Journey Into the Knight

Chapter Seven

Byul had messed up. Really messed up. Not only did she let her guard down almost get YongSun killed, but she got herself stabbed. On top of all of that, the princess was not taking no for an answer about treating the wound. So now she sat in front of her with her shirt off, everything exposed. Byul was just glad that for once she put a band on over her breasts before she bound them, so when she was forced to unravel the cloth around her chest, YongSun wasn’t getting more of a picture than she needed. YongSun’s eyes held so much emotion, shock, anger, confusion, and a little sadness. “You’re a girl?” She sounded more angry than anything and Byul couldn’t blame her.

Byul looked off to the trees, not wanting to meet her disappointed gaze. “Are you going to examine the wound or not?” She said a bit too harsh, feeling the embarrassment in her face. 

YongSun didn’t say anything. She started rummaging through her bag, taking out the small medical kit she had. She pulled out a bottle of whisky and poured some on a cloth, the only sanitizer she had. “Are you ready?” She asked.

Byul knew this was going to hurt, in more ways than one. She reached for the bottle of alcohol and took a large swig from it. The dark liquid burned her throat on the way down. “Well if I am going to expose all of myself.” She said taking one more drink. She reached up to her wig, glad she could finally take it off, she threw it to the ground. Her medium length blonde hair tumbling from underneath. Now that was liberating. “Now I am ready.” She said making eye contact with a very shocked princess. 

YongSun stared at her wide eyed, mouth hanging open, Byul couldn’t read the expression on her face. She must have realized she was staring because she quickly shut her mouth and redirected her gaze to Byul’s wound. “This is going to hurt.” She said sounding more angry than before. She pressed the alcohol soaked cloth to Byul’s wound, a little too hard in her opinion, she sucked back a hiss of pain. YongSun wiped all the blood away, only for more to pour out. “I am going to need to stitch this.” Byul wasn’t sure if she was informing Byul or talking to herself so she didn’t answer, instead she took another drink, it was easing the pain. YongSun fished out a needle and thread, hand tentatively resting on Byul’s stomach, Byul couldn’t help but memorize the feel of her hand there. The stitches weren’t that painful, she was use to worse. When she was done YongSun cleaned the wound again and started bandaging her up. “All done.” She said looking up, making eye contact with Byul, who hadn’t stopped watching her the entire time. YongSun blinked a few times than looked away, pink creeping up in her cheeks. 

Byul reached for her discarded shirt and slipped it back on. She slid from the rock as YongSun cleaned up her medical supplies. She picked up her wig and shoved it in her bag along with the cloth she used to bind her chest. She quickly shouldered her bag and turned back to the princess. “We should get going. TaeOh will be waiting for us.” And when he sees Byul like this, there was going to be hell to pay. She just hoped he didn’t take it out on YongSun. She was now standing beside Byul, bag on her shoulder. “My name is Byul by the way.” She didn’t wait for a response she just started walking again, feeling a lot more pain than just in her side. 

********

Yul was a girl. YongSun’s head had been spinning for the last hour as they walked. Cycle of emotions constantly running through her. From anger when she first found out, to sadness at the realization, then to confusion, which is where she currently stayed while she tried to figure everything out. Her name was Byul. And YongSun still had feelings for her. That was the most confusing part. When Byul pulled off her wig YongSun’s only thought was how beautiful she was, and how much faster her heart raced. Even now as they walked, she kept looking over at her. Her muscles seemed even more impressive, long brown hair suited her well, as for her chest… YongSun swallowed. She expected that with time the feelings were going to evaporate, when her brain finally settled on the facts. Yul, Byul, was much more impressive as a girl, it suited her. YongSun gave her head a shake, she shouldn’t be thinking these things. And yet her eyes kept going back. “We’re almost there.” The first words Byul had spoken since they left. She had barely even made eye contact with YongSun since they started walking, she was walking with a sense of shame and defeat, YongSun couldn’t help but feel like she was to blame.