Chapter Text
Princess Myoui Mina had never smelled fish quite like this.
It was sharp, pungent, and smacked her straight in the face the second she stepped out of the car. One hand flew up to cover her nose, the other gripping the strap of her designer weekender bag like it was a lifeline. Behind her, the royal escort was unloading her luggage with a quiet grunt, but Mina barely noticed. She was too focused on the small wooden sign swinging in the breeze.
“Yoo's Bait & Tackle – Freshest in South Jeolla!”
She wasn’t sure what exactly was supposed to be fresh. And honestly, she didn’t want to find out.
The bait shop sat at the edge of a sleepy road, surrounded by trees on one side and a still, glimmering lake on the other. The paint on the building was chipping. The wooden siding had seen better decades. A dog snored under the porch, one eye cracked open like even it couldn’t believe she was standing there in white satin heels.
She glanced down at her heels. They were white, satin, and completely inappropriate for the gravel and dirt she was currently sinking into.
This was not what her father meant when he said she'd be getting 'international cultural experience'.
She had imagined a quiet town with cherry blossoms, a local bakery, maybe a picturesque view of the sea. Not a bait shop. Not fish guts. Not… whatever that wet, squelching noise was coming from around the back.
Still, she took a breath, adjusted her posture, and pasted on her most diplomatic smile.
The front door creaked open. A woman with warm skin and kind eyes stepped out, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She smiled when she saw Mina, eyes flicking briefly to the tower of luggage cases behind her.
"You must be Mina," she said in soft Korean. “Welcome. I’m Mrs. Yoo, We’re so happy to have you here.”
Mina dipped into a graceful bow. “Thank you for hosting me.”
From behind the woman, a man stepped forward with a warm grin and arms still dusted in flour. “I’m Mr. Yoo. You must be starving. Come inside, we’ve got fresh jeon on the stove.”
Her stomach didn’t quite agree, but she smiled anyway. “Thank you.”
The inside of the shop was cluttered and warm, filled with the earthy scent of bait and something sizzling from the kitchen. Fishing rods lined one wall. Stacks of nets, buckets, and snacks filled the corners like organized chaos. There was a little counter with a beat up register, and behind it, a corkboard covered in Polaroids.
Mina drifted toward them without meaning to. Nearly every photo was of the same girl.
Tall. Shoulders squared. Sometimes in a backwards cap, sometimes drenched in lake water. Always grinning with fish in hand or flashing peace signs with regulars.
That had to be Jeongyeon.
She didn’t have to wait long to confirm it. A side door slammed open, and someone stomped in, grumbling and absolutely soaked. She held a fishing net in one hand and what looked like seaweed in the other, glaring at both like they’d personally wronged her.
“Oh, there she is,” Mrs. Yoo said, looking far too amused. “Jeongyeon, come say hello.”
The girl looked up. And froze.
Mina supposed she was a bit of a shock, standing there in a cream blouse and soft pink skirt, gold ribbon in her hair, surrounded by fishing rods like she’d been dropped in from another planet.
Jeongyeon’s eyes flicked to the suitcases, then back to Mina.
“This is Princess Mina,” Mrs. Yoo said with a smile. “She’ll be staying with us for the semester.”
Jeongyeon wiped her hand on her jeans, which didn’t help at all, and crossed her arms. “Here?”
“Jeongyeon,” her father warned.
“I just mean, like... we’ve got one bathroom and terrible WiFi. This isn’t exactly a palace.”
“I’ll manage,” Mina said slowly, voice steady.
Jeongyeon raised a brow. “You sure?”
“Jeong,” Mrs. Yoo sighed. “Why don’t you show her where she’ll be staying.”
Jeongyeon muttered something under her breath but turned and started down the hall. Mina followed, heels clicking quietly on the wooden floor.
The bedroom was small, with two twin beds and one shared dresser between them. A rock band poster was taped crookedly above one bed, and a window overlooked the lake. It wasn’t fancy. It wasn’t even cute. But it was... tolerable, Mina supposed.
“This is us,” Jeongyeon said flatly, gesturing to the room. “You can take that bed.”
Mina set her suitcase down gently. “Thank you.”
