Thief of Twilight

Part Two: Chapter 70

"You want to do what?"'

Emperor Kang sat across from Lady Gim.

Lady Gim packed the end of her pipe while eying him suspiciously. "Please, can you repeat yourself?" they were seated at a table on the patio enjoying the summer sun.

"I want to take Zurine to see the fireworks along the shore."

Lady Gim raised a curious brow. "And...where are you thinking of doing that?"

"I believe your sister still owns the inn, correct?"

"Crystal Sea Inn..." Lady Gim held her pipe to her lips and inhaled. "Yes, Ji-hye still owns it. I can send her a letter and let her know that you are going to pay her a visit."

"I would appreciate it if you could do that." the emperor bowed his head.

"You are quite fond of Lady Abedayo, aren't you?"

Emperor Kang looked up with a loving smile.

"I don't think I have ever seen you so in love."

"I don't think that I have ever been so in love before..." he slowly turned his head only to see Zurine walk by with Lady Gim Ha-yun by her side.

Lady Gim watched as the emperor slowly turned his head. "Give me four days. I will tell you what my sister has planned for the two of you."

___

Yohan has been acting very weird lately. He keeps smiling when he comes to see me but won't exactly tell me what's going on. But today...today was different. Did the conflict with Masir come to an end? He sent a letter the previous day stating that I was to meet him at the front gate after breakfast.

When I arrived, I saw him standing before me holding what appeared to be a hat with a long black veil hanging from the ends.

"Yohan...what...is that?" I asked.

"Oh, this?" he looked down at the headdress in his hands. "This is traditionally worn by women when they are unaccompanied by their husband."

"....Am I going somewhere without you?" I crossed my arms over my chest.

"No, but...we are going somewhere together. But because of the conflict in Masir, I don't want anyone to recognize you."

"Recognize me?"

"Your hair, eyes, and complexion are not common to the natives of Sincheon. Anyone would recognize you and could possibly tell someone where you are. I want to avoid that as much as possible."

"Fine." I sighed while extending my hand. "Give it here."

Yohan handed me the headdress.

I put it on before adjusting the strap under my chin. "There, how does it look?" the veil fell down the front and back of me to my elbows.

Yohan smiled softly before leaning forward. "Perfect." he parted the veil with his fingers and gently kissed my lips.

"Are you two leaving already?"

The two of us turned to see Lady Gim standing behind us.

"Yes, we are." Yohan looked up at her. "We will return tomorrow evening." he turned to me and pointed to his back."Let's hurry. I want to get there before sundown."

Hurry? Where are we going? I climbed onto his back with my arms wrapped around his neck. Yohan secured his arms around my legs before racing through the trees. We headed in the same direction as the night he took me to the beach. The trees started to thin out as we approached the shore. I could see the golden brown sand and the deep blue waves.