When The Cherry Blossom Fades

.5 this guy saved me?

"Let me guess, you sneaked out without your father knowing?" Insik questioned as he settled his stuff on the desk. He glanced around the room, pleasantly surprised to find Han Aeng napping on his bed. It had been a while since he heard any news about her.

Han Aeng didn't bother getting up from the bed but turned her face towards him, lazily calling out, "Harabeoji~."

"Yes, pumpkin."

"I'm getting married."

"Oh? Well, that's nice, you're getting married." Insik's eyes widened as the information finally registered. "Wait, you're getting married?"

Han Aeng nodded her head with a pout. "Mm. I'm getting married. I'm gonna be somebody's wife, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, and then eventually someone's mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and then die."

Insik's first response was to burst out into laughter. "What? Why is that the first thing you thought about?"

Han Aeng sat up in horror. What else was she meant to think about? Nothing mattered anymore; everything was pre-set. There was nothing else to mourn for. "What else is there to think about? My freedom of being at my father's house is over."

"I think being married is a beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime event," Insik stated, sorting through the collection of letters. He was a hopeless romantic, with the most wholesome outlook on love—two souls coming together to become the best version of themselves, healing and growing together.

On the other hand, Han Aeng didn't buy any of his fantasies. It seemed too good to be true. In fact, she was somewhat skeptical about his love life. "Easy for you to say. You were going to marry the love of your life. I'm getting married to some random guy."

"Don't poke a sore spot like that, brat." Insik put down the books and took a seat next to Han Aeng. "So tell me about him. What's his name? Where's he from? What does he do?"

"He's the Seventh Prince of Shangwei."

"Seventh Prince of Shangwei, Long Dahai?"

Han Aeng hummed in response, not bothering to pay attention to Insik as he grinned from ear to ear, "You're going to be a princess, pumpkin. A princess! Well, a Princess consort, but a princess nonetheless."

Insik patted her head in a soothing manner, "I think you two are going to be a pretty interesting couple."

"Hurray. I'm going to be a princess" Han Aeng rolled her eyes, resting her head against his shoulder, "My dearest fortune teller, how do you know that?"

Just as they were engrossed in their conversation, the door burst open.

"Gramps!" Rong Xukai stormed in, holding a letter. He didn't expect to see Han Aeng there, or he'd rather never see her again. The internalized rage reflected on his face as he eyed her with fury.

She stared between Insik and Rong Xukai before getting to her feet, offering a polite smile. It was her first time meeting Rong Xukai, but she could easily guess he was Insik's grandson, simply because no one else would run into a house in the middle of nowhere screamings gramps. "Nice to meet your acquaintance, my name is Han Aeng."

Rong Xukai didn't respond to her greeting. He only passed her a stern glare before storming out of the room.

Han Aeng watched his movements with a blank expression, trying to figure out what sort of trouble she had caused for him to be so rude. As far as she was concerned, they had never met each other before and had no reason to bear grudges. Yet, he acted as if she had killed his entire family. "Am I missing something?"

"Don't tell him I told you," Insik chuckled, moving closer to whisper to Han Aeng. "But someone took advantage of him when he went to return you home. Seeing you was probably a reminder of the humiliation and violation he had experienced at the hands of that wild girl."

"Well, I guess it was natural for a guy to react like this if his ego was hurt." Han Aeng bit down on her lips to contain her laughter, but the smile on her face was all too obvious. He looked like he could easily overpower someone. How did that happen?

Wait.

"He rescued me? Wait a minute. If he was the one who helped me, why didn't he say anything? I suffered a month's worth of bedrest because of him!" Han Aeng exploded. Because of him, she spent an extra two weeks in house arrest, throwing her off schedule. Now she had too much stuff to study and a ton of royal duties to clear out. If that idiot had just let her know who he was, she wouldn't have fought against him. Han Aeng was so angry she said everything in one breath, leaving Insik at a loss.

I knew I couldn't trust the brat to explain himself to her.

Insik hesitated for a moment. No wonder his grandson didn't tell him what happened that day, he treated her wrongly. He must not have told her who he was, to show his displeasure in helping her. I guess it was partially Insik's fault for forcing the kid to get involved with Han Aeng kidnapping but isn't it a moral obligation to help someone in need of help?

He didn't want to lie, but he also wanted Han Aeng to get along with Rong Xukai, so a white lie wouldn't hurt, right? "He found you somewhere, and brought you to me, and once I treated you he went and dropped you home?"

Han Aeng was unconvinced. She didn't push any further. After all, it seemed karma found its way to him without her help.

Insik cleared his throat, shifting the topic, "Consider this my departing blessing to you."

Han Aeng happily closed her eyes as Insik placed his hand over her head. "Han Aeng-ah I sincerely hope by going there you're able to open a new chapter of your life. I hope your husband is someone who knows how to cherish and love you, that someday you'll smile without reservation, and that happiness finally reaches your eyes."

"Me too."