The Edge Of Forever

28| silk threads

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28

s i l k  t h r e a d s : 실크

DESPITE HAVING SCUMMED TO SLEEP in the late hours of the night and then rising during the early hours of dawn, I found myself not feeling fatigued at all when I set off under the royal blue to head to the main Palace entrance. 

I reached the courtyard and saw a palanquin ready as expected along with the package of a plethora of maids and guards surrounding it, standing in front of it and behind it. The King was present too, alongside the Prince. 

I walked up to the King and bowed. "Thank you for allowing me to see my family again." 

He gave me a brisk nod, eyes doing most of the talking. 

"I understand that the rules are the same as the last time." I voiced for him.

"Correct, Prince Jung will be escorting you."

I did not turn to acknowledge the Prince but instead gave the King a farewell bow and headed to my palanquin and was helped in.

The journey this time to my mother's isolated residence seemed longer and more prolonged. It was as the palanquin began moving slower when I felt the fatigue finally hit me, yearning to gain the time of sleep I had missed.

But just as I leaned my head to my right against the wood of the palanquin, I suddenly felt us finally stop and the palanquin be lowered onto the ground. I grumbled beneath my breath and waited another five minutes or so that dragged on before finally a maid opened the front side of my palanquin for me. 

"We have reached the destination, your Highness, you may come out." 

A hand reached down and I grabbed onto it with on hand while bunching my dress in the other. I got out of the palanquin and instantly soothed down my skirts before glancing around the nostalgic scene. 

It felt different this time round; more unsettling than it had before. 

Despite the lack of agreement from within, I did not regret the decision I had made and walked boldly towards where the Prince was standing at the entrance of the residence. 

"Has it all been checked?" I couldn't help but ask. 

I could not distinguish the reason behind my question. Did I fear something unknown that prompted me to ask such a question in regards to my family or was it the need to say something- anything- to Jung?

"Yes, like last time, you may go in alone for a short while before the guards come in." He notified then with one scan around us and in a more hushed voice, he added. "In case anything does happen, please keep this on you, Your Highness."

He extracted a dagger from his waist. It was sheathed and the blade seemed larger than the normal daggers. Biting down onto a a burn that began squeezing my heart, I grabbed onto it and turned it so it instantly slid into my sleeve. It's weight was more than I had expected and it weighed down unfamiliarly. 

I gave him a curt nod, signalling for him to lead me in. 

He did so quickly and I followed, knowing the secretly guarded maids and the guards were circling me from behind. None of my mother's workers seemed to be around and the space looked clear.