyorin nearly choked on her drink. Well… believe it.

"Yeah, but I wonder what kind of woman he would have chosen if it weren't for the engagement," Yujin mused. "Probably someone with noble blood. Or at least someone who meets the royal standards. He's not the type to just fall in love so easily."

Eunwoo nodded in agreement. "Honestly, he's such a mystery. I don't think I've ever heard a single scandal about him. He's always been the 'perfect prince.'"

Hyorin quietly listened, not bothering to correct them. If only they knew he was already here…

Just as she was about to take another bite, a group of young women approached their table. Their gazes were sharp, their expressions smug, as if they had something important to say. Hyorin immediately sensed hostility.

One of them crossed her arms and smirked. "It must be nice, attracting not just one, but two men."

Hyorin blinked at them, confused. "Excuse me?"

"Don't play innocent," another girl scoffed. "First, Sir Rion has been looking after you like some devoted knight, and now, you're considering an engagement to Prince Seungho? Seems like just one man isn't enough for you."

Whispers rippled through the cafeteria, students subtly turning their heads to watch the brewing confrontation. Hyorin felt their judgmental stares on her, but she kept her expression neutral.

"I don't understand what you're trying to say," she said calmly, setting down her utensils.

One of the girls sneered. "What we're saying is that Prince Seungho shouldn't accept this engagement. He deserves someone better, someone who isn't already involved with another man."

The words stung, but Hyorin didn't let it show. Instead, she took a deep breath, steadying herself. She knew she couldn't afford to cause any trouble, not when the royal family was involved.

"I see," she said smoothly. "Thank you for sharing your thoughts, but my personal affairs aren't for public discussion."

Her calm response seemed to irk them. They had expected her to react, to defend herself or get angry, but instead, she remained composed.

One of them scoffed. "Hah. Just don't think you're special. This engagement isn't even decided yet, ntil the announcement happens, nothing is set in stone."

With that, they turned and walked away, leaving an uncomfortable silence behind.

Hyorin exhaled softly, realizing she had been gripping her hands under the table. Her friends exchanged uneasy glances but didn't say anything, knowing it wasn't their place to speak.

She forced a small smile and picked up her chopsticks again. "Let's finish eating," she said, trying to brush off the tension.