He Walks Alone in the Moonlight [COMPLETED]

WHEN THE LOVERS CROSS STARS

It seemed Songmin could not even enjoy breakfast in peace. One of Princess Eunbin's servants had come to his father's residence early in the morning and now bowed deeply before his table.

"What do you want?"

"Her Highness requests your presence at Gongjak Palace."

"Tell the Princess that I am busy today. I will not be able to attend." Songmin sighed, picking up his chopsticks to resume his meal. Just as he was about to take a bite of steamed lotus root, the servant interjected.

"I apologize my lord, but Her Highness insisted that I could not return unless I brought the lord with me. She claims that as the lord did not visit her immediately upon your return to the capital, others may view it as you neglecting your duties as a future Prince Consort." Songmin grit his teeth at the words, pinching his chopsticks together so hard the root split, dropping back into the soup with a splash.

"Tell the Princess that as of now I am still the Crown Prince's primary advisor and I answer to him. I will come to see her when my schedule allows, not when is most convenient for her."

"Ah, and to think I knew you would say just that. Fortunately I was able to make time to come see you, Advisor." The breathy voice of the princess echoed around the room as she entered, her heavy robes dragging across the floor. The tinkling of jewelry sounded as the princess moved closer to him, waiting with folded arms for Songmin to give up his seat.

"You should not have come all this way, your highness." Songmin remained sitting, refusing to look at the princess. The scent of her perfume was overbearing, and burned his nose.

"Well now I know where my brother got his manners from," Eunbin frowned, flicking her robes so the sleeves brushed against Songmin's face. The advisor grimaced, jaw ticking. Slowly, ever so slowly, Songmin rose from his seat.

"Please, your highness, have a seat," Songmin offered the cushion with a wave of his hand and a mocking inclination of his head.

"If you insist." And Songmin didn't have to look to know that a wicked smile twisted the princess's face, he'd seen it many times before.

"If I may ask, what matter brings your Highness here?" While Songmin could not claim to know much of Eunbin, he knew enough to tell she was not here merely to visit him.

"Can a woman not miss her fiancé?" The princess craned her neck, eyeing the meager display of dishes that composed Songmin's breakfast. "Is your household engaged in rationing, Advisor? I do not recall you father's table being this empty." Too enraged by the mention of his father, Songmin missed the wrinkle of worry flit across Eunbin's brow. A lord's table should not be this spare. How was the household treating him?

"So that is your true intention. You wished to meet with my father." Songmin turned away from the princess, pacing across his room. Eunbin sighed, motioning for her handmaid to pour her a cup of tea.

"It would be rude of me to not pay respects to my future in-law, would it not? Besides, I have some things to discuss with you as well." Eunbin dismissed her handmaid and cradled her cup of tea, bringing it to her nose. Songmin returned to his spot before the princess, suspicious.

"There are few things I wish to discuss with you, your Highness."

"It does not involve our marriage, so you can cease being so hostile. Sit, and share a cup of tea with me, Advisor." After a moment of hesitation, Songmin sighed, fanning out his robe and sitting before the princess, pouring himself a cup of tea with unnecessary force. As the princess did not speak immediately, Songmin brought the cup to his lips, hiding his irritation behind his sleeve.

"The boy that is my brother's fated, what is his name?" Songmin nearly spat out his tea, having to force it down his throat with a cough. He looked at Eunbin with alarm. "There is no need to hide it from me, my brother is aware that I know his little secret. Now will you tell me, or do you wish for me to question him myself?"

"You cannot do that. You are forbidden from entering Horangi Palace." The princess scoffed.

"You think my brother's threats will keep me out. There is no where in the palace grounds I dare not go, and few who dare refuse me."

"How pleasant it must be, your Highness, to slither you way into any place like a venomous reptile armed with the secrets of others. Just be sure not to bite your own tail."

The princess' lips thinned, her throat bobbing with undefined emotion. "I do not need your advice."

"Ah, but it was a warning, Princess. I only offer my advice to the Crown Prince."

"And to think this is what you do with all that knowledge, Advisor. Using your words to bully a girl like me." Because that is what she felt like before Songmin. A little girl on the brink of collapsing.

"We both know you are more than capable of protecting yourself." The words left Songmin's mouth with a bite.

"And perhaps one day I will get tired of doing so. It can get quite exhausting being the only one concerned with whether or not you will breathe your next breath." Songmin paused, eyes trained on the motion of the princess' throat as she swallowed thickly, eyelashes fluttering. What she meant by her words, Songmin did not care to analyze, the last thing he needed was to take an interest in the princess's emotions. In her anything.

"His name, Advisor. That is all I ask." It was as close as Eunbin would allow herself to get to begging, and he did not know it, but the advisor was the only one with such a privilege. Day by day, it grew increasingly more difficult for the princess to stifle the fluttering in her chest. She knew what she was to Songmin, and she would not allow her feelings to cause him any more of a burden. She was his prison, his punishment, she could not also be someone who begged love from him.

"His name is more than I can give, your Highness. If that is all you came here for, I suggest you leave." Damn him. For always pushing her away, and for knowing how to perfectly craft his words so she could not protest.

"I will find out. Whether I hear it from your mouth, or his." Eunbin's knuckles were white as she gripped her skirts beneath the table.

"Be my guest. But do not find fault with me if the Crown Prince decides to retaliate to your prying."

"We will see just what my brother is willing to do to me when I know exactly what kind of treasure he is hiding away in Horangi Palace," Eunbin hissed, rising swiftly. "As usual, you have been of no help, Advisor. Enjoy the rest of your meal." With that, the princess departed, her steps swift as she tried to leave Songmin's room before the tears crowding her eyes escaped.

Songmin remained seated, listening to the sound of the princess's retreating footsteps. Taking in a deep breath, he placed a hand over his pounding heart. Not even his own father could get him as worked up as the princess, and he did not understand why. Whatever the case, Songmin decided to depart immediately, hoping to reach Horangi Palace before the princess.