Can I See You Again

Three Selected Candidates

“I want to see Brother Jun”.

Youra tidied up her dress in spirit, standing still in front of the mirror smiling happily. 

“Nona, you are really beautiful,” praise Nana while arranging sheets after strands of Youra hair. 

“You look a lot like my old friend, you love to praise, even though you have a face prettier than me," replied Youra bowed lethargic, recalling old memories with her best friend, Ara.

Nana knew that, there was an unhealed wound inside there, which was trying to reassemble to get used to it.

“Nona?” call Nana after.

“Hmm?”.

Youa was busy paying attention to her appearance, preening slightly, polishing the reddish powder around her filled cheeks. 

“Shouldn't you have come to the palace to listen to the announcement?” tanya Nana tidied Youra's smile that morning. 

Youra turned her body, turning to face Nana. He retreated slowly, leaning his body in front of the mirror.

“I just love Brother Jun, did you forget?”.

Youra smiled cunningly, touching her beautiful hair that had been laid out pretty. 

“I've ruined my test, I definitely won't be chosen,” he replied with great confidence.

The look on Nana's face did not lie, she smiled, but the smile was very hollow. There's something he's thinking. 

“You don't have to worry. I don't need to come to the palace to follow that selection. Disgusting once,” Youra added. 

Youra turned back around, now looking at her who was inside the mirror. 

“Why, did he give that disgusting order? She thinks all girls want to be his wife? Better to die, than to be the wife of the despicable man who killed my brother,” she said staring intently at herself through the mirror.

Youra took a deep breath. Slowly he exhaled gently while patting both of his cheeks. 

“I go first”.

Youra immediately stepped out of her residence, putting beautiful dandelion-patterned shoes on her beautiful legs. Gracefully, breathe in the fresh morning air, trying to penetrate more happiness. Meeting Jun immediately, and making up with him was his wish right then and there.

But that happiness has changed. The palace's luxurious palanquin, parked neatly in front of his residence. There was Jung Hyun there, looking down respectfully at him. 

“What are you doing here?” ask Youra growled.

He felt uncontrollable, trying to draw more energy to get used to the situation that was bothering him.

“Sorry Miss Youra, the Crown Prince asked us to pick you up,” replied one of them. 

That stupid guy, though, 

“I can't come, I have busyness,” he replied.

Youra immediately stepped up, yet turned around and smiled lightly.

“Go from here, why pick up unelected women,” protest. 

The guards looked at each other, seeming to disagree. They lined up neatly, blocking the footsteps of Youra who was about to leave. 

Jung Hyun took a few steps forward until he arrived before Youra. He bowed, giving me a box. 

Youra who was unable to contain herself, immediately opened the box violently. Inside, there was a golden-blue colored paper, making him shocked in disbelief. Immediately he opened the paper, dropping the box without guilt.

Doing all the way, 

Youra was petrified on the spot, the hope that had been neatly laid out by her as if collapsing without a trace.

“I.. selected?” tanyanya could not believe it.

.. so I am elected.

With a face that looked very regretful, with just a few flashes, Jung Hyun seemed to have given an answer.

“How can?”.

The extremely disbelieving Youa seemed to be losing her way. His breath was tight. About the hopes and ideals he had set, making him almost desperate. But he tried to restore that spirit. There is still the next test, he can destroy it more. As he thought, when he met a fate that was never expected.

She was forced to take the Crown Prince's wife selection exam because of palace rules. By all means, trying to rid himself of the test. Acting foolishly is the only way. 

I must be quickly eliminated.

**

The morning dew had not even been able to say goodbye, but the palace envoys had already come to pick up Youra to escort her back to the palace. That day, the announcement of the results of the examination before the final selection of the Crown Prince's wife selection. The good news, about who was knocked out first, cheered on the unrelenting Youra.

A high sense of confidence accompanied Youra's footsteps upon entering the palaces palanquin. Eliminated as soon as possible, the hope of it was now within his grasp. The petite girl smiled haughtily, not because she felt chosen, but very happy because the possibility of being chosen was no bigger than a grain of sand that was split seven. 

The anxious faces of the girls became the most delicious breakfast for Youra, shortly after she arrived there. Everyone seemed hopeful. Yes, Youra is too. Only, hope was a little different. If he was to get married, only Jun would marry him, there would be no one else besides, let alone the Crown Prince. So desire.

