(Well Your Majesty, all I can imagine your son doing is pressing his ear to the door and eavesdropping on you guys)
The moment Her Majesty finished, Jimin knew she could not say any of the things that have been building inside of her. Her eyebrows upturned as she listened, eyes watching the queen even as she looked to the doors they stood outside of. Her desire to comfort and ease the queen’s worries struggled against her guilt for being dishonest with her, and she could not speak at first.
“Of course,” she murmured. “Please take the day off, it will do you good. And… it is alright if I’m not meant to know, but I am still worried.” After all, I’m keeping things from you, too.
Of course. It wasn’t just that the Song clan governed over the area where Kangdae first turned. Why would it be? What else was a military commander for? Jimin sighed. Even if he is meant for protection, she didn’t understand why Song Jeonghan was part of a plan meant to heal Kangdae, if his expertise was not medical in nature, but militant. Why does he need to know all of his symptoms and then debate with her about their cause if he was merely meant for protection?
“I see… Commander Song has given some insight into the cause of the crown prince’s condition,” she admitted. “But Your Majesty, I will say that I will be keeping as close an eye on him as I do your son.”
(Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if he is actually. If Kangdae was there, he probably would too.)
Deep down a part of her does not want to consider herself to be in need of rest and relaxation. The queen does not want to admit all the tension within the courts and within her family are causing her to become nervous and weak. Nevertheless, she kept her chin parallel to the floor. Her eyes looking back at Jimin.
"Ah….I understand," She assured, giving a smile. "I suppose you have every right to be concerned. You always are a caring and sweet young woman. How I am grateful to have someone like you in this palace."
She looked down at her hands. They felt as if they were shaky slightly, but she could not tell. She cannot pick out anything that is going on in the court and it makes her sick. She lets out a sigh, then looks at Jimin, giving the court lady a nod.
"If that will make you feel better, then I suppose I shall let you. But remember that he is powerful, and comes from a powerful family….So if you do keep an eye on Commander Song, you should be careful; not for my sake, but yours."
The tension in her shoulders seemed to finally ease, but Jimin did not return the queen’s smile. “Your Majesty… I’m just doing my job,” she said, shrugging faintly. “But thank you, I’m glad you think of me as such.”
For a moment she was silent, watching Queen Seohyun, but not in the present moment. Her mind took over as half-formed thoughts and ideas swam through it. Some of Commander Song, some of Kangdae, some completely divorced from current business. When was she ever going to do that laundry…?
Her mind only caught up to what was going on when Her Majesty had been speaking for about a second or two. “Hm? Ah, right.” Suddenly she wanted to explain, to tell her all of her doubts and inhibitions, but stopped herself. “I will, Your Majesty. I do not think I can promise anything, but I will try, as I always do.”
The corners of her lips naturally remained up, although the brightness in her eyes had dimmed. She forced her hands to stop shaking, and held them neatly in front of her. The grip of her top hand was tight, yet she remained neutral and nonchalant as she kept on softly grinning.
"Ah well of course," She said. "Everyone is just doing their job here. I just can't help but take a step back sometimes and be grateful for everything. While it may not be peaceful in the courts….at least I have…everything."
Her brow rose at her own words. Was she just lying to herself or simply talking to Jimin? She did not know herself. Nevertheless, she looked over towards the door then over past Jimin's shoulder. Her mind wondered what Doyun is doing or better yet, what her oldest son is doing at the moment. And with Commander Song in the palace now, she wondered how it will all be.
At least she isn't the only one with a preoccupied mind. "As long as you do your best, that is all I be expecting," the queen assured. "Will that be all for now? Or are there other matters that you wish to speak of?"
She was not sure if she liked the look on the queen’s face. She sighed. “Of course. It is good to be grateful for the things we have when things get rough.” Her eyes blinked and squinted as Her Majesty’s expression shifted.
“Alright.” Jimin sighed again. “I believe that is all, but I would like to ask you one thing. Would you like me to wait upon you, Your Majesty? Or would you rather have privacy with the young prince? I can still serve you, even while you are taking a break from normal duties.”
