"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Suvarnabhumi Airport. Local time is 12:30 AM and temperature is at 33°C. Please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened while we..."

Pranpriya woke with a start. She didn't realize she had fallen asleep midway through the flight until she heard the voice announcement over the speakers. The wildlife magazine she was scanning aimlessly prior to her dozing off was still lying on her lap. It was still flipped open on the page where she left it, where a tiger cub zeawas staring at her. It reminded her of her cats, somehow.

She stirred on her seat while making sure that her seatbelt was securely fastened while the aircraft was now running on the runway for parking. She checked the time on her watch. The tiny hands on her Rolex were pointing at twelve and six, like what the captain said on his announcement. If she would hurry, she could make it to Pathum Wan by three. Or she could check herself in to a hotel in Rattanakosin, which was more convenient because she would just be barely a kilometer away from the palace complex, should she finally decide to choose which of the two was a more reasonable option.

Pranpriya was sitting on the single seat beside the small window. Outside, she could see the terminal and the tiny figures of people inside the large airport still bustling and moving about even at midnight. Which didn't surprise her at all because Suvarnabhumi Airport was one of the busiest airport in the world, which also housed the world's tallest control tower.

"You might wanna loose the jacket, you know?" the man sitting on the seat next to the aisle said to her.

Pranpriya thought she heard a bit of a sneer on his voice but still paid him a glance out of courtesy. After all, she had finally arrived in her homeland and they, the Thai people (herself, included) was known not to hold a grudge or whatever negativity they feel on any situation.

Mai pen rai.

"Yeah," said Pranpriya with a slight nod and brought her attention back again to the small window.

Of course, it should be hot out there. Pranpriya wanted to tell the stranger but thought against it. The temperature in her country during the month at this time of the year was usually, if not always, hot. That even with a chance of rainfall, the reading would still hit as high as thirty-six degrees. No wonder the man was already in his curdoroy shorts, slippers and flower-printed shirt. He already looked prepped up to survive the heat already. He probably changed his clothes before descent, because he was wearing something thicker when they left Gimpo. Pranpriya wanted to tell him that his choice of fashion won't guarantee him of a sweat-free Thailand getaway. But then again, who was she to chastise when she, herself, was covered in a thick, woolen jacket, a cap and a mask. She looked like a complete joke next to him.

Pranpriya did not intend to take her jacket off, though, even when she would surely drench in sweat out there, once she would step outside the gates of the terminal exit. Or her cap and the mask on her face. She planned to endure the heat until she would hail a cab and until she would reach her still-undecided destination.

Travelling in discreet was a bothersome and it only made her feel like an idiot. It was stupid, really. She had repeatedly been telling herself that while she was glued on her seat, discomfitted and disgruntled, while everyone else on their cabin was moving about freely just moments after take off. She hadn't even touched her food or the wine being served on her accommodation, which she just left lying untouched in front of her before the cabin crew had collected them back, probably while she was sleeping.

Although, her lack of appetite and her lack of desire to move about, free from whatever was stopping her from doing so, didn't have anything to do with her decision to travel discreetly, of course. It was actually because she grew nervous and anxious and scared. She had never been scared while travelling before until now. Not after she saw her own face in the wide screen back at Gimpo Airport, when she and the Park sisters (Alice and Chaeyoung offered to drive her to the airport) were walking around looking for something to eat before her check-in, upon Chaeyoung's insistence.

The Korean news outlets were already picking up and running down on-repeat the released article about her and Jennie, and about her being part of the Royal family. They had been using the same images over and over-the silhouette kissing image of them in the park and the one where she was sitting on the passenger seat of her Impala and Jennie was driving away from the parking lot outside the hotel where Irene's party was held.

