𝕭𝖑𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝕻𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖈𝖊───
"Dance for me." The figure on the throne said.
Her throat felt dry. Even in the dark, she could sense his eyes on her, tracking her every move.
She couldn't place what it was, but something about his intimidating aura made...
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Ji-ah walked through the garden, surrounded by vibrant flowers and the faint rustling of leaves in the warm afternoon breeze. The sky was clear and the sun was so bright it seemed to glow all over the place.
Ji-ah jolted sideways, her heart skipping a beat as a bee almost flew into her face. "Please go away, I'm not a flower." She said and felt silly because the bee didn't understand her.
She was in a more open part of the garden, and green grass stretched out all the way to the forest, which was bordered by a tall metal fence.
She trudged further towards it, the ground becoming more uneven. This part of the garden was more unkempt, the grass had overgrown and filled with weeds.
She approached the rusted fence and saw a small gate leading to the forest. Without thinking, she grasped the handle and gently pushed open the gate. The gate creaked loudly, its hinges rusted.
Ji-ah wondered why they never bothered to replace it, considering it was out of place on the well-maintained palace grounds.
Ji-ah made her way to the thick forest beyond, not knowing where she was going.
As she approached the edge of the forest, her eyes were drawn to a small glint of color in the midst of the grass.
She stepped closer to investigate and saw that it was a bird. The tiny green creature lay on the ground, its wings appearing to be badly injured. It chirped helplessly, unable to move.
She lowered herself to inspect it closer. Its wings were torn as if bitten by some sharp-toothed predator. "I'll help you," Ji-ah said soothingly to the wounded bird.
She carried the bird delicately in her hands and began to trek back. The bird didn't stop cheeping, sounding more agitated now.
Then something oozed out of the bird, and Ji-ah looked down at her hands. Dark liquid flowed out, wetting her hands. It was blood.
It gushed out of the bird uncontrollably, until it dribbled down her arms and grass. The creature disappeared and blood flowed like a river out of her hands, painting the grass red.
Ji-ah fought the urge to scream.
The blood was everywhere now, soaking her dress and drowning the grass. Crows circled overhead, their caws sounded over and over again in her ears.
Ji-ah's eyes snapped open, and she found herself sitting up in bed, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her room was dark, and the soft sound of rain pattered on the window.
It was just a dream? But it felt so real and vivid. She often had weird dreams, not that she remembered them, but this one was unsettling.
She tried to calm her racing heartbeat and checked her phone. It was only 5 am. She has 2 hours left before work starts.
Ji-ah groaned and flopped down on her bed, trying to go back to sleep. She closed her eyes, waiting for the darkness to come again. But it didn't.
Ji-ah sighed and sat back up. That dream ruined her precious sleep.
She had heard people say dreams often mean something. Maybe she should ask the Internet what a dead bird means, or that she dreamt of blood everywhere.
Trying to put aside the uneasy feeling the dream gave her, she dragged herself out of the bed, feeling a mix of exhaustion and restlessness. Or perhaps it's a sign that her period is coming?
She made her way to the washroom and started her morning routine. The persistent rain made the palace feel chilly, so she put on another layer of clothing before venturing out to the dark hallway.
The early morning hours had a special kind of stillness to them, a silence that enveloped the palace. Ji-ah walked quietly, afraid that she would make noise in the quiet palace.
Outside, the dawn had barely started to break, and the world beyond was painted in deep, dark blues. The mist clung to the garden and the surrounding forest.
Ji-ah thought she saw a shadow moving between the bushes outside and felt a shiver crawl up her spine. For a moment, the sense of unease came back again, as if something were out of place. She quickly dismissed it and continued her walk to the kitchen.
The kitchen's light was on, so Ji-ah thought that the other staff had already woken up. Someone was cooking, and Ji-ah could smell the delicious aroma of omelets, and her mouth watered.
She peeked into the kitchen and noticed a man with silver hair standing over the stove, with one hand holding the pan.
Ji-ah recognized the man as Jay, one of the royal princes. She closed her mouth with her hand and backtracked slowly, but it was too late.
Jay turned around, his silver hair glistening in the soft kitchen light. He looked surprised for a moment before his expression shifted to mild amusement.
"Good morning," he greeted Ji-ah with a friendly smile. "Don't mind me. I'm just cooking some omelets."
