Roseborn | Hwang Hyunjin

❃ Chapter 27

"Here."

You looked up from the mouth of your worn waterskin to be faced with the gleam of a silver goblet. The Sōrsānt towered over your sitting form, growing embarrassed when you continued to stare at him blankly.

"It's refreshing," he quickly explained.

Water from the palace's channels? You hesitated to take his offer. Cold water was a luxury you could only enjoy in wintertime, when the bitter bite of frost steeped itself into the air and shards of ice floated in the wells. It would be nice, you thought, to drink from the cooling channels on a summer day such as this. The water would certainly be cooler than that which was maintained by your trusty waterskin.

Though, you never expected Hyunjin, in all his foolish, aristocratic arrogance, to share his water with you. Your mute surprise had begun to infect him, and he retracted his hand slightly, mumbling, "Actually I—"

You reached out and grasped the goblet, sparing him the awkward excuse. When the tips of your fingers brushed his, he pulled his hand back as though the contact had stung and stepped away.

You could tell that he had been pondering this gesture for a while, for his snarky confidence was nowhere to be found. Instead, Hyunjin watched you with tentative anticipation, as if he had expected his plan to go awry from the beginning and had no expectations for its outcome.

You fought back a grin. To make such a fuss over a goblet of water was something only the Sōrsānt was allowed to do. And, mortified, you realized that you wouldn't have cared if it were anybody else.

Expressions of gratitude were not your greatest strength nor your favored exchange, but you supposed this matter was an exception. So, you turned your gaze toward him, smiling politely. "Thank you."

You didn't wait for a response and decided to take a sip from the silver cup in your hand. Cold water raced down your throat, an antidote to the sunbeams glaring at you. You were not short on water, yet it felt that way as you drank more and more. When the goblet emptied, you were almost remorseful.

You noticed Hyunjin still standing there, beaming as though he had achieved a significant feat. It was endearing, as you were once again mortified to find.

Influenced by the kind atmosphere, you dared to ask, "How has your magic training been?"

"Oh," he blinked, taken aback by your inquiry. "It has been well. I've been training to manifest my magic without using sand."

There was a beat of silence before he added, "Would you like to see?"

You nodded eagerly, and he clasped his hands before him. Though the way Hyunjin performed his magic wasn't grand, it left you awestruck in the few times you'd witnessed it. Deliberate and careful, it was evidence of the care he poured into his flowering creations.

After a short while of anticipatory silence, Hyunjin visibly relaxed and opened his hands. You pushed yourself to your feet to get a better look at what lay between his palms.

It was a small flower, with petals the color of the sky at sunrise, and it was the loveliest you'd seen of his recent making. You resisted the urge to reach out and pick it up, instead choosing to murmur a compliment. "It's beautiful, as always."

"Can you materialize a flower from thin air?" you wondered, to which he shrugged. "I could try."

Clutching the pink blossom, Hyunjin turned to the side and raised his free hand before him. Why he was humoring your curiosity, you couldn't tell, but you didn't ponder over it further.

Long, futile moments later, Hyunjin frowned, shoulders slumping in defeat as he brushed his fingers through his hair. "I don't think I—"

Your eyes widened, and so did his.

In the wake of Hyunjin's fingers, between the dark strands of his hair, little flowers unfurled like a smattering of stars. Smiling, innocent, as though this were their destined home.

You were captivated by the sight.

And when Hyunjin's hands moved to hastily remove the flowers from his hair, your lips were moving before you could realize what was happening. "Stop!"

The Sōrsānt did, bewildered by your outburst. His brows were raised, and you wished for the ground to split open and swallow you at that moment.

Why did you say that?

"Flowers look good on you."

And another careless thought.

You were sure that if your embarrassment didn't suffocate you, Hyunjin's quietness would have. You had crossed the line, you determined when he swiftly gave you his back.

What a senseless thing to say, you chided yourself, starting to apologize when he said nothing. "My apologies, Sōrsānt—"

"You think so?"

Hyunjin's voice seemed distant, but the hopefulness in it was so palpable it silenced you. Suddenly, apologizing felt like such a stupid idea.

"Yes."

"Then...I'll keep them," he declared softly, turning to face you.

You let a genuine smile adorn your lips. "You should."