When Peony Blooms #AMBW

Chapter 14: "Whispers of Treason's Symphony"

The palace lay under a gentle cascade of raindrops, as a symphony of rain played on the palace roof tiles. The droplets turned the palace into a watercolor painting, every time waterdrops it hit the ground. The Crown Prince found himself alone in the courtyard, sheltered under the wide eaves, his hand extended to catch the droplets. His eyes held a faraway look as he watched the water dance upon his palm, his hand was stretched out into the rain, lost in a world that was his alone.

"Trying to catch your own private raincloud, are we?" Ayodele's voice cut through his reverie, her words a teasing lilt, as she hugged the pillar beside him. There she stood at the courtyard entrance, a wry smile dancing on her lips and her eyes gleaming with unspoken amusement.

The Prince, momentarily taken aback, grinned back at her. "And what if I am?" he retorted, turning his attention back to the rain. With a sudden flick of his wrist, he sent a sprinkle of droplets towards her, a playful retaliation.

A gasp left Ayodele's lips, not of shock, but a light-hearted protest as she moved to shield her meticulously styled afro from the spray of water. "Hey! Not the hair," she objected, her voice carrying a melodious chuckle, her hands defensively patting down the stray curls. "It took forever to get it into this shape." she looked at him. " Not that you would know anything about looking good." She subtly teased.

A silence followed, a comfortable one, punctuated only by their shared laughter and the soft patter of the rain. The tension that usually buzzed between them seemed to dissolve, replaced by an easy camaraderie that caught them both off guard.

He watched her with a newfound curiosity, a faint sense of wonder. "Well, nevertheless, I'm sorry," he finally said, his tone losing its playful edge, like he was truly concerned "I didn't mean to mess it up." he seemed to say like he was referring to something else.

Ayodele just smiled at his words, shaking her head, the tendrils of her hair swaying gently. "It's fine," she reassured, her tone softer than the rain falling around them, "I'll just have to wake up a little earlier tomorrow."

The rain had not yet abated, and neither had their cheerful conversation. The two of them sat beneath the eaves of the palace, watching the raindrops as they flitted across the courtyard. The Crown Prince smiled at her when she laughed at one of his stories, still captivated by her presence.

    But before their moment could linger any longer, a loud voice shouted from across the courtyard. "Ayodele! I brought you that book you wanted!"

    The Crown Prince's smile faded as he watched a tall figure striding towards them - Seo-jin,  He felt a spike of annoyance at this interruption - why couldn't he have just a few moments with Ayodele without being interrupted? - but he suppressed it for now. He nodded his head, weakly in greeting as the other man approached.

    Ayodele seemed to be delighted by his appearance, however, and she shouted out a greeting with an enthusiastic wave while leaping up to embrace him tightly.

" There you are." She smiled. " I was getting worried." She added. " Did you really get it?"

The Crown Prince was taken aback slightly by her sudden show of affection.

    "I am happy to see you too," Seo-jin said, his voice a melodic harmony that carried a hint of warmth and familiarity. The timbre of his voice was soothing, like a gentle gust rustling through the leaves of a tranquil forest. His words were laced with genuine affection and a touch of playful banter.

As he released Ayodele from their embrace, he nodded. " Of course, I did, you should have more faith in me," he said as he pulled out a book.

" Gamsa! Gamsa!" Ayodele said, with a smile, causing the crown prince to look at her. He parted his lips to ask something but kept quiet.