She did not mind it either way. It would be understandable if the queen chose to be alone. Jimin could do laundry, visit Iseul, and check on preparations for the coming coronation in the meantime. If she did want Jimin around, then she will gladly stay by her side. Though, Prince Doyun with them might make things a little awkward.
Her Majesty looked down the hall as she pondered. Does she need any to wait on her right now? She has much to do. If anything, she has to make sure that Kangdae, or herself, is complete control of everything. It is the only way to ensure that she will succeed in protecting the throne and the family. And one way to further this is to make sure that Doyun settles nicely back into the palace.
Wood creaked from inside the little prince's chambers. The queen was sure that she heard a soft voice sigh, "Ah come on…" Laughing quietly to herself, she shook her head while hearing footsteps walking away from the door.
"Go on with whatever other tasks you need to fulfill. I will have someone fetch for you if need be, Jimin," Queen Seohyun replied. She probably will not. While she might have a guard fetch the scholar who will tutor Doyun or maybe someone like Commander Song, she doesn't expect to call for anyone else.
While it may be unorthodox, she went to the door and opened it. Across from her was Prince Doyun sitting on the bed, kicking his legs as he pretended to read a red covered book. She frowned then turned to Jimin. "That is all for now, Lady Hwang. Thank you, and you are dismissed."
Jimin waited patiently, but at the same time inadvertently went back into the straying thoughts of her mind. When a voice drifted from inside the room, she focused again. Blinking at the door, she folded her hands in front of her. Was that what she thought it was?
She turned back to the queen. “Of course. I will be available whenever you need me, should that be the case, Your Majesty.”
Her gaze fell to the floor, even as the queen opened the door to the room. A twinge of pain made her wince. Come to think of it, the cramps had stopped sometime as she was talking to Myung, but now she could feel something again. She focused on breathing, hoping the cramps wouldn’t grow too painful.
Looking up, she nodded, then bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty. Good day to you, and to Prince Doyun as well.”
She straightened, then turned and left. Her movements were a little stiff, but she wasn’t quite paying attention. There were a lot of things to think about, a lot of things to do. Jimin tried not to worry too much and let it get the best of her. Even with Song Jeonghan, even with Queen Seohyun overwhelmed, it wasn’t over yet. How long until Kangdae’s ascension to the throne? With everything going on, she had forgotten what day it was.
(Before I write anything, I just want to make sure it's cool if I have us skip to nighttime. Or if you want us to write more happening now during the daytime. Either is fine with me.)
(I’m good with skipping to nighttime! ^^)
(Great, thanks!)
Just like the little prince, the crown prince was sitting on the edge of the bed with a book under his hands and the exact same pout on his face. There were multiple reasons as to why Kangdae is in such a stressed state, although it is not for the same reasons as Doyun. Well, at least for the better part.
A solid blue robe laid a mess on the floor near the bed. He sat in all white, making a stark contrast with his deathly pale skin. Kangdae accidentally ripped his favorite black and white one after getting up onto the balcony after not being able to go into the forest.
Why one may ask? There were soldiers keeping watch outside the forest. He could not risk it to slip through, feast, and come back with some blood on his face and hands. Thankfully he was able to discover this without being discovered himself.
Yes he does know why there are men guarding the forest and yes he is not going to say anything out of insecurity. Besides, he admits that the small ping of hunger is making him a little bit angry.
But it is nighttime and that fact is what is keeping him together. Although, it's not because the sun will be setting. No no no. It's because his sun will be showing. And he will get to bask in her warmth and presence.
He tried opening up his new journal to write, yet there was too much in his mind for him to focus singularly on writing. And with everything else going on, he shut it in frustration, ending up in the position that he is in now.
(Oh, btw, are new guards outside his door or is Myung still acting as a substitute?)