The second image was a bit blurry and it looked like it might have been taken from a clip of a CCTV recording. But it was there and it was her and Jennie and the Koren media were already digging stuff, trying to locate her, trying to get to know more of her and their relationship. They even tried to contact the office of The Royal Household Bureau, according to the evening news "but no response, whatsoever," said the anchorman who shamelessly displayed his disappointment and later on showed a short clip of news vans and a group of press being forcibly fended off by a considerably bigger group of men in dark suits away from a tall gate, describing it as:

"...the situation earlier outside the Kim mansion, where The Kim Group President and CEO, Jennie Kim, was seen today with the youngest daughter of the Kim Security and Surveillance Co., Jisoo Kim..."

And finally, a short clip was shown where Jennie and Jisoo was inside the car, which made Prapriya's heart lurched forward and then plunged downwards, deeper into the pits of her stomach, after she saw how uncomfortable both Jennie and Jisoo looked under the bright camera flashes and was nearly mobbed by the press, if it hadn't because of the men in suits, who the anchorman said were members of the Kim security.

Hence, she bought a cap and a cheap mask when they had passed by a merchandise shop at the airport, upon the advice of Alice. Chaeyoung's sister wanted to make sure that she was safe and free to move about and that nobody would recognize her. But the thought of walking around in her homeland with her face hidden under a cap and behind a mask was stupid. But Pranpriya had already decided that she won't take her covers off, until at least she felt safe to do so.

"So, where are you heading?" the man asked casually without looking at her, as if he was only trying to strike a light conversation while waiting for the 'Fasten Your Seatbelt' sign to turn green.

Pranpriya knew that answering his question would lead to another question and then another and another and that was what she had been trying to avoid the whole time. She didn't want anyone to pry, especially the stranger who had been particularly eyeing her with curiosity and suspiciously eversince they both exchanged polite nods seconds before take off. Which she now regretted doing, by the way.

Pranpriya heaved out a breath before saying, "Just...anywhere, I guess." She tried to smile and cursed herself after. She was starting to grow impatient when, thankfully, the seatbelt sign finally turned green-an indication that they were finally allowed to unbuckle the seatbelt, gather their luggage from the compartment on the overboard and head out to the exit. Three things that Pranpriya did as quickly as she could that from an onlooker's point of view, she looked like she was in a very tight schedule. She even looked like she was in a panic, which only raised more curiosity from the man on her left.

Pranpriya pushed her way towards the door and unto the arrival terminal along with the other passengers. Her strides were sure and long. She had brought only a single bag with her which contains her small selection of clothes she had randomly picked from her closet, some wires and cables for her devices, her camera, laptop and some important documents, which made it easier for her to finally maneuver her way towards the gates in the middle of a pool of busy travelers walking to and fro the level, wandering about particular gates, worrying about papers and documents and catching flights.

She was walking in haste towards and rode the escalators down to the lower level. But halfway, the stranger from her flight had caught up with her, to Pranpriya's shock and horror, and started chatting again like they were old acquaintances picking up the pieces where they left them. His breathing was jagged and he had a few beads of sweats peering on his forehead. He obviously rushed claiming his luggages on the belt so he could catch up on her. For what, Pranpriya had no idea.

"You don't look Korean," he declared when he finally abled to squeeze himself between Pranpriya and a formidable-looking old lady. "You're not, are you?" he demanded and earned a disapproving glare from the old lady.

"That's a rude thing to ask!" the old lady told him off, which he just completely ignored.

"You look familiar, though," he continued. "I believe I've seen you before. I just can't remember when or where. I think I saw you on TV. Are you a celebrity?" he asked when Pranpriya didn't bother to respond.

He had a set of pale blue eyes behind a thick round spectacles, a long, thin nose and a mouth covered in a curly beard the same color as his hair-copper brown with some streaks of gold and bronze. He was a couple of feet taller than Pranpriya but looked totally unintimidating due to his lack of muscles and his pale skin. And he was rude, nosy and persistent and he was starting to get under Pranpriya's skin and all she wanted at the moment was to get away from the stranger as soon as possible.

