Daejong watched her at length. She was banging hysterically, restlessly pacing and incessantly cursing the men for taking her 'child'; but to his greatest surprise, her face was somewhat overshadowed with fear, like one whose display wasn't fake.
Even at that, Myung OK looked __ what people termed ravishing . She was beautiful than he had ever seen.
Her dress of white silk was trimmed with crimson flowers. The hot sweat from her exertion slowly wrapped it round her well shaped body in a graceful manner. Her waving masses of dark hair nestled itself on her back and clustered erotically on her waist. She was devoid of any adornment but the bead of sweat formed a crown on her forehead and circled around her neck like pearls.
"You can stop banging now", he said as he presumed she won't stop until told so.
She moved in a graceful splendor as she walked slowly towards him. He hastened towards her but she interrupted him. She asked of his backup and how they would save the princess. She also asked of what demand the boss would make. It was many minutes more before she totally kept quiet.
Daejong signaled that she should sit with him on the room's floor and conserve their strength.
Dejectedly, helplessly and reluctantly, she agreed to sit as she believed they needed strength.
He put her under serious scrutiny and observed gloom blooming on her face. He would not have considered it strange had he known that Myung OK's heart was stinging with new pain. She had spent quality time with the little one and had a nice chemistry with her. She's friend with her birth mother and loves them both sincerely. She had saved them both and had more emotional attachment to them than any other living person. Yet, she didn't do anything for them. She asked herself why she didn't detect something was wrong earlier__ why she didn't allow her men to help and why she felt most responsible for the misfortune.
Daejong called her name and she answered. She tried to push the pain away but it was still there, heavy at her heart, bringing warm tears to her eyes.
"Yoona, are you crying?", was his query but she shook her head and stood up. She strode from her position to the only source of ventilation in the room where she could make out what was happening outside and why she felt guilty.
There was lines of men at one end of the terrace and the soft glow of the sun illuminated the place. An icy air breezed in with an indication of river or stream very close. She inhaled the soft fragrance of jasmine and tried to recollect a place with flowing water and flowers nearby ,but nothing clicked in her memories. She went and took back her seat at exactly the same spot.
"Yoona?", he called her and she turned to face him square off. "Sit beside me".
She sat obediently beside him and gazed at his eyes with a manner of one who has decided to depend on another. Her concentration was amusingly beautiful as he found her seductive with the look. He cleared his throat then began his speech.
"Yoona, listen attentively and listen good", he paused to confirm her attention was still on him.
"If my guess is correct, this group of people are the mercenaries I've been hunting for two years now. Be rest assured, they won't hurt us or the baby as they need to make a connection with me".
She let tears of joy cascade down chest. "Really?", she asked and he nodded, touched by her sincere display of emotions.
"Or else", he said shattering her piece of hope, "Or else they have gotten more greedy and someone else has promised them something bigger".
For a while, none of them spoke as they were engrossed in their own world. There came to them the faint rustle of wind among the trees and the heavy sound of footsteps. They quickly raised their head to see men who had unlocked the door and were fully armed with weapons and lamps. One dropped his lamp and they left swiftly after securing the door lock.
They both sighed in relief and appreciated their gesture of bringing light to their already darkening room.
Alas, he spoke again to her as the silence was killing him. "Why is there shadow on your face, Yoona?". He drew closer and her face paled in comparison.
"Yoona", he called gently. "Why have you been thinking all kinds of sad thoughts? Tell me why those shadows are there".
"No", she said. "Why should I tell you my thoughts?", she provokingly and stubbornly asked then remained silent but he didn't rebuke her.
By the faint light of the lamp, that alluring face looked very fair. He looked admiringly at her and drew closer magnetically.
"Because I love you my darling. I love you Yoona". She looked at him , startled at his words . Her eyes were transparent with shock as she drew back from him.
"No, do not turn away from me. My heart breaks each time you do that. I am always the most miserable man on earth time any time you run away from me". He bent towards her but stopped himself in time.
