Night Prince

The Truth

"Night Panther, you're here." Seri started.

"Or should I say, Night Prince? It's you, isn't it, your highness?" Seri's voice almost sounded like a rush of wind to Ri Jeong Hyeok's ears.

Steps froze, eyes wide, Ri Jeong Hyeok's head automatically snapped up from Seri's revelation. It wasn't that he didn't expect her to find out, he simply didn't expect it to be this soon. But once again, Seri's sharpness and brilliance has taken his breath away.

"Seri ssi, your wit never fails to amaze me." Ri Jeong Hyeok chuckled nervously.

What was going to happen now? Was she disappointed? Does she hate him for hiding behind his mask all this time?

Ri Jeong Hyeok's eyes were trained on Seri now, simply studying her. Yet, it alarmed him that her face remained impassive as she stared back at him.

For once, Ri Jeong Hyeok couldn't tell what Seri was thinking or feeling. And now, the usually resolute prince was shaking in his leather shoes as his mind went on overdrive. What if he loses her now? Was she going to run away from him?

What was she feeling?

To be frank with herself, Seri didn't know either. Was she happy that she solved the mystery behind her Night Panther? Was she shocked that he was indeed his royal highness?

Suddenly, Seri didn't quite know how to act around him. The usual carefreeness she felt around him was slowly dwindling with her revelation. Yet, she couldn't help but feel comforted by his presence.

Her intelligence frustrated her sometimes. Why did it have to make things so complicated?

When he told her that he was a murderer, Seri never doubted his sincerity for a second. When he warned her to stay away from him, Seri never heeded his warning. But now that he admitted that he was the prince, Seri was confused.

Suddenly, she didn't know what to feel about him. Suddenly, she felt like she didn't know him anymore. Not when he was hiding such a big part of his life from her.

"Why?" Seri's voice sounded far away even to her own ears.

Why was the royal highness hiding behind his mask? What was he doing out of the palace every night? Why would he hide that from her when he sought her out as NP and as the prince on numerous occasions?

"I-" Ri Jeong Hyeok stumbled over his words.

"Why have you been hiding behind your mask, your highness?" Seri asked him.

Your highness. It hurts him to know that she decided to call him by his title instead of the usual Night Panther.

"Breathe, Jeong Hyeok...just explain yourself." He readied himself silently.

"Look, Seri ssi. I didn't mean to hide it from you forever. I apologise if I confused you. Truthfully, I wanted you to get to know me as the prince first. I wasn't sure how you would react..." Ri Jeong Hyeok started.

"I was scared..." He whispered.

He was scared. Somehow, such a show of vulnerability from him had Seri stepping closer to him, her eyes softening as she peered up at him.

"Why were you scared?" Seri asked quietly.

"I...I didn't want to lose you, Seri ssi." Ri Jeong Hyeok's voice was wavering slightly now at that thought.

A stagnant pause

"Well...I'm still here, aren't I?" Seri quipped, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere around them.