(Oh I should've clarified that Myung is still acting as a substitute. I'm sorry)
It was the end of the week, Jimin soon learned. So, it was laundry day, filled with dirty and freshly cleaned clothes alike. More water was fetched to wash with, and more garments were hung to dry outside the window. It was good work, perfect for pondering and planning all the while. Of course, with that always came the danger of rumination and getting lost in all the stress and dangers of her problems. Though she tried not to, it was hard. By the end of the day, other ladies might have noticed a dark look had come over her.
It did not go away, even while she was on he way to the crown prince’s chambers. The stormy expression pulled down on her lips and furrowed her brow. It only deepened when she saw the servant’s figure outside the doors. Taking a breath, she tried to compose herself.
“Myung,” she greeted, then reached to take out her binyeo. Then Jimin stopped. “Oh, is it alright if I go in? I understand His Highness is not seeing anyone today, but…” she trailed off, and let out a small sigh. There was already a small pain her abdomen. The cramps were becoming less frequent, which was good, but they always seemed to get worse at night.
Unlike the soldiers, Myung was sitting on the floor. He spent the whole day running all over the palace grounds quite literally. His feet are aching so he thought he could get away with sitting for a bit. He held a little journal with notes from his studies. In a whispering tone, he read them out loud to himself.
The sound of his name sent a shock down his spine. Bolting up, he hid the journal behind his back while bowing. Only when he looked to see who it was did he relax and go back to his normal self.
"Lady Hwang, good evening!" He beamed, despite his heart still pounding from fear. "Is it? Uhh…well…let me check!" Myung opened the left door just a little bit to see His Highness in the same brooding, grumpy mood he was in hours ago.
He decided to shut the door. His lips rolled back till he looked back at Jimin, giving her a reassuring smile. "He's a little upset about recent changes in the palace…but do not let his current mood scare you cause I know it's scary for me," He admitted. "You should be fine, my lady! You can go in! I'll open the door for you." His fingers lightly wrapped around the handle, but he didn't move any further.
Jimin was able to watch him for a few seconds before Myung stood up. It was curious. It wasn’t everyday you saw a servant reading. She took out her binyeo, and fiddled with it in her hands. She was quiet as the servant peeked through the door and shut it again.
An eyebrow rose. “Hm. I see. Well, that makes two of us. Thank you, Myung.” Stepping forward, she handed him the binyeo. “Do you mind keeping this safe for me?”
Hopefully things could go smoothly. There was a lot that needed to be addressed. The missing guards, Song Jeonghan, the future… and hopefully, then, they could spend some time forgetting about it all.
Once Myung opened the door, Jimin stepped inside. The first thing her eyes locked on was Kangdae’s almost completely white form sitting on the bed. Her gaze traveled to the journal in his hands, then down to the robe on the floor. She looked back at Kangdae, and her hard look softened a little. “You really look like a statue now,” she murmured, mostly to herself.
Raising her voice, she said, “Your Highness, good evening. Is everything alright?” Of course, nothing really looked ‘alright,’ but she might as well ask.
Myung shoved the book into his traveling pouch. "Of course!" Holding out his right hand, he supported it using the left. He looked down at the hair accessory with confusion, but did not say anything about it. The servant just stared down at it with awe as he held the door opened then bowed. The moments after she walked in and he closed the door, it was back to reading for him.
Some excitement stirred within the crown prince. It made his shoulders less tensed. Kangdae finally began to take a deep breath or two, despite there being no need for him to do so. He wanted to rush over to Jimin and give her a hug, but he was weighed down with so many concerns.
His hands gripped the edges of the journal until he realized its presence. He shoved it underneath the pillow then returned to being…well….sitting like a statue. His furrowed brows created small creases in his forehead.
"I am….." Kangdae did not know how to put it. His mind is a battlefield of its own. An incessant one with no victors. He heaved an useless sigh then proceeded to nod afterwards. "Everything is quite alright, Jimin, my love."
His chin came up, becoming parallel to the floor. Kangdae glimpsed at Jimin, doing his best to force the corners of his lips to curve up. Then his eyes stared at the doors behind her. He returned his gaze to the floor. It's obvious he is lying, but there is still some sincerity in his response.