They were nearing the escalator landing and he was still trying to squeeze a word from her as he was now asking her about cultural differences and racial issues after he decided that Pranpriya wasn't "white" like him and maybe she was "just another Asian woman pretending to be someone else who had the air of either someone important (because she was covered from head to toe) or someone ridiculous (because she was still covered from head to toe and 'I mean, I'm already sweating, right? Don't you feel hot, honestly?')" which Pranpriya only ignored as she moved three steps away from him. He was about to touch Pranpriya's shoulder to get her attention, probably, when all of a sudden, two men in dark uniform had placed themselves on his both sides as soon as they hit the floor landing and quietly but forcibly pulled him to the sidelines; oblivious from Pranpriya who was walking ahead without any idea that the stranger was being held.

"What is this?! Is this how you treat a guest?!" were the man's angry words as his voice echoed across the floor and caught the attention of the midnight travelers around him, including the Princess'.

Pranpriya paused on her steps and was about to turn around to see what was going on when a woman suddenly appeared on her left and said, "Don't worry about him, Your Highness. He will be dealt with accordingly." She was speaking in Thai in a low, hushed voice.

"Wh-," Pranpriya opened her mouth to speak but the woman in a bun and in a dark jacket cut her.

"We're here to escort you to your residence, Your Highness. Please keep walking until you see your vehicle on the parking outside," the woman said, looking ahead but casually showing the Princess her shiny royal police pin attached on the left side of her jacket.

Pranpriya recognized the insignia at once as she had seen it too many times before. Her mind was already formulating a hundred different questions, one connected to the other, and she wanted to ask all of it to the lady royal police, who looked stern and commanding behind the guise of her relaxed face. But Pranpriya kept her silence, instead, and walked away from the scene, towards the exit gate. Along the way, the woman beside her was exchanging nods with the other stationed royal police hovering around-they were men with crew cut hair and were wearing the same dark jacket and by the look of it, the woman was the leader of their pool. They then joined ranks and flanked Pranpriya in the middle (one of them carried her luggage for her) so that their group of seven, the Princess, included, was parting the bodies of busy travelers on level one without meaning to disrupt their businesses. They were moving swiftly and in an orchestrated manner until they reached the gate exit and unto the wide parking area outside.

Once outside, it didn't took long for Pranpriya to find her "vehicle" from all the other parked vehicles in the wide lot. She recognized the ivory Mercedes-Benz Viano the instant she laid her eyes on it. The modified van was one of the three cars she officially owned (listed and registered under her name by The Royal Household Property Bureau) which she was supposed to use for unofficial royal journey, like tonight; the other two was a Lexus and a BMW for her personal use. Beside the ivory van was a Nissan Teana and a Honda Camry, also in ivory colors. They served as vehicles for the royal police (for convoys and motorcades) on unofficial journeys, as well.

One royal police, a tall man, opened the door of the ivory van and when Pranpriya stepped inside and finally settled in comfortably, they all bowed to her and said, "Welcome home, Your Highness!" in low voices.

Her Royal Highness Pranpriya, still covered under the thick jacket, the cap and the mask, regarded her guards with only a slight movement of her head. She was grateful that she didn't have to move around Bangkok wrapped in covers like a fugitive anymore, but everything wasn't making sense to her just yet.

The lady royal police then slid the door closed and then positioned herself on the front seat after giving out orders to her subordinates, while another guard positioned behind the steering wheel. The others had divided themselves to the other cars and soon Pranpriya was engulfed in comfortable silence and darkness, except, of course, the humming of the perfectly tuned sound of the van engine and the occasional beeping of her guards' radios.

The privacy of the modified van, aided by the dark tinted glasses, gave the Princess the security at last. She then took off her covers as she was already dripping in sweat underneath the jacket despite the cold temperature in the interior of the van, as they started speeding along Bangkok main road.

"What happened to him? The man at the airport?" Pranpriya asked the lady officer in Thai while unbuttoning her jacket.

