~ a lily among thorns~

"at a cost"

"You're a - - you're a - -" Yeo-Wool gasped, pointing at Mouse's tiny figure.

As if he needed time to process the matter, he turned to face his back to her, clutching his forehead in his hand with shock. Meanwhile, Nari's body remained frozen. Her bones were stiff with fear.

'This can't be happening right now...'

Thoughts of the Queen finding out raced through her mind.

'If she finds out, I'll die before I can avenge my mother!"

There was only one thing she could think to do.

Run.

As fast as lightning, Nari tied the uniform around her body in a panicked frenzy before rushing towards the door. However, before she could escape, Yeo-Wool spun back around, causing their faces to almost collide.

"So that's how you have such beautiful skin!" he exclaimed, as if he'd lost almost all concern for the matter entirely. "That makes sense now," he continued with a smile, walking into the center of the room.

Nari's eyes followed his every move, a confused yet wary expression on her face. He turned his eyes back to meet hers, a smug-looking smirk lining his lips. Stepping towards her, he raised an eyebrow before speaking.

"So now my only question is, what's a girl like you doing in Hwarang House?" he whispered, raising his hand to meet her cheek.

But before his fingers could make contact with her skin, Nari grabbed his wrist, holding it firmly in her grasp.

"Funny," she said with a smile. "I was about to ask you the same thing."

Yeo-Wool chuckled loudly and took a step back, shaking off the girl's grip.

"Be nice to me. I'm the one keeping the secret that could kill you," he reminded her with a simper.

Nari exhaled lightly, the tension in her chest easing away slowly.

"You won't tell anyone?" she questioned cautiously, looking him straight in the eyes.

Yeo-Wool smiled and held out his hand.

"I promise, on one condition. That you'll tell me why you're here."

Nari hesitated, knowing full well that the reason was more likely to get her killed than her current situation. However, there was nothing else she could do. Hesitantly she reached out her hand to meet Yeo-Wool's and he shook it vigorously.

"Now, if you don't provide me with skin-care lessons, this friendship is pointless," he announced bluntly whilst walking towards his bed.

Nari let out a careful laugh, relieved that it had been him who had walked in. He'd been the one she'd gotten to know the most throughout her months there, and deep down inside, she knew he'd never have bad intentions towards her ever.

"I guess I can admit I like men now," Nari chuckled under her breath, causing Yeo-Wool to do so as well.

He was still in a state of shock but was doing a good job to hide it. Although the two pretended to not get along, he'd grown to like the Hwarang a lot, resulting in his promise to keep her secret.

"So, I guess you're Nari," he murmured, eyeing her curiously.

Nari shifted her eyes back and forth over the floor, knowing that that one question would lead to a thousand more.

"That's correct," she replied, not knowing what else to say.

Yeo-Wool nodded his head slowly, trying his hardest to let her know she was safe with him.

"Well, whatever the reason is that you're here, you don't have to tell me straight away," Yeo-Wool assured, attempting not to sound too caring. "I'm willing to help you hide your identity."

"Really?" Nari beamed, starting to recognise the kindness in Yeo-Wool's heart.

"Yes, of course!" he reassured her with an innocent grin. "At a cost."

Nari's smile faded into a scowl.

"I knew there was a catch," she mumbled with an angry frown.

"What was that?" Yeo-Wool asked, tempting her to repeat it.

"No, it was nothing!" Nari piped up with a forced grin. "What does Your Majesty desire?" she continued dramatically, flashing him a playful bow.

Yeo-Wool straightened his posture proudly before announcing his royal order.

"I get a piece of your meat every meal," he began, already causing Nari to scrunch up her face with despair. "You also have to wash my clothes for a month."

"A month?!" Nari exclaimed in horror.

"Is that a complaint I hear?" Yeo-Wool questioned discerningly. "Very well. I'm off the share some interesting news with the queen."

"No wait!" Nari yelled, springing to her feet and clutching onto Yeo-Wool's garments.

He eyed her smugly.

"Just one month..." she murmured in defeat, letting go of his robe.

Yeo-Wool smiled brightly at his new-found servant.

"One month it is!" he declared proudly. "I'll see you at lunch time then."

With a flick of his hair, Yeo-Wool disappeared back out the door towards the showers. Nari stood in silence for a moment, pondering over her present dilemma. Although she knew Yeo-Wool wasn't really going to point her out, she was still quite shaken.

'I have to be more cautious if I want to survive,' she noted, before beginning to tie up her hair.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Mouse, are you forgetting something?"

Nari slowly raised her head with a whimper at Yeo-Wool's words. With sourness, she unhurriedly picked up a piece of meat and handed it to the arrogant Hwarang, who accepted it with delight.

"How kind of you!" he teased, plopping it into his mouth.

Nari rolled her eyes in humiliation as the other Hwarangs looked at her in dismay.

"For someone who steals everyone else's food, I'd never imagine you to give it away," Suho scoffed.

Nari glared at him, then back at Yeo-Wool. Ji-Dwi couldn't help but notice the suspicious pair.

"Oh no, it's nothing really," Yeo-Wool sighed with an evil grin. "Mouse is just infatuated with me! He really does like- -"

Before he could finish, Yeo-Wool was cut off by a sudden jab in his leg, sending him to nearly roll off his chair agony. Nari retracted her foot with satisfaction before digging back into her meal.

"You never made a rule about kicking," she muttered with a pout, raising her chin with a pride-filled 'humph'.