Jimin couldn’t help but smile when he looked her. Stepping around the robe on the floor, she approached him, gently placed her hands on his shoulders, and lightly kissed him on the forehead. Amazing how she suddenly gained the confidence to do so.
But the cramps still twinged painfully, so she decided to sit next to Kangdae on the bed, letting out a small groan.
“Alright,” she said, though she easily saw through the lie, “if you say so.” She leaned against him, wanting her closeness to be some sort of comfort. For a moment she was quiet, focusing on breathing. Her mind was waging its own wars, thoughts crossing over each other and begging for her attention.
She just sighed. “Do you want to talk about this morning?” She asked. Then her gaze turned dark again. “Song Jeonghan is… annoying.” It wasn’t a very respectful comment, but it just slipped out. Because it was true. Because really, Jimin was afraid. To make that man into something smaller than he was felt almost comforting.
“But we don’t have to,” she said, unsure of where her words were coming from. Then she remembered the day she did not ask, and he was tired. “… If you can’t focus.”
Lifting his chin, he glimpsed up at Jimin. His eyes twinkled before and after she kissed his forehead. Even though his mood somewhat remains, the light kiss dissolved the cold expression that rested on his face for so long today.
Kangdae immediately draped his arm around her back, letting his hand rest on her shoulder. And he didn't spare a moment to give his beloved a kiss on her forehead. Guess they are both in a stressed state; he knows it is normal, but he doesn't want it to be their normal. He doesn't want the stress of tomorrow to loom over the time they have together now.
He sighed then went back to looking at the doors; not for any particular reason at this point. Once the name of the fool rang in his ears, he gazed downnat Jimin then threw his head back with laughter.
Lowering his head, he forced himself to sigh out of habit. "Song Jeongha-" He went back to laughing. It was partially an amused one, yet his laughter carried exhaustion and hatred. Thankfully he was able to stop himself and continue on what he was originally going to say. "It's true, he is annoying. The only thing that is keeping him where he is…is money and the bitter blood that goes beyond the age of this palace."
The cheer from his laughter faded when he shook his head. "I'm going to kill him, whether it be the last thing I do or the first thing I do as king," He promised. "And if he ever does anything to you, it'll happen much quicker."
Kangdae rested his head against Jimin's. He used his hand to rub the side of her shoulder. "We should talk about this morning. Not for my sake, but for yours too," He said. "I know you must have gone through a lot…especially since you had to deal with that fool."
Jimin closed her eyes and smiled at the kiss, readily enjoying it and the arm around her. She had missed this. If only they could do it more often. If only they weren’t confined to these moments in time.
Then she opened her eyes, and her smile turned into something more reminiscent of a smirk. “Yes. Him.” Watching Kangdae laugh, self satisfaction drowned out her worry of being rude. Every day she was glad that he did not mind and even loved her bluntness and honesty.
Her smirk soon faded. “Bitter blood…” she echoed. A chill ran through her. Song Jeonghan may be a huge problem, but she didn’t know yet if he was big enough to be murdered. And what were the possibilities that he would do anything to her? The way she saw it, it would be unwise if he hurt her since she was so close to the queen. Unless, perhaps, he tried something along the lines of blackmail.
She let out a sigh, melting into her lover’s touch. It helped her forget the cramping somewhat. She chuckled slowly. “I suppose so.” For a moment she went through her memories of the morning before she blinked. Raising her head, she exclaimed, “Oh, wait! First, I should thank you for this,” she pointed to the red flower still in her hair, “and the…” her eyes widened. Reaching into her jeogori, she pulled out the letter, warm from her body heat and the small horse still drawn on. “Poem…!” Jimin shook her head. “I can’t believe I forgot to read this.”
"Ah I should not have said such a thing," He frowned at himself. Still, anytime he thinks of that worthless name, death is the only thing that follows in suit. Death and murder and corruption and power and blood. It's only natural for him as it is for rain to follow a dark sky. "But he might be a threat bigger than he presents himself. He must have done or said something to my mother to make him a part of all of this and to be in charge of the palace guards."