Although it was unusual for any royals to engage their guards in a casual conversation, Pranpriya was curious and she missed speaking the language, as she had been using Hangul for so long now.

"We turned him over to the immigration officers, Your Highness," the lady police guard replied without looking at the Princess on the backseat but tilted her head a little to the side as recognition.

"And how did you know I was coming?" asked Pranpriya after finally freeing herself from the jacket.

She had been wondering about it ever since her pool of welcome party showed up at the airport terminal. She knew she hadn't slip about her flight schedule to anyone and the only people who knew about it were Alice and the Chipmunk. Surely, they hadn't told her mom about her coming home, had they? Because her mother was the only person she could suspect sending these royal police to come and pick her up on the arrival. Which didn't make sense, by the way, because her mother didn't have the authority to mobilize any unit without the consent of a higher official.

"Your name appeared on our database, Your Highness. It had been a while since you last purchased a plane ticket. When we found out that you were traveling via the flagship, we proceeded to the airport immediately as soon as we have secured your flight details. The general thinks that it's better to wait for you until your plane lands so that you will not slip on our watch, Your Highness."

"My name appears on your database whenever I purchase a plane ticket? Does that mean that you, guys, know exactly where I'm going whenever I fly?" Pranpriya asked.

"It helps us track you once you're outside South Korea, Your Highness," the lady royal police replied.

"And what does 'not slip on your watch' mean? I'm a prisoner now?" Pranpriya demanded and wondered if it was part of the severe punishment she would receive later on from her father and the parliament. She could already imagine herself locked in a cellar, with food rations and being tried in the court until they would finally decide what to do with her. And although she knew that it was a ridiculous notion, it still brought a chill down her spine for a second.

"The general thinks that it's better if you will be escorted to your residence once you land, Your Highness," the lady royal police answered, "for your safety."

"Which general?" Pranpriya asked curiously.

"The general from the royal police retainers unit, Your Highness. He is acting under the direct orders of His Majesty, himself," the lady police replied.

Of course, Pranpriya sighed as she leaned back on her seat. The royal police retainer unit was responsible for her father's security pool which had an estimated members of about a hundred thousand elite guards. Her welcome party of seven was only a speck compared to the mammoth numbers from her father's pool of security.

Pranpriya wondered, though, if these seven royal police retainers escorting her were personally handpicked by her father or that they were recommended by a higher commanding officer for this assignment. Because everything would be up to His Majesty. All the decisions, all the plannings, all the important details-everything. After all, her father was holding an enormous power over everything in the country. But he couldn't guarantee the protection that Pranpriya desperately asked from him four years ago.

"Can you take me to His Majesty's residence, instead?" Pranpriya told the police driver. "Please?" she added.

"His Majesty intends to see you in the morning, Your Highness. For now, you must rest. The long flight must have tired you. Your staff is already waiting for you in the palace, as we speak," the woman on the front seat said.

Pranpriya wanted to argue. She wanted to insist that she wished to be taken to the palace complex, where His Majesty was residing. But the lady royal police was right. She was exhausted, she realized after she gave a long yawn and her eyes started to sting, as if on cue. Her residence was miles away from the capital and she still had about a couple of hours before they would reach Pathum Wan district.

"We will wake you up as soon as we reach the palace, Your Highness," the woman said reassuringly.

Pranpriya nodded sleepily in the dark. "Thanks," she sighed as she adjusted herself in a more comfortable position on the elegant upholstery and draped on herself the jacket she just took off a while ago. And soon, the Princess drifted off to sleep with Jennie's face as her last thoughts.

A white-haired man in a dark suit was waiting at the entrance. The butler was obviously notified of their arrival, so that when the three cars parked in front of the splendid three-storey architecture, he immediately planted himself in front of the doorway and waited for the Princess to finally step out of the Viano.

Pranpriya admitted herself inside the premise of her residence-a