i became the villainess twin sister

Part 14

Choi Han was uniquely frustrated.

The ball that she had been looking forward to had been utterly wrecked by an invitation sent by some crown prince who seemed an otherwise fine person but had the timing and tact of a sledgehammer because aside from hearing Roksu-nim constantly insist that he ought to pay a bit more mind to the prince or he ought to protect the prince, he now had to spend the better part of the evening with him.

And in an even more horrifying turn of events, Roksu-nim had been endangered while she had been away dancing with a prince whom she hardly knew and frankly didn't care the slightest for. After she had deposited the prince in as dignified a way as her panic could muster and checked Roksu-nim over again and again for injuries or signs of duress, Choi Han decided on a very sensible place to redirect her frustration and anger. Roksu-nim was quite easily able to point out the assassination suspects to Choi Han and she still had her sword strapped to her thigh.

Pitch dark aura thrashed at the cowering bastards as they faced the full wrath of a swordmaster who was having a very bad no good evening. Their pleas for mercy were only acquenced upon Roksu-nim's request and even then with great reluctance.

Choi Han had spent nearly an hour listening to Cale Henituse list all the specific reasons that Roksu-nim was probably head over heels in love with the crown prince and from what she'd seen of their interactions, they certainly presented as quite the perfect couple.

If Choi Han were to be questioned quite concisely about the precise reason that the sight offered her such distress, she wouldn't necessarily have an answer that made very much sense to anyone at all. Including herself.

What she did know was that she was quite tired of being pushed towards the prince and the next person who suggested that she spend time with him was going to see the worst of it.

As it was, the would-be assassins were the ones who saw the worst of it. Quite graphically and to Choi Han's cathartic satisfaction. There was some hubbub about rewarding her for her bravery in the face of danger and an even bigger hubbub about how fantastical Roksu-nim's silvershield had been.

It had been a lot of noise that was in between Choi Han and properly assessing Roksu-nim's wellbeing and about the only thing that stopped her from cutting through the interference was Roksu-nim's nod of approval that she'd done a good job.

All of the hackles that had raised up lowered at once and Choi Han waited impatiently for the moment this wretched night would end.

And then, all at once, everything was worth it.

In the carriage containing a disgruntled Cale, an unhappy Choi Han, and an exhausted Roksu that started moving in the direction of the Henituse home in the capital, Roksu made a move that made just about all of Choi Han's worries flutter away.

"Good job." She said with a quirk of her lips that declared just how pleased she was with Choi Han's reliability. Just as Choi Han was about to reply, Roksu cut in with. "I'm borrowing your lap."

Beautiful red locks cascaded gently behind her as Roksu rested her head in Choi Han's lap, closing her eyes and yawning tiredly.

Choi Han forgot how to breathe.

Warm brown eyes looked up at her framed by deep red hair. "You mind?" She asked, seemingly noticing how tense Choi Han had become.

Choi Han nearly choked on her denial before she shook her hand, smiling sweetly down at Roksu before resting a hand on the crown of her head. "Please rest, Roksu-nim."

Roksu smiled up at her tiredly and closed her eyes.

The night really wasn't bad at all, Choi Han decided as she gently brushed stray strands of hair from Roksu's pale cheeks. She looked lovely like this, peaceful and relaxed. Roksu-nim always looked lovely though. She had a magnetism to her that drew in the eyes of others. She was a breath-taking beauty the likes of which Choi Han was sure could never be replicated.

The irony that there was an identical twin sitting just across from them whom Choi Han felt no such feelings of aesthetic appreciation for was left unnoticed by all present. Although, said twin did find the saccharine sight of pure sapphic affection to be a touch intolerable. She still hadn't quite adjusted to another person owning her face and more so than that, Cale thought that the oblivious acts of publicly displayed affection were headache inducing.

Especially when, as apparently the one part present in the carriage with eyes and a brain, she was the only one aware of the affection growing between the two of them and how utterly and frustratingly oblivious they both were to their own feelings.

From Roksu's face she could just guess that the bastard was thinking oh, Choi Han's knees are comfortable. I should do this more often. Oh, how should I tactlessly try to set up the crown prince and Choi Han next? And that idiot Choi Han was doubtlessly thinking something to the degree of Roksu-nim, Roksu-nim, Roksu-nim, so beautiful, ah, I want to be with her forever, Roksu-nim–!

Cale really couldn't tolerate the sight of them and so she looked out the window and towards the palace disappearing in the distance. Her mind heavy with her own thoughts and trying very hard not to acknowledge the lovey-dovey couple sitting across from her.

Cale hadn't actually accurately guessed the thoughts of the oblivious pair but it was a close enough approximate to reality that one needn't take a peek into their thoughts.

Although sometimes actions are so much louder than thoughts.

Choi Han gently pet Roksu's head as she sought out the rest of sleep, a small frown on her handsome face. Roksu leaned into the touch, reaching out a hand and taking hold of Choi Han's other hand. Roksu's fingers caressed the callouses there, almost thoughtfully and she brought the hand to her chest gently hugging it.

Choi Han sucked in a sharp breath and watched Roksu with shaking pupils, linking her fingers together with Roksu's and squeezing her hand gently. It was meant in comfort, or perhaps desperation, but it settled whatever demons were present in the wrinkle between Roksu's brows.

The pair of them never did fall asleep the whole ride back to the estate but just as though she had, Choi Han lifted Roksu up to carry her off into the house. She'd probably tuck Roksu in as well if she wasn't stopped. It was notable that Roksu sleepily wrapped her arms around Choi Han's neck.

Perhaps one thought ought to be shared though.

'...she's warm.'