Thief of Twilight

Part One: Chapter 34

Min-ji paced back and forth with her hands behind her. Her lips were pursed tightly together. The cool night air lingered about. What started as a stroll turned into dozens of laps around the pond of the banquet hall. She has noticed Lady Abedayo's odd behavior but hasn't been able to tell the emperor what exactly has been going on. She has kept out all of the important details due to her respect for Lady Abedayo. She believes that Lady Abedayo will tell the emperor when she is ready. But that didn't take her mind off of what she felt. Her intuition said otherwise.

"Why won't she speak up..." she muttered. "Maybe Hyo-rin is responsible."

"Min-ji?"

Min-ji looked up to see Lord Kang walking up to her. "L-Lord Kang!" she quickly bowed her head. "What are you doing here?"

"I was just going for a walk. What about you?"

"I was doing the same..." she looked down at the water. Lord Kang tilted his head to the side. He noticed something was weighing heavy on her spirit. Min-ji hugged herself before looking up at the night sky.

"Has Lady Abedayo been well?"

Min-ji slowly nodded her head.

"You can be honest with me. Is there something bothering you?"

Min-ji took a deep breath. "She has not been well. I am nervous to speak about it."

"Why are you nervous? You should say something." Lord Kang furrowed his brows.

"I have told Emperor Kang." Min-ji said. "I don't know what to do. She hasn't been herself lately either."

"Maybe she is sick. I will ask Elder Kang to see her tomorrow."

"No, I don't think it's that..." Min-ji shook her head. "I think it's something else. It's almost like she's afraid of something. But I just don't know what it is."

"Is someone bullying her at the palace? Is she being harassed?" Lord Kang asked.

"No." Min-ji groaned. "I don't know what it is but something isn't right. I just can't put my finger on it."

"Perhaps the emperor is not giving her as much attention as he has before..." Lord Kang rubbed the back of his head. "He has been busy since Lord Heo's death."

"No, that's not it." Min-ji covered her face in frustration. "That's not it at all!"

Lord Kang placed a hand on her shoulder. "Please keep an eye on Lady Abedayo. If anything happens, please tell me. I will do my best to help."

"Yes, thank you Lord Kang."

Lord Kang smiled softly. "You don't have to be so formal with me. Please, call me Beom."

Min-ji blushed as she bowed her head several times. "Y-Yes! Thank you, B-Beom!"

"I'll walk you back to the servant quarters." he held out his arm for her.

"Oh, no! Lord-! I mean, Beom! I cannot!"

"It's alright."

Min-ji wrapped her arms around his. "Th-Thank you, Beom..."

___

His thick fingers were tangled in a sea of ivory waves. The weight of his body on top of mine. The warmth of his embrace. My body was hot. It's probably from the wine. Yohan broke away leaving me breathless.

"Zurine..." he looked down at me as if he were in a dream that he didn't want to wake up from.

"Put it in...Yohan..."