Complexities of Time Travel

Chapter 5

In the Third Prince's estate, servants went back and forth on a flurry to prepare for an important guest. The prince's maternal grandfather was scheduled to arrive the next day to celebrate Fourth Prince Wang So's return to the capital. Queen Yoo planned a small gathering for her family and she wanted to make it perfect. It was the first time for them to be together in years.

This was the reason why Third Prince Wang Yo avoided his estate and took a detour to his private lake. This was where he went whenever he wanted to be alone and the only other person allowed to be there was Seungri. Now, there was another that was granted access to his most private sanctuary. He got off his horse and gently brought a sleeping Hae Soo down from it. He carried her sleeping form in his arms as he found his favorite spot.

Under a cherry blossom tree, he sat down and set her on his lap. His arms wrapped around her protectively as she unconsciously shifted her position. She snuggled against his chest and she continued to nap contentedly. He kissed her temple as he rested his back on the tree trunk and hugged her tighter.

The last time that he held her like this was that night, long ago. It was a different tree that his back rested on and it was a very different view that they were admiring, but he still couldn't help the sadness that washed over him. The moon shone brightly by the snowcapped mountains, until the night darkened red. Not that Yo was taking note, no, he was preoccupied with something else. It was that night when she... No. He shook the thoughts from his head. Remembering that night was too painful. He didn't want to linger on the past, especially now that she was finally in his arms again.

Hae Soo felt consciousness come as she snuggled closer to the warmth that enveloped her. She thought she was snuggling on a pillow at first but slowly realized that what she was snuggling against was too firm to be a pillow. She opened her eyes and shifted so she could see the face attached to the body that she was embracing. Relief washed through her.

"Wang Yo..." she whispered as she studied him. His eyes were closed, and his breathing came in a slow and even pace, so she knew that he was not faking sleep. She smiled as traced his features with her eyes. She remembered the night when they... Warmth crept up her cheeks as she remembered their bedtime activities. But then, she remembered his other wives, and she was overcome with jealousy. And, as if ice was poured through her veins, she remembered that she died in order to travel back here. 'Was it really poison? If so, who would poison me and why?'

She turned away from him and turned to look the other way. The beauty of the lake and the early sunset stunned her immediately. She stood up to look around and saw a cherry blossom trees with beautiful pink blooms abound. She faced the lake again and beauty of the scenery surrounding her made her forget her negative thoughts and brought a certain serenity inside her. Not long after, she felt arms from behind her trap her in an embrace. She stiffened briefly but relaxed because she knew that there was no one else who would dare do that but him.

She let him pull her closer. She felt him nudge at her neck so she tilted her head sideways to give him access as he started to shower her neck with kisses. "Yo ya..." she murmured.

"Soo yah..." he whispered in between kisses. "When were you?"

"Our future. Far, far into our future." She replied as she turned to face him.

"Then, why did you call me Pyeha?" he said with a grin.

"Wha... Third Prince, I didn't..." Hae Soo's eyes widened in shock. She knew she made a mistake when she did that. She was hoping that he didn't notice, but, alas, that was not the case.

"Was I the King where you were at, Bu in?" he asked as he took her hands in his.

"I... You're not supposed... Just... Spoilers!" she replied in a huff which elicited a laugh from him as he nodded. He was used to that word by now, but he could tell that she was just starting to understand the full meaning of that word in their complicated life.