A Tale About A: Forgotten Princess [Part 2]

Chapter 1: Hunting

A-Yeon POV

I lowered down my body as low as I could while I hide behind the bushes. When my targets moved, I cautiously followed as well like a predator hunting for it's prey. They stop, I stop too. My hand felt around the soil near my shoe and I grabbed a few stones. 

I outstretched my arms and placed a stone on the rubber band of my slingshot. I pulled it tight to ensure it was secured and I aimed at the group of preys. 

"1...2...3...4...5..." I mumbled as I drew myself closer to them; being careful not to step on to any twigs and branches which could make unnecessary noises. 

I released my slingshot and the stone went flying towards the group of targets only to hit on to the ground instead of them.

"Damn it!" I cursed and hastily reacted fast before all of my targets ran away. 

I ran towards the dead ones as I sighed, "Ah seriously...if not for my bad aiming I would have gathered all of them!" I stared down at the few motionless rabbits and locked eyes with one of them. I quickly looked away in guilt but crouched down instead as I apologised to it. "Sorry I had to kill you. Please spare me for this time." 

I stuffed all of them into my bag and tied it with a rope. I heaved out a breath as I swung the bag on to my shoulders and dragged my foot out of the forest. As I walked along the city streets of Goryeo, the citizens would always stare and whisper among themselves as I passed by them. 

But they don't bother me. What bothered me was in fact the man that was currently standing in front of me as I untied the rope of my bag and released the dead rabbits. A stench of blood whiffed up his nose and he quickly covered it with an exaggerated action.

"Ya! What's this?!" The trader criticised with disgust as he backed away from his desk. 

"Can't you see? Three rabbits." I said as I pulled them out with their legs to show their lifeless body. "And huge ones. Please trade me a good price for this." 

"Aigoo...How could you trade money with dead ones?! And the blood stench is so strong! You could've washed it clean before coming here!" The trader complained as he glared at me.

"Hey I just caught these in the forest forty minutes ago, they are fresh and new! Of course I will have to bring it to show you. You could sell their meat or fur to some other traders. Please hurry up and set a price!!" I was getting anxious and impatient at him. How could a man be afraid of a few rabbits?!

"Aigoo...this..." The trader cursed as he took a long stick and poked at the rabbits as he gauge for their value. "30 coins." He said and I gasped.

"3-30 only?! How could this be? Eh mister...50?" I grinned as I showed him my palm to indicate five. 

"35 coins." He said as he shook his head.

My jaw dropped at his stinginess and I grabbed the rabbit and held them open; facing the stomach towards him as I swung the rabbits back and forth. "Hey hey mister, look! How white and fluffy the fur is; and these strong legs! Wow they will make a nice feast. Look in to their eyes! So black and pure; definitely a great gem to die for." 

"Ah!! Stop swinging the rabbit infront of me like that!" The trader backed even further as he crashed himself on to the shelves behind him. 

"Please! Actually today is my father's birthday, I need a good price to get him a present! Misterrrrrrrrr!" I leaned forward on the desk and shoved the rabbits even closer to him.

"Ack! Okay okay...get whatever price you want as long as you take them away from meee!" The trader looked as if he was about to faint as the colour of his face turned even paler. 

"Yes!" I punched my fist high up in to the air as the clerk placed a string of fifty coins on the desk for me.

"Take these rabbits away in to the storeroom." The trader instructed his clerk as he stood as far away from me as possible. 

"Thank you for the great price mister! I promise to bring you a deer's head the next time!" I proclaimed as I smiled happily at him.

"No no, its okay! Just stop visiting my store every time with these dead animals! They are bringing me bad luck!" The trader shoo-ed me out with his hands as he scolded with revulsion.

Ignoring his pleadings after getting what I wanted, I exited the store to see quite a crowd gathering outside. I gave them confused looks as some of them were already judging me.

"It's her again...the 'hunting' girl." One of them said.

"She does have a pretty face, but she's totally a boy in my opinion." Another added on.

"She's totally my style!" A rough man declared as he admired.

Ugh...no way am I ever going to date with a rough guy like him...

I shook my head and walked away, all of them backing off when I drew close to them. At the corner of my eyes, I saw a familiar boy smiling at me. He was holding on to a book and a brush while standing among the crowd.

"It's that artist boy again." I whispered to myself when we locked gazes with one another. 

He gave me a small wave and I approached him. "Are you drawing a bad image of me again?" I asked in a loud voice. Obviously this was not the first time I have caught him drawing images of me in a very...thuggish way. 

He chuckled as he closed his book; catching my attention towards it as I was dying to see how I looked like in his book. "It's my hobby to capture interesting events in the city of Goryeo." 

"What did you draw today? Let me see!" I attempted to snatch the book away from him but he quickly hid it behind his back; causing me to topple as my face nearly collided in to his chest.

He supported me with his hands by my side and I looked up at him; only realising how close we were and my eyes grew wide. Heat rises from my body and I flushed instantly as I got away from him hastily. 

"Y-you..." I stammered my words as I dared not to meet his eyes. "O-one day I w-will charge you a high price for drawing pictures of me!" I pointed my finger at him and he stifled a laugh. I swiftly turned around and dashed off; his laughter roaring behind as it made me even more embarrassed. 

And in the book of the artistic boy, was a drawing of A-Yeon holding up the huge rabbit to show the trader as she leaned over the desk; scaring the trader as he crashes on to the shelves behind.

Author's note:

I decided to write a book 2 of A Tale About A: Forgotten Princess because I thought the first book was more about the romance of King Tae Jo and Court Lady Oh. Tbh, I don't know how to continue the story anymore. Thus, it would be better to have a part 2. Hope you like it!