Kangdae shook his head. He would had Myung spy on Commander Song, but it seems that the fool had thought a step ahead and took away his two guards. Heavens only knows what happened to those two poor souls. Regardless, he will have to handle this situation somehow. There's too much smoke to be ignoring the fire.
His hand rested on the side of Jimin's head and began to slowly pat it. It went down to her side after she raised her head to show him the flower. The bleak feeling in his eyes were overtaken with joy as he laughed in fascination.
His eyes settled on the drawing of the horse. To be quite honest, he drew it late at night after returning to his chambers. He let his fingers softly hold the brush then next thing he knew there was a drawing of a horse then somehow in the midst of thinking about Jimin, he wrote the poem.
"Oh perfect!" He gleamed. "That gives me the opportunity to read it to you then. Do you want me to?"
Jimin nodded slowly, thinking back to the queen’s words. “It is possible. It is likely. Her Majesty only said that he was for protection, but why….?” She murmured to herself, trailing off and descending into that old spiral of thoughts she had that morning.
They lurched to stop when Kangdae began to pat her head, at which she let out a small laugh. Him and his awkward pats, she loved them both. An ease came to her limbs when she saw the spark in his eyes.
Then she blinked. She had not really expected him to say that. At least he did not mind that she forgot to read it. A little flustered, she said, “Um, sure, why not?” and handed him the letter. “We can talk about this morning afterwards, then.”
Although she was about bursting with curiosity, she was also rather anxious for some strange reason. Jimin sort of expected it to be a pile of compliment after compliment, and she wasn’t sure if she could handle that. It was unfair, the amount of power this little piece of paper and ink held. It could make her laugh, cry, or hide her face in embarrassment for all she knew. Incredible that her lover could create such a thing.
Kangdae softly laughed a little. Carefully, he took the piece of paper into his hand. "When you ponder for a little, having me read this technically counts as us going over this morning."
The moment his eyes laid on the characters that lined up perfectly on paper, Kangdae froze. Believe him, if he ever says that it felt like his cheeks were flushed because obviously they aren't, although the sentiment still stands. And it made no sense for him to be this way after all the things he has said. It's practically no different on paper.
But this paper, he used and wrote for Jimin. Every single word was conjured from the thought of her. Yes he had written it while in a state of bleakness and yearning. Yes he had it delivered to Jimin for her to read and keep. Is it strange that the excitement had finally caught up to him?
"You know, I will not be hurt if you discard this. I will probably write thousands of better ones, but I will wait to give them to you myself," He promised. Clearing his throat, he held the paper up to get a better read.
"Gentle iron, mighty and rich in boundless strength. A mumble stronger than light and thunder. The blossoms after a long winter. I long to wait for dusk, when the sun and moon meet again."
Lowering the paper, Kangdae shook his head. "Jimin, there is something that I must confess…." He shifted a little then gazed over at his beloved. "And I am nervous to admit this, but I am in love with you."
She raised an eyebrow, but smiled. “And why would I ever discard a gift from you?” She couldn’t help but ask, even if it was to some degree rhetorical.
A little too late, a realization dawned on her. Jimin had never read much poetry before, much less heard it read aloud. Her uncle only had his medical books and scrolls, and there was never much reason to look for poetry in the palace archives unless it was to organize it. So when Kangdae was finished, it was nothing like what Jimin expected it to be. It was not a pile of compliments on her looks, as she had thought. There were definitely some pretty words here and there, but it seemed that she had thought that he wrote the same way he spoke, when that was not the case. No, it was an image, a story. She was quiet at first, picking apart the words and trying to understand what they meant. It was like some beautiful puzzle that her mind could chew on.
“‘A mumble stronger than light…’” she echoed, confused but fascinated. Then her eyes followed Kangdae’s shaking head. She raised her eyebrow again, then met his gaze with blushed cheeks. Half of her wanted to ask the difference between loving and being in love, and the other half had no idea what to say.
She opened her mouth, then closed it. Something made tears sting her eyes. Spirits, why must her cycle play with her emotions like this?
