He Walks Alone in the Moonlight [COMPLETED]

HOME OF THE TIGER

The Crown Prince's palace was lifeless compared to the main palace and its subsequent branches. The gardens were overgrown and spilled into the pathways. Vines crawled up the walls of every building, and the signs above their doorways were faded to be near illegible. Overall, the place looked abandoned, and it certainly didn't seem like the home of the next king.
  There was not a servant in sight except for a young woman waiting to meet them. Chang greeted the servant with a smile, shooting a wink in her direction as they approached.

"This here is Munyeong. She'll be taking care of you, although she may chat your ear off in the process." Munyeong giggled at Chang's jab, shaking her head in mock defeat. She had a youthful energy about her, a playfulness similar to Chang, but purer, like she could make you laugh without having to take witty bites at others. Jihyun instantly felt a connection to her. He'd always felt more comfortable around women, perhaps because he'd never had a father growing up.

"It's very nice to meet you. His Highness told me to prepare a room for you. I put it close to his, as he-"

"Ahem, hm," Chang coughed into his fist, cutting Munyeong off. "Jihyun, why don't you take off that mask. We can get you changed too, now that you're in the palace."

"Ah yes!" Munyeong clapped her hands together in excitement. "I prepared all the clothes Minjoo recommended for you, I'm sure you'll find something you'd like."

Jihyun ducked his head shyly, still confused as to why he'd get his own room, much less a whole new wardrobe. Sliding his fingers beneath the chains behind his ears, Jihyun pulled the square of fabric away from his face. Munyeong gasped softly, "You're so pretty. Ah, it's no worry then, anything will look good on you with a face like that." Jihyun flushed at the compliment. He knew he was fairly attractive, but no one really complimented him so genuinely. He also felt insecure without his long hair, as it had come to be his defining feature. He felt ugly and naked without it. Munyeong's words warmed his heart, and Jihyun smiled his first full grin in a long time, so wide his eyes squeezed shut and his nose wrinkled.

  "Thank you very much," Jihyun replied, cheeks rosy and face warm. Chang had fallen silent beside him, inspecting Jihyun with a curious gaze. The two servants were too engrossed in a battle of compliments to notice Chang's observation. The general, however, felt he'd learned a valuable piece of information.

Munyeong led Jihyun away after Chang dismissed himself to return to his own home to bathe and change clothes. Jihyun followed the female servant deeper into the palace grounds, the path clearing out and becoming wider the further they progressed. After about fifteen minutes of continuous walking, the pair stepped through a thicket of flowering hedges into what seemed like a whole new world. Everything was pristine and glimmering. Colorful flowers bloomed from well-trimmed bushes and a large fountain ran merrily with clear water, several pure white koi fish swimming in circles in its basin. Several extravagant buildings, their names gilded in gold, made a u-shape around the courtyard. The center was clearly the Crown Prince's quarters, as it was far larger than the others. A white crane perched on its roof, and only after much time passed without it moving, did Jihyun realize it was an incredibly detailed statue. Mouth agape, Jihyun spun in place, eyes wide to take in all the scenery. The more he looked, the more wealth and designs he saw. From small detailed carvings on each of the stones beneath their feet to a vibrant mural at the top of every column, every inch of the courtyard was decorated.

"It's amazing, isn't it. The Crown Prince designed it himself when he was sent to live at Horangi Palace after being declared heir," Munyeong offered the information with a hint of admiration in her voice.

"Why did he not finish it?" Jihyun asked. Although he did not want to start a conversation about the crown prince, he couldn't help his curiosity.

"What do you mean?" Munyeong tilted her head in confusion. Jihyun waved his arms towards the direction they came from.
"All the old buildings, and the unkempt gardens. Why did he not alter those as well?"

"Ahhh, that was on purpose." Jihyun's brow wrinkled in confusion. Munyeong smiled at Jihyun's incredulous expression.

"I don't know the full details myself, but his Highness doesn't seem to like outsiders. Not many people want to visit him if it looks like he lives in an abandoned building," Munyeong explained as she ushered Jihyun towards the building to the left of the prince's dwelling. Jihyun hummed in understanding. It fit the description of the crown prince he was familiar with. Still, something about the juxtaposition of the Prince's palace grounds versus his actual home felt strange.

While helping Jihyun settle into his new home, Munyeong indeed talked his ear off. Whether it was catching him up on all the latest palace drama or asking him questions about his trip, an endless stream of words left her mouth. Her talking ceased as she drew a bath for Jihyun and witnessed the scratches and scars along his body when he took off his clothes. Mercifully, she did not say anything about them and quickly finished filling the bath. Once done, she left, telling Jihyun to yell for her if he needed anything at all. Once again alone, Jihyun finished undressing, removing the bandages from his worst wounds. Sighing as he entered a warm bath for the second night in a row, an unbelievable occurrence in his life, Jihyun made quick work of scrubbing himself down. He hadn't bothered to take out all the hairpieces Minjoo did for him, reluctant to part with the weight, so he only washed his body and face, exiting the bath before the water even cooled.

Wrapping himself in the thick cotton robe Munyeong had hung over the divider, Jihyun stepped cautiously into his new room. It was more like a house, really, one big area with a bed, table, and lounging area, the bathing room he'd come from being the only space sectioned off. Before she'd left, Munyeong helped Jihyun pick several outfits, laying them out on the bed. They were all muted in color, a desaturated purple, green, and blue. The blue one called to Jihyun, a piece of airy fabric with faint glimmers of silver thread catching the sunlight that filtered in through the open windows. Jihyun knew that just this robe alone cost more than everything he owned, which lay on the floor inside of a tied-up old blanket. Sighing, Jihyun bent down to pick up his belongings when a whizzing rush of air stirred the hair on the nape of his neck. Jihyun straightened with a yelp, his eyes zeroing in on a quivering arrow struck deep into his bedpost. Jihyun froze in fear, his breathing hitching rapidly.