Jeongyeon leaned in the doorway, arms crossed again. “So, what’s your deal?”
“My deal?”
“You’re a princess. Shouldn’t you be doing, I don’t know, tea ceremonies or sword dancing?”
Mina tilted her head. “And you’re the bait shop girl. Shouldn’t you be wrestling sea monsters or chasing frogs?”
Jeongyeon blinked. Then let out a surprised laugh. “Okay. Not bad.”
They looked at each other for a second too long before Jeongyeon gave a small, almost reluctant nod. “Just don’t touch my stuff.”
“I’ll try my best.”
Dinner that night was... something.
Mina sat stiffly at the table while the Yoo's passed bowls around like clockwork. Tonight's meal consisted of rice, grilled mackerel, kimchi, and a soup Mina had never heard of. The dishes were homemade and warm, clearly crafted with care. It was nothing like the food five course meals served in porcelain dishes she was used to back home. The family chatted with one another, making casual conversation about the day’s fishing conditions and local gossip. She tried to follow, but the dialect was fast and the references went over her head.
“You don’t eat much, do you?” Jeongyeon asked at one point, pointing to Mina’s half finished plate.
“I’m not very hungry,” Mina replied slowly.
Jeongyeon shrugged. “Guess palace food ruins your appetite.”
Mina blinked in surprise, “Excuse me?”
“Nothing. Just saying, it must be hard eating real food now.”
Mina let out a sharp sigh and turned her left side. "Mrs. Yoo, I can clear the table and wash the dishes if you'd like."
Jeongyeon let out a scoff, "Oh so now, she wants to play maid for a day."
Mrs. Yoo tried to change the subject, but Mina was already pushing back her chair.
“I’m just going to get ready for bed,” she said quietly.
As she walked away, she could hear Jeongyeon begin to get scolded by her father.
Mina made it to the bathroom without slamming the door, which felt like a win. She just wanted to brush her teeth, wash her face, and forget the whole day.
Instead, she opened the bathroom door and came face to face with a lizard on the mirror.
She let out a yelp and stumbled back, smacking into the doorframe. The lizard blinked at her slowly, completely unbothered.
“What now?” Jeongyeon called from the bedroom.
“T-There’s a thing in here!” Mina shouted back.
Jeongyeon’s footsteps came thudding down the hall, and a second later, she peeked into the bathroom, then burst out laughing.
“It’s just a gecko. Chill.”
“Chill? It’s on the mirror!”
Jeongyeon stepped in, gently scooped the lizard into her hand, and carried it outside like she did this every day.
Mina stared after her, eyes wide open.
When Jeongyeon came back, she was still smiling. “Welcome to the countryside, Princess.”
Mina rolled her eyes and slammed the bathroom door in her face.
The next morning, Mina stood in front of the mirror in her new school uniform, silently giving herself a pep talk.
It wasn’t awful. Navy blazer. Pleated skirt. Not quite her style, but manageable. She added a soft ribbon under her collar just to feel like herself. Her heels had been replaced with stiff school-issued loafers that pinched her toes, but she didn’t complain.
Jeongyeon stood by the door, chewing a piece of toast like it had personally offended her.
“You look like a drama character,” she said.
Mina blinked. “Is that a compliment?”
“Take it how you want.”
The walk to school was quiet. When they neared the school gates, Jeongyeon slowed down just enough to mutter, “You should know I was assigned to be your guide. I didn’t volunteer.”
Mina raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want to be seen with me?”
Jeongyeon didn’t answer. She just pushed open the gate and quickly walked in.
Samcheonpo High was already buzzing when they arrived. Students chatted near the front steps, bikes clattered into racks, and the sound of music leaked from a nearby classroom.
The second Mina stepped onto campus, eyes turned.
Her uniform was too crisp. Her shoes too clean. Her presence too pristine. She walked with practiced poise, but it made her stick out like a sore thumb in a sea of kids who clearly didn’t care.
Jeongyeon walked ahead without looking back. Mina trailed behind, clutching her bag a little tighter.
They entered the main building, fluorescent lights humming overhead. Scuffed lockers, faded bulletin boards, the smell of instant noodles. It was a far cry from anything Mina had ever known.
