Stealing The Crown | huang zitao

Ch. 1

Chapter one|Disappointment|

Park Ah Reum

Love.

Love could be the only word to describe the look in my eyes as I stared up into his warm brown eyes. Those eyes that held nothing but love, care and sincerity. Tingles spreading throughout my entire core as his sweet, familiar smile spread out on his face.

With our lips mere inches away, a blood curdling scream rang out, sending shivers down my spine. Immediately he pulled away from me, eyes flashing menacingly. All the previous traces of softness and love dissolved into the enthralling colour of his black orbs, the only expression that was displayed were hard and cold — almost distant.

I flinched as he held up his hand, indicating to hit me. But the painful blow never came. Nothing came at all. I cautiously flutter my eyes open to meet his harsh gaze, disappointment etching at his perfect features. I guess a hard slap would have been better than a disappointing stare. Guilt swarmed sickeningly in the pit of my stomach and the bitter taste of bile crawled up my throat.

Disappointment.

I woke up with a jump, my breath coming out in shallow pants while my heart hammered away irregularly in my chest. Tendrils of my brown hair sticking to the side of my face, a layer of cold sweat coating my entire body. Once again I had the same nightmare.

The nightmare that was practically played on repeat for years, ever since I was a child.

With an uneasy feeling settling in the pit of my stomach, I manage to force myself up from my slick bed. My warm bare feet stinging slightly as they padded along the cold tiles, the pain reducing once I made my way down the spirally flock of glittering marble steps.

As I expected, darkness enveloped me, no sign of any life in this dark mansion. I let out an audible sigh, fishing around in my pocket and brought out my match stick and lighter.

I watch in silent awe as the orange flame grew, creating a soft and comforting hue to illume around my face and my surroundings. I quietly slipped on my Wellington boots and unlocked the huge brass door.

I sighed in utter contentment as the crisp night air washed over my flushed skin, turning out the fire while it was at it. All my previous uneasiness and fear vanishing into thin air as a gentle breeze blew by.

My name is Park Ah Reum, daughter of the richest man in Korea. You'd think I'm boasting now, but unfortunately there's nothing to boast about. My life has been an empty, lifeless one. Full of important meetings, marriages and striving for perfection. Definitely not your typical teenage life story.

Growing up in a strict and respectable household, I knew that if my father had any idea I was out here in the middle of the night, taking advantage of the wide field in front of our huge Victorian mansion, I would be officially dead.

Another sigh escaped my lips, I let all thoughts of my cold father and annoying mother go before breaking into a sprint, smiling to myself as the satisfying crunch of the limp twigs snapped under my weight.

The scenery out here was almost magical, a silver misty trail of light from the moon shone down creating enough light for me to be able to see where I was going. But after years of doing this, my eyes naturally adjusted to the dark.

Every time I had a problem or like tonight a nightmare, or anything that was heavy on my shoulders — I would run out here, the clear air put ease to my clouded thoughts and gave me an opportunity to be alone.