Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74

~Chapter 19: Her Secret World~

Leora pulled Kong Hun back into the manor by his arm, grinning and insisting he'd like what they were about to do. After being pulled through the corridors for what could only be described as about an eternity, Leora stopped at set of double doors.
"Put your hands like this," Leora muttered, gently taking his hands and pressing them over his eyes," There, now close your eyes and I'll tell you when to open them; alright?"
Kong Hun gave a small sigh and nodded, engulfed by darkness. He listened to her movements. Hearing the noise of a lock stuck and Leora curse to herself, before finally pushing it open. It was followed by the creak of a door that had not been tended to in a while. Kong Hun jumped slightly, feeling something soft on his back. It was her hand. She gently pushed him into the room, following behind him, before closing the door. There was the noise of fire crackling distantly, and a gust of wind. Her hand slowly left his back.
"Can I open my eyes now?" Kong Hun mumbled.
"Yes."
With reverence, Kong Hun delicately lowered his hands, before opening his eyes slowly. The sight was gorgeous. It was a humongous library, like ones you'd only hear about in stories; with towering shelves filled with heavy tomes and a second floor overlooking the first. Opposite them, was a huge fireplace, with its own warm fire crackling against the logs. There were windows too, huge windows, with small circles of stained glass with images engraved finely on each.

"Leora...this is amazing..." Kong Hun muttered," It's so...so..."
Leora grinned, awaiting.
"Grand!" Kong Hun chuckled.
"I'm glad you like it, I do too," Leora smiled, softly," I'm the only one who really uses this place nowadays. My grandparents never leave their floor of the house. Henry used to use it when he was still under tutorage, but his favourite books are all with him, though I believe there are a few spare copies of them in here somewhere. And the servants only truly come in to clean and refresh the fire; aside from Edward, who occasionally tutors me here. Aside from that, it's just usually me. I've been told my father owned most of these books, I find that fascinating."
Kong Hun nodded, taking in the sights. Whilst he himself had not exactly been one for reading novels, since he'd been a general and quite busy in that respect, he did find the elaborate design of the room stunning visually. He felt that it was one of the only rooms that truly felt alive in the manor, which was odd considering it was mainly unused. Perhaps that's because Leora mainly inhabited it?
"Come!" Leora giggled, gesturing for Kong Hun to follow her.
Instead of going to the large seating area by the fireplace, Leora led Kong Hun to a small seat by the window; on looking the garden and the river and the miserable willow tree.

"Sit," Leora hummed, softly, winking," I'll be back. Just going to get something."
Kong Hun nodded, gently; sitting down. It was cold by the window, but the sight and way it was positioned made up for it. Leora came back a moment later with a book, which looked tattered from being turned too much too frequently. She sat down beside him with a smile, before noticing his slight shivering.
"Cold?"
"Just a little," He answered with a reassuring smile.
Leora reached behind him, gently pulling out a folded up blanket; setting it over his lap.
"The window does tend to be cold during these times..." She muttered, getting under, sat opposite him with her back pressed against the wall.
"Spring?" Kong Hun tilted his head.
Leora nodded with a small smile," Odd weather, don't you think? Henry told me that our father got his best hunting catches during spring. Isn't that odd? It's usually during Autumn, I believe..."
Kong Hun seemed surprised by this.
"Your father hunted?"
"Oh yes, he loved it!" Leora grinned," This manor has big grounds, so there's not much surprise. He used to invite his friends to hunt too, you know? I don't think I could do it, the guilt of...murder."

Kong Hun stared at his lap. He remembered when he had first started fighting in wars, and the guilt that had lingered. But by the time he climbed the ranks, it became numb to him in all honesty.
"That's my father, there, with one of his catches," Leora pointed at a large portrait of her father on the second floor.
The man had quite a stoic and pleased expression, holding what looked like a mallow deer by its legs. Kong Hun's gaze lingered on the portrait beside that, however. A family portrait of four. Leora's father was there, stood with his chest puffed in pride; a hand placed on his young son's shoulder. Young Henry stood in front of his father, with his usual cold disposition, even as a boy. Wearing a neat sage sweater and brown shorts. Sat on a chair, next to them, was a gentle looking woman who looked strikingly similar to Leora. She was wearing a dress covered in frills like a twelve year old girl's birthday cake; with a small, elegant smile. On her lap, was a toddler, about the age of two. Her brown hair tousled cutely, and she seemed quite intent on playing with her own dress. She hadn't changed. Not one bit. Kong Hun turned back to face the girl, who had grown to look like her mother, and couldn't help but smile a little at the sight of her flicking through the book.

"Will you read to me?" Kong Hun tilted his head.
Leora grinned, happily," Of course! This is my favourite book, you know?"
"Then I should hope it's a good one," Kong Hun smiled, teasingly," Unless, you have poor taste?"
"Why, you!"
Leora pounced, seeming to forget her position of who she was entirely. She pushed Kong Hun down onto the seat by the window; giggling as she initiated a play fight. Kong Hun blushed, his breath hitching as he felt her pressed against him, his wrists restrained down on the sofa. Leora giggled, before she opened her eyes, and realised. She stayed like that for a moment, stunned in shock, before yelping and flusteredly getting off him; sitting up properly.
"I-!" Leora stammered," I'm so...sorry-!"
Kong Hun chuckled, softly, trying to tame his own blush," Don't be. It's fine."
Leora instantly snatched the book off the side where she'd placed it, hurriedly turning the page to try to deflect from the flustering experience. She read the story, starting in a hazy mumble, but by the next paragraph she'd grown to forget about it. Kong Hun couldn't help but smile softly listening to her, trying to ignore his still fluttering heart.

She loved the story, that much was obvious. The way she enunciated each scene with passion, and seemed to get lost in each line spoken. It was almost as if they were not the story's words, but her own. He couldn't take his eyes off her lips, and the way she'd randomly emote with the story; occasionally chuckling at her dramatics. It was a tale about a little girl who was locked away in a tower and kept hidden from the world by a witch. How the little girl wanted to leave and explore but was made to feel scared of the world around her, and was stuck in the tower to live to the witch's expectations. Kong Hun's once fond expression faded into something of sadness as he watched her read each line avidly. For he was sat face to face with that very little girl from the story.