Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74

~Chapter 12: The Roof of Wonderland~

Kong Hun sat in his bed late at night, listening to the clicking of the old clock in the corner of the room. The house was boring, and he struggled to figure out how Leora had managed to withstand it so long, and he was hardly surprised that Henry had moved away to London. It was lights out in the manor, which meant everyone was restricted to their room and servants would patrol the corridors. Possibly a moment duller than Kong Hun had ever experienced in that manor. He found himself exploring his temporary room for any odd trinkets or secrets to the house. But, the room was just as dull as the manor itself. The bed was typical and creaky, with the largest and fattest blanket he'd ever seen, that he feared may even break the bed. The beside table had a candle, which was lit, and a gas lamp in case of an emergency. The only interesting thing in the room was the three portraits hanging from the walls. One was of a young man, dressed in a noble outfit, with his hair slicked back and a sullen expression to his face. In an odd way, it reminded Kong Hun of Henry. Another portrait was of the manor itself, with its uninviting gloomy look and grey walls bordering off outsiders. And finally, there was a portrait of a young boy and his mother. The mother was pale and fragile in looks; with brown hair that curled wherever it met her face. The boy had a gentle look to him, with a flourish in his cheeks and a bright glow in his eyes; everything unlike his mother in every possible way, aside from his lips. Kong Hun's gaze lingered on it a moment longer, before his thoughts were cut off by a sharp knock on the door.

He assumed Edward or a servant was checking up on him to make sure everything was to his liking.
"Enter!" Kong Hun called out.
The door handle pushed down and opened, and surprisingly, Leora stepped in, dressed in her nightie; with a mischievous gleam in her eye.
"Leora, it's lights out!" Kong Hun hissed between clenched teeth.
"Oh, you bore," Leora yawned, shutting the door behind her," What do you care about some silly rules? Besides, I do this every night. I haven't been caught for a while now."
"A while being...?"
"Ten days."
Kong Hun stifled a sigh. Leora plopped down onto his bed, glancing around the room.
"Ah, Henry gave you the Wonderland room then," Leora hummed, softly.
"The Wonderland room?" Kong Hun frowned.
She grinned, practically ear to ear with nostalgia," Yes! When we were young, Henry and I named it that because we always used to pretend this was Wonderland. Apparently, when I was even younger, we played it with our cousin Duncan too. I can't remember it though. Look, there's Duncan, in that photo."
Leora pointed to the portrait of the boy and his mother; lingering on the boy's intelligent gleam.

"So that's Duncan," Kong Hun smiled, softly, before turning to the man in the other portrait," Then who's this?"
"My father," Leora smiled, sadly," I remember him a little, more than my mother. I used to climb on his lap when he worked and bother him. He used to put me on his shoulders and show me off at parties like some little token. And he used to pretend to teach me dancing, letting me step on his feet and teach me the steps."
Kong Hun met her gaze with sympathy.
"He seemed like a nice man."
"He was," Leora hummed," I believe my mother was too."
She glanced away for a moment, as if trying to recollect something about her mother, but clearly nothing came to mind. Seeing her expression, Kong Hun slightly regretted bringing up the portrait, but Leora turned back around to him; her mischievous gleam back in her hazel eyes.
"Do you want to see something cool?" She whispered.
"Cool?" Kong Hun smirked," Is that even possible for this house?"
Leora giggled, getting up from the bed and making her way to the drawers in Kong Hun's room. She opened one and fished out a silver key, before making her way to the window. With a series of clicks, groans, pushes and shoves; she finally managed to open the rusted old thing, revealing the night air to the poorly insulated room.

Leora pushed herself out of the window, making Kong Hun gasp and stumble towards her in horror, but was relieved to find her on the shingled roof of the house, grinning. She held out her hand to him.
"Come, it must be awfully boring in there."
Kong Hun stared at her extended hand for a moment longer, before finally taking it. Leora gently pulled him towards her, and he slid out of the window gently; his feet grazing the tiles of the roof as he found his footing. Leora gave it a little reassuring squeezing, before pulling him along with her, up, to where the two slants of the roof met. Once they were there, she sat down, guiding him to sit with her. The air was crisp and cold and fresh, not to mention the stars shone brightly that night. Kong Hun stared at the moon with parted lips, watching as the glow cascaded down, lighting parts of the grounds in a marvellous way he'd never expected.
"It's nice out here, isn't it?" Leora smiled, softly.
Kong Hun nodded.
"Can you not tell anyone? It's my secret place. I'm not allowed here."
He nodded again, too stunned by the view to truly consider her words.
"When did you find this spot?" Kong Hun murmured.
"Oh," Leora shrugged, unbothered," You get bored in the manor easily, it's quite lonely. I found it after my aunt died, and after my parents died, and after my cousin died, and after life expired in the house."

Kong Hun nodded, sympathetically; before looking at her," Do you wish you could go to London, like your brother?"
"Pfah!" Leora swatted her hand, scowling," London! The whole place is a lie, built up by people who know no better than money. Is that ironic coming from me? No, I think it would only be ironic if this was all my money. None of it is. But then again, is any money truly anyone's?"
She seemed to get distracted by her own philosophy, glancing away in thought.
Kong Hun chuckled, kindly," Then, do you wish you could leave the manor?"
"Yes, often," Leora nodded," I wish I could go to the nearby village. Or maybe to some other country. Tell me, you were from China before you died, what was that like?"
She looked at Kong Hun, wide eyed and eager, clasping his hands in hers. Kong Hun stared at her in shock, uncertain whether he should tell her the truth, or would that break her innocent, childlike fantasies of the world? No, she wasn't like Henry and he wanted to keep her that way.
"Well, it's colourful," Kong Hun smiled, lying to some extent," We always wear pretty outfits like mine. The food is always yummy and there's always such a nice smell in the air. I think you'd like it, Leora."
Her eyes shone and she smiled, truly smiled, hopeful," I think I would too."

Kong Hun smiled, turning back to look out at the grounds of the manor, lost in thought. He wished he could take Leora away from the manor, away from the boredom and seclusion. Away from the sense of death that seemed to so hopelessly linger over the manor. Wait...why was he thinking like this? This was the girl who had ruined his plan and spelled catastrophe to his role, and here he was as the General of Calamity, hoping to see her smile. The physical form in her world was truly making him soft, or that was at least what he told himself. He cast his gaze back to Leora, who seemed to shiver from the night air; breathing life into her frigid hands. Not entirely thinking, Kong Hun gently reached out to her and pulled her close. Her eyes widened and a blush stained her pale features.
"You're cold and it's late," He muttered," Shall we go in?"
She stayed quiet a moment longer, and he could hear each of her breaths and the soft thumping of her heartbeat. She nodded, softly.
"Yes, let's go back."