“I… How do you know?” She found herself saying. “How do you know… when you’re in love with someone?”
The romance of love is something that he never truly experienced in his human life. Although at the very end, he has experienced something of the sorts, it wasn't to this degree. It was burning passion, although, in what burns between them, Kangdae has assurance that they will rekindle their flames whenever they become small.
And to think that his heart doesn't beat, but he still feels and experiences great emotions now….It is as mad as it is wonderful….as it is a blessing. What makes it mesmerizing is how he is lucky to have Jimin, who acknowledges and reciprocates it.
"How do you know when you're in love with someone? Hmmm…" Kangdae sat there for a few minutes. Suddenly, he folded the paper back up, then handed it back to Jimin. He then used his sleeve in an attempt to wipe away any tears.
"Well….Even in times of serenity and peace or anarchy and madness, you know that the two of you will always have each other. Or all the kisses and words in the world cannot match just being in their presence…..When you can be absolutely vulnerable with them and they are with you….And even if you have not seen them in a day or weeks or months or even years, it will always be the same everytime the two of you reunite."
His eyes glimpsed down at the paper. A soft smile broke his face. He pointed at it. "I knew the moment I read this to you. After all you found out the truth…saw my tears…witnessed some of my deepest faults…and yet, you are here now. You know what I am, you have seen it, but you call me Kangdae. You are the strength to my pliancy."
Jimin pursed her lips, taking back the letter and letting letting out a small chuckle when he moved to wipe at her eyes. But despite that, she felt tears sting her eyes again and soon spill over her cheeks the more he spoke.
“I am?” She asked softly. “Is that… how you see me? Is that who I am to you?” She put a hand over her face, a little overwhelmed. “I never… thought I could be that for someone.”
Romance and the things that came along with it were rather new to her as well. It never seemed like she was supposed to fall in love anyway. She was supposed to marry, not fall in love. And when that did not happen, she was supposed to work, and not fall in love. For as long as she had been at the palace, that had been fine with her. She enjoyed the company of the other women, and did not really care for men at all. Perhaps that is why she had thought Kangdae would just be another friend at first, albeit with a royal title. Ah, a foolish thought. She had underestimated the power of her emotions.
Taking a breath, she moved her hand to rest on her forehead. “Well… now that you have told me, I know that I am in love with you, too, Kangdae.” She sniffed a little, and moved to wipe her eyes.
It almost made her want to become immortal. They will always have each other… until she dies. It will be the same every time they are together… until she dies. But of course, to have immortality, she would have to trade her humanity…
Then a thought hit her like her like a bolt of lightning. Her eyes hardened and her brow knotted together. She became lost in her thoughts, her mouth half opened in uncertainty.
"Oh my love…." Kangdae whispered to himself. The sight of the tears rolling down her face sparked tears of his own, yet he did everything he could to fight them back. He used his sleeve again to wipe hers away, and then the one trying to fall from his eyes.
He gave a nod right away. "I am your mirror, and I have seen your true reflection. It is difficult to know what we truly are, but our true selves are always reflected off of others," He said, "You are all I have said and much more. Of course you do not need my word for it."
A rather teary smile took hold on his face. The chances of knowing the future are low. He doesn't know what will happen tomorrow or the next day or the day after that. He may not be able to live to become king or maybe he will. The world may turn upside down for all he knows. Regardless, Kangdae is relieved to have been able to truly express himself to Jimin, and to be with her in this moment.
Yes, they are here now and they are together. He will not fail again. He will not be a coward. He will do everything in his power to be the rightful lover for Jimin. Kangdae will cherish this moment, just like every other moment with her, forever.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he leaned a bit over to look at her. "What is it, my dear?" He asked. It was questioning how the expression in her eyes changed dramatically in an instant. "Is there something wrong? Anything I can do for you?"
She closed her eyes as he wiped her tears away and chuckled softly. “Ah, yes, that is true. I think I did know already, deep inside.”