Before long, the girls' anxious faces turned worse than that. It was as if lives were at the tip of the sword, so the look on their faces when they saw the queen walking was very graceful, this time without the Queen Mother. The queen approached her throne and immediately twisted the body facing the young girls. A lady-in-waiting came, ran small, but kept her balance. The dayang brought some expensive paper with cherry blossom patterns. Very fragrant, even Youra who lined up far enough could breathe her freshness. 

The head of the lady-in-waiting raised her face, puffing out a bit of her chest behind the queen. He took a deep breath, immediately reciting the results of the queen's decision. 

Youra smiled, not a single worried face was drawn. Very calm, no sweat and hope. He stood up quite firmly, unlike the other girls who put together their palms, Youra instead crossed hands behind his body. Very relax. 

That day, start talking. Announce one by one of the three big candidate names selected for the final selection.

“Hong Jin-Yi!”.

Goody. I am nothing compared to the chosen ones. 

That name, made Youra even more confident, that this election would not side with him. The original answer and without popularity, he can be kicked out as soon as possible. 

“Han Ji-Eun!”.

Looking at all the chosen women, he thought, that hope will soon be realized.  He won't be chosen, it's fun.

I don't want to be the wife of that disgusting man. 

The head of the ladyboy was silent for a moment, before finally announcing the last name that passed. 

I'm ready to go, but.. 

“Lee Youra!”.

The hope that I had set, melted down to nothing. 

That voice, destroyed all the despair that had been laid out neatly. The hope of being knocked out, as if vanishing with the dew of that morning. He was speechless, petrified on the spot glaring sharply at the source of the voice. 

“No way, I must have misheard,” her inner reassuring.

The head of the lady-in-waiting descended one step from the steps, removing the fancy paper from before her. Then back to screaming.

“Who among you is Lee Youra? Fast forward, get together with the selected candidates!”.

Youra was glued limp. His hand shook furiously. Justice does not exist in this country, he thought. The original answer and the blank paper he collected seemed useless. He's struggling with himself. Among the commotion and the spiteful look of the girls who were looking for Lee Youra's whereabouts, disturbed his already deeply destroyed soul. He seemed to be inadmissive. He moved slowly after looking at the whole girl. In front of the head of the lady-in-waiting she bowed respectfully.

The whole girl looked at him sharply, looking unacceptable. Youra was inconspicuous, the results of the exam were extremely messy, ordinary appearance without any preparation. Everything was ordinary, other than the Crown Prince's gown he was forced to wear. Youra took a heavy step, reminding her back to the brother who had died made her crumple the beautiful dress tightly. 

“Give your respects to Her Majesty the Queen,” command the lady head.

The fire was stirring within him. He immediately shouted and revolted. 

Brother Jun..

Seeming very claustrophobic, he tried to let go of the hateful entanglement in her by pretending to smile happily.

I should how?

“Thanks for your generosity, Your Excellency”.

Youra smiled heavily, bowing respectfully inadmissive. He clenched his two hands tightly. The queen smiled arrogantly subduing her body slightly, trying to cross the look of hatred that was on Youra.

“What's your name?” ask queen.

Youra took in her breath once more, trying to lie to herself was the only way out. Pretend to smile, at least until the last exam and leave immediately. So hope.

“I..”.

Youra who was having a big fight with her ego at the time, tried a little to budge.

“I am Lee Youra, daughter of the late country advisor,” her answer is steady.

The queen was shocked. Now those eyes were glaring sharply in disbelief. Looking at the queen's exertion, the confused Youra finally gave a small smile. No, not a smile, it's an insulting grin. His gaze seemed to say his satisfaction after mocking the queen about the existence of her living self.  

“I am still alive and standing in front of you, is because the queen does not stop praying for the people”.

The queen touched his chest. She crumpled the parts of the dress violently. 

“Servant!” his yell.

All the servants approached, helping the queen who was almost unconscious. They held a very weak queen. Meanwhile, Youra who was still continuously bowing smiled freely, very satisfied. 

Han Ji-Eun, one of the chosen candidates looked at him sharply. That suspicious look was now on Youra. She ran over, trying to help the queen get up, but Youra was still in place with her cynical smile. 

Hong Jin-Yi looked at Youra. However, that look was very different. Not hatred, but something he didn't think of. After bowing respectfully to Youra, Hong Jin-Yi steps away.

A moment after they were all nowhere to take the queen to her residence, Youra woke up from her respect. With the same smile. He stared intently at all of them, occasionally turning to Hong Jin-Yi who was already quite far away from him.

“In this way, as soon as I can go,” murmured.

Youra then tidied up her entire dress. He rearranged the rubble of hope and immediately carried it out of the palace. The hope, after this he will be free and then married to Jun, the idol of his heart.