He Walks Alone in the Moonlight [COMPLETED]

LIKE A LEAF ON THE WIND

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, scholar." The princess' voice reverberated off the ceiling, filling the space with her rich tone. Jihyun stood hastily, shuffling out from behind his desk to stand next to the prince before bowing.

"Princess Eunbin. T-thank you for agreeing to teach me," Jihyun smiled slightly as he stared at the floor.

"I didn't agree to teach you. I offered. You accepted. There was no request on your part, Han Jihyun," the princess clarified as she swept into the room, her two maidservants closing the doors from outside. The crown prince cleared his throat, taking a heavy step off the dias as he approached his sister.

"Everything has been arranged to be for your liking..." Eunbin stilled as her brother leaned in close, his chin hanging over the slope of her shoulder as he whispered, "So I expect your best behavior going forward, sister." Eunbin raised a delicate eyebrow, her face amused as she side-eyed her brother.

"Am I supposed to take that as a threat, or a request? I suggest you think carefully about which one it is, Your Highness," Eunbin hissed as she stepped away, lifting her chin as she approached Songmin's desk. The scholar feigned interest in one of the books before him, refusing to look at the princess.

"Jihyun, dear, it does not bode well for your teachings to have a man as unkempt as this as your tutor." Jihyun said nothing, watching silently as the princess' eyes twinkled at the sight of the leaf clinging to Songmin's hair. He watched as the corner of her red-stained lips twitched, just for a moment, with barely contained amusement. At the princess' jab, Songmin looked up from his book, mouth open in protest, yet words failed him as Eunbin leaned over the desk, her long black hair spilling into the space between them as she plucked the leaf from his hair. She twirled it between her manicured fingertips, her face thoughtful. "Enlighten me, scholar. Is dead foliage the latest trend in men's headwear, or are you attempting to start your own movement?"

Songmin frowned, rising from his seat. Eunbin followed his movement, her nose tracing a line up the length of the scholar, looking up at him through her eyelashes as she straightened. "Well? Did you pick up any skills from that conniving whore's son, or is fashion not the focus of your-"

"Sister. Remember your place. You will not be allowed to speak about Minjoo in such a way when-"

"I can speak about him and that woman in any way I want when it was I who handled that situation for you. Do not think it was an easy thing to punish women of their rank, brother. And do not think it was easy for me when I had to watch that woman kneel before me and thank me for helping her child when all I wanted at that moment was for her to be-"

The princess stopped abruptly, her chest heaving. Her eyes fluttered to look at Jihyun, who had rushed over and placed a hand on the princess' arm. He had noticed the subtle signs arising within Eunbin as she spoke. The tightening of her shoulders, the slight hitch in her breath. He had noticed the same things he'd felt when he was steps from the edge. Jihyun knew he was breaking an unthinkable amount of rules by even touching the princess, but he was never the kind of person who could sit by and watch as another suffered.

"Jihyun." The prince hissed at the servant under his breath, his eyes wide in alarm. Jihyun ignored him, his gaze focused on the princess. Eunbin's cat-like eyes met his, searching his face. A heavy silence filled the library as the princess took a step forward, leaning into Jihyun's space. Sighing, the princess raised her hand, and Jihyun fought every instinct to flinch. Delicately, Eunbin tucked the dead leaf in her hand into Jihyun's hair, her fingertips lingering against his scalp. Jihyun released his hold on the princess, hands dropping to his sides.

"You do not belong here, Han Jihyun," the princess noted, almost sadly.

"Nor do I wish to be," he responded, his throat constricting at the princess' tone. The princess looked down at him, her mouth a grim red line. Then quickly, just before the prince came to tear them apart, the princess grabbed Jihyun by the back of the neck and pulled him close, whispering, "If you ever wish to leave, you need only say the word, and I will make it happen." Jihyun gasped, his mind reeling as the prince yanked them apart, stepping protectively in front of Jihyun.

"I invited you here because Jihyun requested it, but that does not mean I will allow you to act in whatever manner you want." Eunbin ignored her brother's scolding, stepping around him and settling into the desk across from Songmin.

"Well then, I suggest we get started. Jihyun, if you'd please," the princess indicated to Jihyun's seat, and the servant hurried to it, an excited smile on his face as he rushed past the prince. Flabbergasted, Doyoon could only share an incredulous look with Songmin before he too settled at his desk. With everyone now seated, the princess clapped her hands together, the noise reverberating off the walls. "Tell me Jihyun, how many of the one hundred star-divined characters do you know?"

"Umm... three?"