By the time they reached homeroom, a few students had already started whispering.
“She’s definitely rich.”
“Did you see her shoes?”
“Her hair is perfect. Like... perfect perfect.”
The homeroom teacher barely looked up as they walked in. “Everyone, settle down. We’ve got a transfer student.”
Mina stood at the front of the room, hands folded neatly.
“My name is Myoui Mina,” she said in calm, measured Korean. “I look forward to learning with you.”
Silence.
Then murmurs.
“She sounds like a newscaster.”
“Did she say Myoui? Like... royalty?”
The teacher gestured toward an empty desk. “Second row by the window. Jeongyeon, please make sure she finds her way around today.”
Jeongyeon didn’t respond. She just dropped her bag into her seat in the back and slouched like it was an Olympic sport.
Mina sat down slowly, ignoring the stares. Her desk had noticeably been well loved due to the wood chipped corners and random doodles across the surface. Her chair creaked as she attempted to make herself comfortable. She opened her notebook and pretended not to notice someone trying to sneak a photo of her.
By lunch, Mina was exhausted.
She’d gotten through three classes without incident, but everything felt loud and fast and unpredictable. The students talked over each other, and Teachers made pop culture references she didn’t understand. She had been asked to read aloud during her Korean history class and had been laughed at because of how proper her Korean was. She grimaced trying to forget the moment.
Mina stood in the cafeteria with a tray in her hands, totally unsure where to sit. Jeongyeon had vanished the second the lunch bell rang, and Mina wasn’t sure she’d survive another hour of awkward silence anyway.
“Over here!” a voice chirped.
Two girls sat near the middle of the room, commanding attention without trying. One had long, curled black hair and a glossy smile. The other, sharp features and narrowed eyes.
“I’m Jiwon,” the first said. “This is Miyeon. Come sit.”
"Thank you for inviting me," Mina said, bowing slightly as she sat down.
Miyeon smiled crookedly, "You're so polite, do you always speak like that?"
A bit confused, Mina shrugged. "I guess?"
“So you’re the princess?” Miyeon asked, cutting her off.
Mina nodded once. “I’m here on a cultural exchange program.”
“Wow,” Jiwon drew out, her voice sugary sweet. “That’s so cute.”
Mina smiled awkwardly, even though her stomach twisted a little.
They didn’t ask many questions after that, but the air was tight with judgment. Across the cafeteria, Mina caught sight of Jeongyeon watching her with an unreadable expression.
After school, the walk home was quiet again.
“Did I do something wrong?” Mina asked finally.
“What? No,” Jeongyeon replied.
“You’ve barely spoken to me since lunch.”
“You looked busy. With your new little fan club.”
“They’re not my friends.”
“Good,” Jeongyeon said. “Because Jiwon and Miyeon don’t like competition.”
“I’m not trying to compete with anyone.”
Jeongyeon rolled her eyes. “You don’t have to try.”
Neither of them said another word for the rest of the walk.
That night, the room was quiet again.
Mina emerged from the bathroom in a pink, silk pajama set to find the lights in their bedroom already turned off.
Jeongyeon had gone to bed first, pulling the blanket over her head like she couldn’t be bothered with the world. Mina sat on her own bed, brushing out her hair in slow, practiced motions. Her body ached from walking, and her brain still buzzed with too many names and faces and sounds that didn’t belong to her world.
She looked around the room. One half was covered in band posters and old volleyball medals, the other half was spotless and untouched, like it didn’t quite belong.
She didn’t quite belong.
Mina set down her brush and turned off the small lamp, curling onto her side. Her pillow smelled faintly of lavender fabric softener.
From the other bed, a voice spoke up, soft and half asleep.
“You did okay today.”
Mina blinked into the dark. “What?”
“I said,” Jeongyeon repeated, muffled under the blanket, “you didn’t totally crash and burn.”
Mina smiled a little, even though Jeongyeon couldn’t see it.
“Thanks,” she whispered.
Silence settled between them again, but this time, it didn’t feel heavy. Just quiet.
Mina let her eyes close.
Maybe tomorrow would be a little better.