The Emperor's Bride

Chapter 6

I woke up just right after midnight, I got up and went to take a bath! Everyone in the Palace was still asleep.

I snuck out to my secret spot and I dug up the things I had buried for Haneul's birthday before I entered the Palace, I snuck back in and I decided to take a walk.

I was walking mindlessly with no destination in mind,
just thinking about the kiss with Haneul.

I suddenly bumped into someone when I focused on my surroundings it was the Emperor.

"Your Majesty."

I said in greeting,

"Why are you awake?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

"My troubles find me even in my sleep."

He said softly,

" Tell me what the issue is."

I waited for him to speak.

"Don't worry your pretty little head about it."

He said after a long pause.

"Is it true that you and Haneul grew up together?"

There was a dangerous edge to his voice and my first thought was to lie,

but then again I was sure that he was asking because he already knew the truth.

"It's true."

I whispered softly,

"You must feel closer to him then."

His voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"Haneul is hard to get close too even if you can read his emotions,

it's hard to understand why he behaves the way he does,

so to answer your question we are not close we just have shared a few life and death situations."

The Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze piercing through the dim light of the palace lake.

"I see,"
he said, his voice was low and measured.

"And yet, you still chose to leave with him in secret, that other day. That suggests a certain... familiarity."

He paused, his eyes boring into mine.

"Tell me, Yun Hee, what is the nature of your relationship with my brother?"

The question hung in the air like a challenge, daring me to reveal more than I intended.

The Emperor's gaze was piercing, yet curious, as he asked,

"Yun Hee, what is it about Haneul that resonates with you?

Is it the way he challenges the norms,

his unwavering dedication, or the secrets he keeps hidden behind his eyes?"

His voice was low and thoughtful, as if he was trying to unravel a mystery.

I hesitated, my thoughts racing with the complexity of my relationship with Haneul.

"It's the secrets that his eyes have kept hidden for my sake,"

I replied finally.

"He peeked behind the masks I wear, beyond what you see,

through the parts that fell apart and never got back up and parts that failed.

He understands pain clearly. And has seen the most evil parts of me and yet, he still chose to stand by me,