Chapter 10: The Prince’s Promise and the Beautiful Noona’s Invitation

Although I'm sure that I am safe, it does not change the fact that I tensed up for a moment, seeing such a large and strong animal running towards me is not fun. But I reaffirmed my determination, took a deep breath, and circulated my mana throughout my body to prepare for the worst by activating my [Self-Healing] ability.

The lion impacted the window and shook the bus. I don't know if the window is reinforced but it most likely is, as it did not break with the impact.

I saw the lion's big eyes and they were completely focused on me, it opened its jaws as if it wanted to eat me even though the window separates us.

I felt the woman's hands on my shoulders and before she could say or do anything else I took the initiative.

"Calm down Noona, stay behind me, we are safe, the glass is shatter resistant and if it breaks I will protect you, I promise," I said with the calmest and most assured tone I could muster, the circulation of my mana increased several times in my body and I felt that I was able to execute the [Reinforcement] skill for the first time since the many failed attempts I have had.

The hands that were holding my shoulders tightened a little when I said I would protect her, but when I executed the [Reinforcement] skill I felt a stronger and more trembling grip of her hands. It seems she was very surprised.

The lion was quickly scared off by something that I assume was caused by the woman behind me. Incidentally, it is also possible that it might have somehow sensed when I activated my [Reinforcement] and it may have felt threatened by that. However, I have no proof to believe that its instinct could sense my action and I am much more inclined to believe that it was due to some action that I did not notice by the woman behind me.

As the lion escaped, I stopped circulating my mana. My [Reinforcement] and [Self-Healing] were deactivated. But I still left the [Nine Eyes] active and turned to look the woman in the eyes.

"I told you Noona, we are safe, I kept my promise." I shamelessly said.

She looked at me intently, as if she was studying every part of me with her gaze, but her eyes, although they seemed to see and study my entire being, were mainly focused on my eyes.

She was clearly surprised and was doing nothing to hide it, she even brought a hand to cover her mouth.

"Oh my God... it can't be..." she said very softly, an almost imperceptible whisper.

If it weren't because I am very attentive to her actions and we are very close at this moment, I would not have been able to hear it.

She continued to look at me and finally put on a face of sadness and resignation. She let out a sigh as if she had just suffered a great loss and said in a barely audible tone, "If only you were a little older... No, maybe it is better that you grow up without realizing it."

"Don't worry Noona, everything is fine," I told her in as soothing a tone as I could.

She smiled at me and sat down again, seeming lost in her thoughts. The bus began to move again and as it continued on its route, she sighed several times and grew more depressed.

I felt bad for her, I know her problems and I know I have the solution, but I also know that I can't talk about everything freely, this is the best way to execute my plan. So I prepared and carefully reorganized what I was going to say next, this part is key in my plans and must not go wrong.

"You know Noona, my sight is very special, I can see things that others cannot and I can understand things that others cannot, I can see that you are sad, depressed, desperate and you think there is no solution to your problems, but that is not true, I can see it, the way out. But I cannot tell you where it is because if I do, I understand that the way out will disappear, so I can only ask you not to fall into despair, endure adversity and wait with hope.

While you feel that you are trapped in a well with no apparent way out, that is not true, so even though you cannot see the way out, do not give up. Moreover, even though you do not know the way out, I know that you know the entrance for others, so I need you to keep a very special invitation in my name, I will use it to enter when the time is right and I will show you the way out," I told her as I took her hand and gazed directly into her eyes with the [Nine Eyes] still active.

She was first surprised when I took her hand, but as she listened more and more to my words, her body also trembled more and more.

"Will you really come for me and show me the way out?" she said as she looked at me and squeezed my hand holding hers.

"Just like when I promised you that we would be safe and that otherwise, I would protect you. This time I promise you too. Just keep the special invitation in my name and when I am ready I will come for you," I replied.

A tear came out of her right eye and rolled down her cheek, she quickly used her free hand to wipe it away and asked, "What is your name?"

"Seol Jihu, but keep the invitation for the name of Alex Díaz. I can't tell you why because if I do the way out will disappear," I replied.

The bus had stopped a few moments ago and the passengers were already getting off, and my mother, who was carrying Jinhee, came for me.

The beautiful woman was silent for several seconds and then gave me a kiss on the forehead and said, "I'll be waiting for you my prince, don't take too long, I will tell you my name when we see each other again."

"Until we meet again, beautiful Noona," I said before getting up from my seat.

My mother called me by my name and I went to her. Apparently she, like the other people on the bus, had not paid attention to the woman either. She took my hand and we got off the bus.

Then we visited the other enclosures and enjoyed seeing the different animals there. Jinhee was very excited and happy, especially when she managed to touch the head of a giraffe while dad lifted her as high as possible.

And Wooseok, even though he was enjoying the view, always kept an eye on both Jinhee and me, holding true to his path of being the best Hyung.

Our tour ended a few minutes after we noticed that Jinhee was tired and struggling to stay awake, so none of us protested at the idea that it was time to go home.

While we were on our way home in the car, we were chatting about the whole excursion.

"When the lion attacked the bus, I almost had a heart attack, if it weren't for having Jinhee on my legs, I would have run to look for Jihu. He was the only one who sat in the back," mom said softly, trying not to wake Jinhee, who was sleeping while she carried her.

"True, when the guide who was sitting in front with me realized, he immediately took out a special whistle, apparently if he uses it, it produces a sound that is very annoying to lions and makes them back off immediately, but by the time he was going to use it, the lion was already retreating," dad said excitedly while keeping his attention on the steering wheel and the road.

"I was surprised for another reason, when the lion attacked the bus, I immediately looked for Jihu, but I did not see him where he sat and instead the seat was empty. I tried to get up to look for him but the other passenger who sat next to me was so terrified that he held me tightly and I couldn't free myself," said Hyung with a downcast expression as if he had failed in his mission to be the best brother.

"Don't worry Hyung, in the end, nothing bad happened, my seat was empty because when the lion attacked I hid between the seats and that is probably why you could not see me," I said, lying to try to alleviate Hyung's guilt.

From the sigh of relief he gave, I can tell that my lie was a success. The trip continued and we finally arrived home. The uncles seem to have not returned yet, their car is not in the parking lot. I guess that temporarily saves me from whatever Seonhwa is going to ask me as an apology for not supporting her in escaping her punishment.

I went straight to my room and began to review in my mind how everything turned out well in the end. I don't know if it could have been better or worse, so I am satisfied with the result. With this, I have taken the first steps of my plan.