"Hello, I would like to see Dr. Ha," Soo Young said, handing a wooden plate to a young woman dressed in white. The small convoy from Red Ruby had arrived just two hours ago. After checking in at the accommodation Dan had rented months ago, they headed straight to the hospital, just a few blocks away.
"Please have a seat while you wait," the girl responded politely. Dan, Min Jun, Soo Young, and their two guards moved toward the waiting room and took their seats.
A few minutes later, a woman in gray scrubs with her hair in a neat bun walked in, smiling as her eyes landed on Soo Young. Without hesitation, Soo Young rushed toward her, and they hugged tightly, so much that Dan squinted slightly in surprise.
"That seems a bit too intimate, don't you think?" Dan whispered to Min Jun, earning a playful scoff from his royal cousin.
"Relax, Dan. It's nothing," Min Jun replied with a smirk.
"Everyone, this is Dr. Ha," Soo Young introduced her with a fond smile. "She's my senior from college and a heart specialist. Kathy, meet my patient, Min Jun Wangja, and his cousin, Dan. And these are their bodyguards."
Dan, standing off to the side, grumbled softly, "She introduced me as his cousin and not her boyfriend..." His quiet protest caught Min Jun's ear, who grinned knowingly.
"She's keeping things professional. Calm down, Dan."
Dan sighed and looked away, already feeling disinterested in the tour they were about to take. He wasn't exactly thrilled about learning what treatment Min Jun needed.
"Would you all like a brief tour of the hospital?" Kathy asked. Everyone agreed except for Dan, who didn't even bother to respond. Soo Young glanced at him, confused by his lack of enthusiasm.
"Dan-ssi, are you tired?" Soo Young asked gently, sensing something was off.
"No," Dan replied curtly, brushing past her without a glance. Soo Young's brow furrowed in worry, her eyes meeting Min Jun's, but he only shrugged, as clueless as she was.
The group moved in a slow pack through the hospital, with Min Jun attentively listening to Kathy's explanations. Dan, on the other hand, kept his distance, walking just far enough to seem like he wasn't part of the group. Soo Young's unease grew with each passing moment. Dan had been excited about this trip before, but now it seemed like he was the one who had lost all interest.
Kathy's voice broke the tension. "Since your condition isn't severe, with a simple procedure, you'll be able to live normally again. However, avoid stress since the healing process takes time."
Min Jun smiled, a sense of relief washing over him. "I can't believe there's a cure. I thought I'd have to live with this forever. I'm really impressed with the medical advancements here."
Kathy beamed. "This hospital has the best facilities in the city. Many of the doctors are graduates from the university attached to the hospital, so we have some of the finest specialists around. Soo Young, for example, is an excellent general practitioner. She could've pursued a specialty, but she was in such a rush to come home. Now I think I know why..." she added teasingly, giving Soo Young a playful nudge.
"What do you mean?" Min Jun asked, intrigued.
"Well, I think someone rushed home to take care of her *lover*..." Kathy teased, but Soo Young quickly slapped her hand, her face turning red.
"Kathy!" Soo Young said, shaking her head before stealing a glance at Dan, who was now staring at her, his expression hard.
"Ah, you've misunderstood, Dr. Ha!" Min Jun interjected with a chuckle. "I'm not her boyfriend. Soo Young is my private physician."
Kathy's eyes widened in realization. "Oh! I'm sorry, I thought—since you two are so close—there was... chemistry."
Min Jun laughed awkwardly. "No, no. I have a boyfriend, and Soo Young has her own."
Though the misunderstanding was cleared, the damage was done. Dan's expression hadn't softened—if anything, it had worsened.
"I'm leaving," Dan muttered before walking away, his voice tight with frustration. Soo Young bit her lip, glancing at Min Jun for permission. He nodded, letting her go after Dan.
The rest of the group continued the tour, though Min Jun's mind was on his cousin. Usually, he and Dan only visited the capital for business trips, too busy to explore the outskirts. This was a rare chance for Min Jun to see more of the city, but Dan's foul mood weighed on him.
"How long have you been a doctor?" Min Jun asked, trying to refocus on Kathy.
"Five years, but I've only been a heart specialist for one," Kathy replied. She was acutely aware of his royal status and answered respectfully.
"And how do you know Soo Young?"
"She was my junior. During her clinical rotations, I was her supervisor, though I had to pass her off to a colleague when I started specializing in cardiology."
Kathy smiled softly, her gaze drifting. "Actually, that's only part of the reason I passed her along..."
Min Jun raised an eyebrow. "What's the other reason?"
Kathy sighed, staring into her tea. "I had feelings for her. More than just friendship. I... wanted her. But I knew it would never work. She only ever saw me as a senior and a friend."
Min Jun nodded, understanding. "It must have been difficult."
"It was," Kathy admitted. "I still care for her, but now it's more like family. I want her to be happy, even if it's not with me."
Min Jun nodded thoughtfully, recognizing the familiar ache of one-sided love. He'd learned the hard way that sometimes, love was about letting go for the other person's happiness.
"That man... the one who left earlier," Kathy said, her voice quiet, "is he—"
"Yes. Dan-ssi is Soo Young's boyfriend."
Kathy chuckled, shaking her head. "No wonder he's upset. She didn't even introduce him properly."
Min Jun smirked. "He's not used to seeing her act so closely with someone else. It's eating him up."
"But isn't that a good thing?" Kathy asked, surprised.
Min Jun grinned. "It is. Dan's always been a bit wild, never taking anyone seriously—until Soo Young. She's his first real girlfriend. If he's jealous, it means he's serious about her."
Kathy smiled faintly. "Then I'm happy for her. He seems like a good man."
"He is," Min Jun said, his smile softening. He could tell Kathy was speaking from a place of honesty and quiet acceptance, even if her heart was still healing.
As they sat in silence, Min Jun found his thoughts drifting to Uk. He missed him more than ever, but he knew everything they were doing was for their future together.
"Dr. Ha..." Min Jun's voice wavered slightly.
"Yes, Wangja-nim?"
"I want to live..." His voice cracked, eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I want to live so I can be with the people I love."
Kathy gently placed her hand over his, her heart heavy with the weight of his words. "Don't worry, Wangja-nim. You'll live for a thousand years."
With that promise, Kathy made a silent vow to herself: no matter what, she would ensure this prince lived to see all the happiness the world had to offer.
It was her solemn promise.