Maybe that is why she did not know what to say at first. Maybe it was because she already knew, in a way. Briefly, she recalled Myung’s words from that morning, and let out a sigh, shaking her head. Perhaps he hadn’t done a good job of hiding it in the first place.
Of course, they had only been together for a short time. Things would likely change, no matter what. If they separated, if he ascended to the throne, perhaps they could find each other again. Perhaps the worst comes to pass, and what then? Was it too early to tell?
But this thought in her mind still squirmed around, uncomfortable but begging for her attention. Both an answer and a question all at once. Jimin looked at her beloved, stared at him for a long time. Her gaze was hard, but uncertain, almost afraid. But then, it softened.
“It is alright,” she said, taking his hand in hers. “I’ll tack it onto the things we should talk about.” She breathed a sigh again, then smiled. “Do you want to actually talk about this morning now? I can fully insult the commander now that I am not in front of his face,” she teased.
"You did? Already? Wow," He breathed then laughed for a second, "I should not be taken aback by that, for you and your heart are astute."
As much as he continues to revel in the moment and being in Jimin's company, Kangdae had to accept the fact that there may come a time where they are broken apart and separated. Not in a sense that they turn away from each other themselves, but rather someone or something wedges themselves between Kangdae and Jimin, and fate. Things are never always calm in the palace. There is always someone with a torch, ready to burn everything down. Kangdae senses smoke, yet he doesn't know when the fire will emerge. Even when Jimin and him talk about this morning then plan and prepare for what may happen, it may not go as predicted, it may not work.
Just as he was ready to say "yes" in response to talking about the morning, he threw his head back and burst with laughter. His free hand slapped his knee a couple of times. There is no need for him to wait until he catches his breath, but he had to wait until he was able to stop laughing over Jimin's teasing and "Commander" Song. Assuring enough, he found himself able to. He kissed the back of her hand then cooed, "Oh to have fallen for a clever woman who insults my adversary just as I do. I would say I'd thank the heavens for having you, but it would be better to thank you, Jimin."
"But, do not let me take us off course. Let us talk about every point on this morning and every insult of this 'commander' to your heart's content."
“Perhaps,” she smiled, though it was a humble one. “But even if I did, I convinced myself that it couldn’t be true. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, only to feel heartache.”
Then her smile turned wide and playful. She loved it when she made him laugh. Oh, how it was music to her ears. Jimin found herself laughing a little too. “Should I say your welcome, then? Ah, but I would have to thank you too, because I have you in return.” Gently, she rubbed his hand with her thumb.
A sigh slipped out of her as she shook her head. “I will say though, I do not think I got much sleep last night. I was tired and in pain, which made everything worse.” She went over her memories of the morning again and remarked, “It was rather brief, looking back, but at the time it felt as though it dragged on and on.” Another sigh. “I believe we just made small talk at first. He kept saying that he knew me and that we were friends; I don’t have a clue why. Perhaps it is because he knows my brother. Anyway, he then told me of the rumors he heard and what the queen told him. I don’t know if you know, but it seems that the possibility of you being a monster or evil creature is going around now, and he told me that such monsters inhabited the area up north where you had been three years ago. That’s when I started to realize, I think. That he knew the truth. I tried to redirect the conversation, to talk about other possible environmental causes of your ‘illness,’ and we ended up debating about that for some time. Unfortunately he was smart enough to point out that no natural animal or poisonous plant would continue to affect you for three years without killing you. Really, the conversation went no where, and it was rather irritating. Though, at one point he could only list tigers and boars as the only fauna and flora in the north; I thought that was funny. I would’ve liked to believe he was actually stupid, then.”
Her gaze drifted downward, and her brow knotted together. “I could see he was very arrogant, but making an attempt not to be. He liked to boast about how powerful the Song clan is. Perhaps it, and all this about being friends was his attempt at using his nonexistent charisma on me to get me to like him.” She shrugged. “If that was the case, it was at the worst possible time. But I do not know. All I am sure of is that he knows the truth about you, and that he was likely trying to probe me for anything else he could find.”
