Jewel | XiaoJin Fanfic

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 11

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Yujin

I cautiously glanced at the woman beside me. Xiaoting, she said her name was. Clearly the name was foreign and my guess might be not for off because she looked at ease walking around the cavern.

We were currently inside one of the tunnels, leading to a well-furnished kitchen, albeit not equipped with the latest utensils, but it was more than enough for a common-sized family. I was surprised at how I missed this room in all my escapes. Xiaoting was chopping the meat into smaller pieces, putting the rest into an underground reserve. She... truly lives here as it seems.

"I'm guessing the dragon found these cattle?" I prodded.

"Yes." She answered, putting what it seems our meal into a pot.

"Ah, did you come out because she won't be returning any time soon?"

She smirked and pointed the knife at me. I would have been scared but the playful glint in her amber eyes and the little quirk on her lips were clearly mischievous. Those eyes... seemed familiar. Like the dragon's. I widened my eyes in shock. Are they perhaps... relatives? H-how does that even—

I shook my head from my thoughts. She's a sorceress. I finally decided. Everything about her is odd. From the flaming red hair to the glinting amber eyes, and her choice of befriending a dragon also adds to her peculiarity.

But she is very beautiful.

The plain white tunic showcased her toned body and her long legs were covered by brown trousers that I usually see men wear. She has that easy beauty some girls are blessed with upon birth—the ones who would never comb their hair and still manage to look effortlessly breathtaking.

I self-consciously brushed back a strand of hair. I must have looked like a deranged forest witch that lost a physical brawl. I stood mouth agape at the realization that I haven't taken a bath for two days now after my latest escape and I must smell like blood and herbs.

"Are you okay, princess?" She asks without looking at me. "There's no need for you to be here."

"It's nothing." I say, "But I want to stay with you. It's rather comforting to see another human after a few days."

"I see. Well, if you do feel in need of rest, feel free to go back to my room."

"I knew it. It really was your room."

She arched an eyebrow at me. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I just found it odd for a dragon's cavern to have such a well-built mountain that a human could rome in. I assumed it was the work of her former prisoners but who would take such good care of a home that they don't want to be in, right?" I waved a hand dismissively. "Anyway, who are you? Why are you here?"

She smirked. "I already told you, I'm Xiaoting and I live here."

I scrunched my nose in confusion. "You're just... here?"

She nods.

"But why are you with her? She's a beast!" I said, exasperated.

"I'd be careful of what I say, princess. She might get offended." She laughs, handing me a plate of food.

"I don't care if I offend her," I snap. "She kidnapped me. And while she feels vindicated, apparently, because someone loyal to my father stole something from this cave, I am not a thing to be taken or traded. I'm a person." In my agitation, I pushed the plate away despite the rumble that I felt in my stomach. "And to be completely fair, the thing that was taken from her belonged to my family first. She's the thief. She simply stole the crown so long ago, it feels like hers. Greedy dragons." I scoffed.

Xiaoting shakes her head and was about to open her mouth when I cut her off.

I glared at her. "No, don't even. Don't defend her. I'm grateful for all the help you've given me, especially for saving me and the little one, but I won't listen to anyone defend my mother's murderer."

She slowly stood up, eyes turning cold. "If she said she didn't kill her, then she didn't kill her. There's no point in her lying to humans she could easily burn with a single breathe."

I blow out an exasperated breath, standing to my feet to pace. Sitting still when I'm aggravated has never been easy and I am furious. I am annoyed that I'm essentially trapped here. I am frustrated my father put me in this predicament by stirring up the dragons in the first place. Who is stupid enough to trifle with dragons? My father the King, that's who.

I am offended that this beautiful woman in front of me thinks it's alright to defend her friend and my kidnapper. Although I know inside me that there's truth that the dragon will not lie as there is no reason for her to do so, I can't help but still be suspicious of her when all evidence points at her. She even admitted that she "asked" my mother and therefore became the last one my mother interacted with.

"How do you know that?" I hiss, my fingernails digging into my palms as I clench my fists.

She gazed at me with expressionless eyes before sighing. "Finish your food. I'll change your bandages so you could rest."

"How could you possibly know?" I repeated.

"I know her as I know myself. She does does not lie. What power do you have against her that she'd have to lie to you?"

I knew that, deep inside I knew. I... I just needed to— I do not even know anymore.

She ignored me and stood up, I followed her as she walked back to the main cavern.

"Even if you think that she's not the murderer of my mother, she is still my captor. She still kidnapped me for something that is not even my fault." I whispered in a hiss, bearing in mind the sleeping child.

She turned around so quick that she surprised me which made me step back. Suddenly, she pushed me towards the wall that made me groan as I hit my back. Her hands felt warm on my shoulders.

"Hmm," She murmurs. As I look up and stare at her eyes, I swear it glowed brighter that it almost turned gold. I gasped in shock.

"I knew you were a sorceress!"

She grins and says softly. "Trust me, princess, I'm not."

"Don't lie to me, sorceress. I know you're bound to the dragon somehow. Your eyes give it away." I answered back.

She simply chuckles and leans closer which made me held my breath. Beloved Ilanpek, why does she have to be so beautiful!

"I don't lie, Yujin."

"Yes," I breathed out. "I-I meant, yes, I have a name. I'm Yujin. Y-you said my name, uhm, yes."

Stop your rumbling! God, this is embarassing.

As I scolded myself, I felt her warm hands slid lower to my chest. I gasped as I simply stared at her face which was focused on her wandering hand. This is the time that I remind her of manners, right? Why is it suddenly so hot in here? Anyway, it is simply rude to touch, no, caress a perfect stranger in such a—

"I can hear your heart, princess." She cocks her head to the side. "I like the beat of it."

I think the heat is going to my brain because all I could say was, "H-huh?"

"I've been around other humans and they're more or less the same to me, but on the other hand, you... feel different."

F-feel? "I, uhh, thank you?" Distance. I need a lot of distance from this distractingly attractive sorceress.

As if hearing my thoughts, she stepped back and smiled innocently. "But that may perhaps come from the fact that you are the princess. Now, go back and eat your dinner because you will need the nutrition, Yujin."

She turned as I simply stared at her back, heading towards the crib.

Finally gaining my personal space, I sighed in relief.

I... was supposed to be mad at her. I glared at her back.

Today's been a frustrating day for my sapphic heart. I sighed, confused at the tumble of emotions I went through.