Clear as Crystal (Ji Dwi x reader)

Chapter 5

(Y/n)'s POV

~Around midnight~

I had snuck off to the forest. Usually, I would sneak to Ah Ro's house but this time, I couldn't keep it in anymore. I wanted to release all this pain and anger.

I got out my daggers and sliced the tree, causing some bark to fall off. Yes, break and fall apart. Just like what you did to me, I'd make sure you never got to see the sunlight again!

By the time I was done 'torturing' the tree, I knelt down and cried. The wounds from before hurt due to my constant movement. The tears just kept on coming as if there was an ocean waiting to come out and drown me. Being drowned...that would be more preferable than living in what you'd call hell rather than a home.

I stared at my daggers, looking at the ancient inscriptions. Nobody knew, except for Ah Ro, but these daggers were the only things I had with me, apart from the paper. Of course, I kept them hidden but I've always wondered if these provided some clue as to where I was from and if I had a family.

Ji Dwi's POV

~The next morning in the palace~

"Mother, how long do you intend to stay in power? I am sick of hiding-"
"You have no say in this. I am the queen and I will always have more power than you. You can't do anything without me."
"Sorry to interrupt, but we have found something that may interest you," exclaimed a guard.

Something that may interest the queen? What on earth could that be? I followed them outside and saw (Y/n) fighting off a guard with her daggers.

"Yah, let me go! I did nothing wrong!" she yelled angrily.
"Stop! What's going on?!" asked mother.
"We found her asleep in the forest," a guard replied.
"And why is that a problem?"
"Because of these daggers."

The guards attempted to grab them off her but she was too fast and dodged their hands. She quickly looked up and made eye contact with me. Before I knew it, she had ran behind me.

"Ji Dwi, why are they chasing after me? I-"
"Hey, what is your name?"

(Y/n)'s POV

"(Y/n) (L/n), your highness."
"Come here," she ordered.

I hesitantly stepped out from behind Ji Dwi and approached her with a bow.

"Let me see those daggers."
"I-"
"I'll give them back to you."

She held out her hand, expecting me to give it to her. I reluctantly gave them to her. She carefully examined them before handing them back to me.

"Would you like-"
"No, she would not. If you don't mind, I will be taking her back now," Ji Dwi exclaimed.

Before I could reply, he grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the palace. He led me to the forest before stopping, finally letting me catch my breath.

"Ji Dwi-"
"I won't let you work for her."
"No, I wasn't going to ask that. How can you talk to the queen like that-"
"Don't worry, I won't be killed."

Something wasn't right here. There was no way someone could talk to the queen in such a casually rude way and how did he know what she was going to ask me? Wait...why was he in the palace in the first place? It seemed like he was having a serious conversation with her before I got dragged inside.

"Anyway, where did you learn how to fight like that?" Ji Dwi suddenly asked.
"I don't remember. I already knew these techniques before my father found me."
"What about the daggers?"
"I think my biological parents gave them to me."

When I looked at him, he was looking somewhere else. I followed his gaze and realised he was staring at the blood on my arm. I quickly hid it behind my back.

He gently grabbed my arm and carefully pulled the sleeve up, revealing one of the scars that had been reopened.

"What happened to your arm?"
"Hmm, didn't you know? My father did this. But everyone already knows that-"
"And the wound?"
"Ah, I accidentally let the guard cut me with his sword. It's nothing to worry about."

He ripped some of his expensive-looking clothes and used it as a bandage to wrap around my arm.

"Ji Dwi, how could you just rip your clothes-"
"*pouts* I was expecting a 'thank you'."
"Thank you-"
"Now since I saved your life, let me sleep."
"*sigh* Again with this sleeping thing? Why can't you just sleep at home?"
"Please."

He didn't look like he was joking. In fact, it almost seemed as if he was desperate to get some sleep, like he hadn't slept for a while.

"...fine but you're not sleeping here. Come on."

I grabbed his hand and took him to Ah Ro's home. It was almost midday so she should be home.

"Ah Ro!"
"Yeah?"

She rushed out and hugged me. That was when she noticed Ji Dwi and the bandage on my arm.

"Who the hell are you? Did you hurt her? Huh? Why are you holding her hand?-"
"Ah Ro, calm down. He didn't do anything bad. Anyway, mind if he uses one of your rooms?"
"Why can't he just sleep at home?"
"That's what I'm wondering but he won't say. So can he?"
"Can I talk to you privately?"

Right when I was about to leave with her, Ji Dwi tightened his grip on my hand.

"What is it?"
"You're not running away because you think I'm weird, right?"
"Why would I do that? Even though you seem a little weird, in a suspicious kind of way, I wouldn't leave you."

He let go of my hand and sat down. Ah Ro quickly dragged me away.

"Yah, how can you just trust a stranger?"
"I trusted you."
"...that's different. Besides, I don't even know him."
"Well, it's not like you can know everyone."
"(Y/n), are you sure you should be hanging out with him?"
"He was the one that decided to hang out with me and he doesn't seem like a bad guy."
"*sigh* There's no convincing you, is there?"
"Nope."
"Okay, fine."

I smiled and hugged her. I knew I could rely on her.