B1

26 0 0
                                    

CHAPTER HUNDREDANDTREE

Hayoon was back at Han's chamber, the room was still empty. After the meeting, Hayoon had remained absentminded and maybe sad. Ailee's words had been circling endlessly in the corner of her mind. Whatever she did, Hayoon just couldn't get those words from repeating over and over again.

Maybe Ailee was right. Hayoon was more afraid of him being away than scared of the danger that might occur during the trip. She couldn't let him go because of her selfish wishes.

She didn't want to let him go. She was tired of separation. The times they had spent hadn't even made up for the time they had lost, how could she send him away again?

Too immersed in her thoughts, Hayoon didn't even turn around when Han entered the chamber.

"Let's talk," Han asked softly, assuming that she didn't want to look at him was a sign of anger. He didn't know that Hayoon had been away in his absence and that she had just returned.

Turning around Hayoon faced him. His long hair fell along his shoulder. It seemed like a gush of winds had caressed his hair, put a few of the strands to disarray. He must have been outside, taking a stroll in a place that wasn't disclosed by walls.

"What did you mean by I'll make the same decision again?" Han asked.

"What did I do?"

"You once left me, without caring for what I had to say," Hayoon replied.

"Leaving me to wait for you, not knowing when you would return."

She paused shortly, before continuing.

"It probably won't be that difficult to do it again."

The news was something he had not heard before. It felt strange cause he had no memories of this, and yet this piece of memory belonged to them. Han couldn't make up any excuses or explain, cause in all honesty it sounded like another person's story.

"I've already rejected the order once," He said as if he was defending himself from her accusations.

His words said one thing, but Hayoon could already see him accepting the royal edict when the time was due and they again had to see the emperor. Even without trying, she could already see her defeat. She wondered why would he even bother to hesitate when he without a doubt will choose the same path as always?

"If I make the emperor lose face with another rejection, we don't know what he would do." His words weren't able to gain her full attention. For Hayoon it didn't sound like a reason, but rather an excuse.

"Why can't you trust me?" Han said, sounding near hurt when those words escaped his lips.

When he asked why it was so hard to trust him, Hayoon wanted to ask him why it was that difficult to keep a promise. If he hadn't abandoned her that easily in the past, then maybe it would've been that difficult to put her trust in his words.

"Give me a few days and I'll figure out a way," He reassured.

"If you say so," Even though Hayoon eventually gives in, she couldn't put her faith in her words nor make it sound as if she did. Han read the mistrust in his eyes but assumed that she just needed some time to accept it.

When the curtains of the night had fallen she left Han's chamber and returned to her own place. Han was aware that she was still a bit mad and hence didn't stop her when she left. The guards outside the room escorted Hayoon back to her chamber. First now, did Hayoon know that these guards were stationed here by Ailee.

The steps of the three people echoed in the lonely corridors. When the path divided into two Hayoon halted. Turning right would lead her to her chamber while taking a left-turn would lead her to the phoenix wing.

The temptation to take a right turn was hard to reject, but if Hayoon were to meet the empress now, Hayoon wasn't sure she could control herself. Hayoon brushed the thought away as fast as it came.

.

.

.

Another day went by without any progress between them. Hayoon was disheartened and it didn't seem like any words could change her mood. Even if Han said he wouldn't leave for Southern State, it didn't seem like she would believe his words.

The day went by and Hayoon left his chamber after the sun had set. She wasn't speaking much, and even if she stayed there she would have nothing to say. Han didn't stop her from leaving either. He didn't want to force her to stay, although a simple order would be enough.

There were only five days left before they again should face the emperor. Another day had already passed. Too fast for her liking.

"You should take a good rest," Han said before Hayoon left the chamber.

"I have something to show you tomorrow,"

It sounded as if he had prepared something. Hayoon offered him a smile of courtesy and nodded once.

"Sleep well, his highness," Hayoon said.

"Goodnight," He replied.

The guards escorted her back to her chamber. They reached the crossway, where the corridors split in two. At the exact same spot as yesterday Hayoon halted her steps. She paused for a couple of seconds, deep in her thoughts. The guards stopped too, some meters behind her.

The guards didn't know what she was thinking but after the wait they expected her to take the right turn. Just as Hayoon had done the other times.

Never did they expect that she would act out of character and head to the empress's wing.  

DraftWhere stories live. Discover now