A look of incomparable helplessness and guilt almost stopped him from telling the truth.
"But, Bingu, what made you turn pale? You frightened me".
She gave him no answer, but the next minute he saw her moving towards the artificial woods, the early morning sunlight falling on her robe of green and gold. Never did sunlight fall on a more beautiful picture.
They walked in silence, admiring the natural scenery silently while seeking for a more private place.
"I want to speak quietly with you, Bingu", began Seja; "Not in that half-laughing fashion we seem to have adopted, but as one who truly has your best interest at heart. It's certain we will spend a considerable amount of time as husband and wife, and I want that time to be filled with happiness for you, no strings attached"
It was not much like the commencement of a declaration of love, but no doubt chilled Eun-hye.
"I am very happy to believe it", said Eun-hye softly her, eyes sparkling with light.
"It so happens that young people understands each other", he continued. "You and I do, that I believe, although we have not spent a greater part of time together. Still we have a true level of respect and concern for each other, have we not, Bingu?".
"Yes", she said, more faintly. The long suspense is killing her . How long it was coming, yet so intensely she yearned to hear it.
"If you know anything that might conduce to my happiness, you would point it out to me, would you not?".
"Yes", she replied again, slightly impatient.
"You are not quite like other girls, Bingu. You are very beautiful and brilliant and very peculiar . Had it been someone else, I wouldn't have bothered giving to them what am about to give to you, if you will let me".
Her face which had almost turned frosty due to the long wait broke into a ray of sunshine, almost dazzling the crown prince. "I can't wait to receive whatever it is you have in store for me, Seja".
"Really?", he asked again.
"You may say what you want".
It must be coming, it must be that he's too shy to own up . He had brought her out here to her that he loved her and not for any other purpose. It must be so_ yet her heart began to beat with a wild, strange fear.
"As a very young boy, I had a girl I fancied. She was my first love. We had a good chemistry that I had promised to marry her and make her my princess but fate had been cruel to us and I lost her."
He saw her face droop to the cold stone, a low muffled cry came from her lips but he continued, "I love her, Bingu".
"If you have any feelings for me, I pray you discard them. I respect you alot for you are one who will get anything done so long as you have the determination, this selection taught me that". All through this speech, he fidgeted nervously with his Jade accessory but getting no response, he looked up to see her face a shadow of it's earlier glamour.
"Bingu?".
Still from the lady by his side came no response.
"I should like to see you happy, and I'm sure you will be happy. I am a nobleman before am a prince thus, I have to tell you this truth so as to prevent future heartaches."
Then she raised her face, all ghastly in the sunlight.
"Do you mean you chose me purely out of politics?".She asked.
"Yes, that is what I mean, Bingu". He answered truthfully.
"Is that why you never call me by my first name?". She asked again.
"Custom demands that we address each other by our title". He explained.
"Our great deity! Have I deserved this?".
"Bingu,"he said, "I hope you are not angry with me?".
There was a few minutes perfect silence, then she raised her white face again and laughed, the very evil spirit of pride seemed aroused in her.
"Angry?_ Why should I be? Why are you telling me about your messed up love life, do I look like I care?".
He looked at her white face, and the brown flashing eyes.
"I do not understand you, Bingu".
She laughed a terrible reckless laugh , that seemed to fill his veins with fear.
"Seja Choha! who do you think I am? a lovestruck fool here to seek your love? I am here just to be an empress, the most celebrated empress in the history of our dynasty, so be rest assured. You can give all your love to the lady_well, as your imperial concubine. I give my full and total support".
The crown prince stood stunned as what he tagged an uphill task turned out to be so easy. It seems he had misunderstood his crowned princess and for that, he's terribly sorry.
"You understand me so well, my Bingu".
"Yes Seja, it's this Bingu's job to take care of your highness heart and manage your harem". He could not help seeing how her slender fingers trembled and shook.
"Then I shall take my leave now, come let's go".
She turned round upon him almost fiercely.
"Go ahead, the scenery here is superb , I would like to enjoy it more".
"It's OK, then", he said gently turning to leave but stopped again.
"Should I call your servants over?", he asked.
"I need to be alone", she moaned to herself rather than to him.
"There is no need for that, I know how to call my own servants when I need them". Though she controlled her words, the white face told it's own story. If not for one thing, she would have pushed him away so as to vent out the frustration in her heart.
"Then shall I send you some light refreshments?", he asked again.
"No", she replied. "The greatest kindness you can do for me is to leave me alone".
In the tone of her voice, he detected that she had endured as much as possible; it was best, perhaps, to go.
"OK", he said finally, then left for his morning court meeting. His heart lighter as he left her alone.
Sunshine has fallen on strange scenes before now, but they never saw a face more convulsed with passion, they never saw such tempest of pride, scorn of outraged and unrequited love, of anger and despair, as raged within the heart of Eun-hye.
The wind sighed around her, the pale light fell on the sleeping flowers , but neither calm nor beauty were to touch her then or for evermore.
She LOVES HIM! Can't he see. Her eyes should have told him the truth, her passion of anger and her ghastly face that rose like an accusing spirit before him, all told him the truth yet he had nothing to give her in return.
"But I expected you to say you love". She moaned, struggling fiercely with the tears building magnificently in her eyes.
"Say you love me". She hit her chest furiously then grabbed the rose in her head, squeezing and crushing it as the thorns pricked and lacerated her fingers making it drip with blood.
"Say you love me!"
....
"You old man! why do you keep eyeing me lecherously?"
"What? Court lady Cha! who is looking at who?".
Court ladies and eunuchs alike watched intensely at the faraway figures of their masters until the sudden outburst of court lady Cha interrupted them. The guards were also engaged not only for their gossipy heart but also for security.
The pure bliss on their faces as they watched what seemed like love display between them was priceless.
The oldest court lady serving the crown princess wiped out the tears of joy forming in their eyes with a hanky. " I never knew I would live to see this day", she said , watching them closely .
The chief eunuch serving the crown prince turned his attention away from the accusing gaze of the courtmaid , also giving appraising look at his master.
"Of course, our crown prince is a sensible and proud man. He would love and cherish his crowned princess".
The words he formed to add to his comment dried up when he saw the crown prince marching resolutely towards them.
"Already?", he shared a look with others.
"They didn't kiss?"
"Heeeyii! our Seja is an honorable man that will wait for the wedding night".
"Let's go!", the crown prince said grimly when he reached them. "She wants to enjoy the scenery _ alone", he told the others and left with his group.
"That's strange", court lady Cha said. "Our crowned princess would have invited us to share in her joy".
"Maybe she's filled with tears of happiness she's too embarrassed to show us".
"Huh?", the old lady said feeling a little bit afraid.