The Assassin | KITTYZ

Chapter 19: The Unyielding Choice

THIRD PERSON POV

The forest seemed to hold its breath as the group came to a sudden stop. Haerin's eyes darted to the edge of the clearing where movement caught her attention. Stepping out from the shadows was someone they least expected—Minji. She was flanked by a group of palace guards, their uniforms crisp, swords at the ready.

Hanni's heart sank, the world narrowing to just her and Minji. The look on her best friend's face was a mixture of relief and betrayal. It had been days since they had last seen each other, and Hanni could tell by Minji's rigid posture that this wasn't a friendly reunion.

"Hanni!" Minji's voice was laced with urgency, a desperation that cut through the still air. "Come with me, now. We need to get you back to the palace. Your father... he's worried sick!"

Hanni took a hesitant step back, her eyes flicking between Haerin and Minji. The forest felt like it was closing in on her, the weight of the decision pressing on her chest. She had expected to face her father's wrath at some point, but she hadn't imagined it would come this soon, with Minji standing as the dividing line between her past and this uncertain future she was stumbling towards.

Haerin stepped protectively in front of Hanni, her posture tense. "Stay back," she warned, voice cold and calculated. "You're outnumbered."

Minji's eyes narrowed at Haerin's stance, a flash of recognition crossing her face. "You," she hissed, gripping the hilt of her sword tighter. "You're the one who hurt me."

Haerin's jaw clenched, but she said nothing, her gaze locked on Minji's, unflinching. Hanni felt the tension simmering between them. The wound Haerin had inflicted on Minji was more than physical—it was a scar that had damaged their friendship, a scar that was only widening with every second Hanni stood there, unsure of what to do.

"Hanni," Minji said, her voice softer now, pleading. "Come back with me. It's not too late. We can still fix this. Your place is at the palace. With your family."

Hanni's throat tightened. She glanced at Haerin, who kept her eyes fixed on Minji, and then back at her best friend. The question she had been avoiding all this time now lay bare in front of her: where did her loyalty lie? The weight of her father's expectations and the life she had always known versus the pull of something new, something unknown but magnetic, tethering her to Haerin.

Danielle and Hyein exchanged a glance, sensing the volatile atmosphere. Danielle stepped closer to Haerin, subtly placing herself between Minji's guards and their group. Hyein's hand hovered over the small knife at her side, ready to act if things went south.

Minji took a cautious step forward. "Hanni, please," she whispered, her eyes shining with something like fear. "If you don't come now, they'll come for you. And they won't show mercy to anyone who's helped you escape."

Hanni's eyes flickered with uncertainty. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out. The thought of her father's wrath, the potential punishment that awaited anyone who stood in his way, flashed through her mind. But when she looked at Haerin, at the unwavering defiance in her eyes, she felt a warmth in her chest that she hadn't felt at the palace in years. It was something raw and real.

"I can't go back," Hanni said, her voice barely above a whisper. It was a decision that took every ounce of strength she had, a decision she felt rippling through her soul. "Not now. Not when I'm starting to see what the kingdom really is—what my father really is."

Minji's expression crumpled, hurt and confusion mingling in her eyes. "You're choosing them?" she asked, her voice cracking. "These people who have lied and manipulated their way through everything? You're choosing her?"