"Yoona, I love you with all my heart, with everything I've got, with every fibre in my being and I pray you be my wife".
Fate had thrown an opportunity at him and he would blame himself if he doesn't grab it.
She didn't say anything and stayed mute. He was hurt by her silence but didn't get angry. He held her hands firmly and confessed that which had burdened him for years.
"I never betrayed you", he said finally and felt her brittle against him.
"Choi sang-min would have wiped out your family with the crime of treason if I hadn't played to his tunes. Royal mother wouldn't have stopped him if I told her, hence, I chose to protect you in my weak and foolish way".
She felt hot tears form in her eyes as she finally learnt the truth. Soon, the young boy she hated had protected her from the snatch of a wolf. She let her tears fall freely. All the pent up frustration was released to give way to freedom. Freedom from the grip of hatred and anger.
"Why didn't you tell me?", she said with teary eyes but fell into a deeper sob. He dared not approach her as he felt she would still be angry with him.
"I couldn't let you remember me as a weak prince, but now, I know I was foolish".
Her hands trembled, her face grew white with self blame but he didn't let go of her hands.
"Yoona, I loved you the first moment I saw you. I have loved you ever since and it seems to me, that I shall love you till I die. I pray you to be mine ,sweet".
She tried to speak but the words died away on her lips. He got scared and had a rethink of their situation.
"Don't think me weird for choosing to tell you this at this moment. I know it's a wrong time but spending this night together without baring my mind before you would drive me crazy", he helplessly defended himself and his action.
She was silent, but another look at the sweet face satisfied him and cleared him of doubts.
"You are not angry, Yoona? You do not think me weird ? You are smiling", he exclaimed.
"I am not quite sure I should be angry after hearing your explanation. You are the most incredible man I have ever met", she smiled sincerely at him. "Thank you for saving my family".
She was relieved but guilty. The boy she hated had protected her from a wolf . Soon, the boy he wished death had saved her family from death. What a reversed case.
In conclusion, it has come to her notice they had a single enemy. Choi sang-min. She wondered how they would deal with him.
He brought her closer for a hug and whispered so faintly that only a lover could have heard. "You are mine now and nothing shall part us. I shall remember this day as the happiest day of my life and cherish it till I die. You do not know how much I've missed you".
"I shall know soon", she said laughingly, "if you persist in telling me so often".
"I would never be tired of telling you, my darling. Though I do not deserve such happiness but I'm fortunate to make you mine. Forever."
He clasped his hands around her slender waist and graceful figure, drew her face closer to his and went slowly for the best kiss of his life. He kissed her so passionately his heart thudded like craze and they were almost out of breath. Suddenly, he stopped for her eyes were fixed on his face and were filled with half wondering reproach.
"What is it , Yoona?", he asked. "Tell me what you are thinking of".
"I am wondering", she said slowly, "if it is right for me to love you ".
Pleasantly, he smiled at her. "You confess then, you do love me?"
"I...", she said , lost for words.
"Don't say anything if it's too hard", he said. "But most decidedly", he continued, "not only is it right but it's proper. Nothing can be more pleasant".
She hesitated.
"I hardly know if it's really right", she said.
"Again, I say most decidedly. I have a right to know every thought that passes through your mind. Above all, those that troubles you".
"I fear that the empress loves you alot and lots of women would kill to be your wife".
He laughed out loud and his careless, happy laugh reassured her.
"She likes me darling, I hope and believe, not in the way you mean. We are best of partners , nothing more . And as you might know, Nari was conceived because we were heavily drugged. But I love my child".
"I never knew, but are you sure the empress does not love you?". He nodded with a smile.
"As for other women you mentioned, they all lust after my power and status. Nothing more. You are the only woman I want and would remain so".
"Did it never occurred to you that suitable arrangement of marriages would garner your official's loyalty and support for a long time?", she asked as she knew he had rejected lots of women before.
"No, it never did occur to me", he replied immediately. "The only idea that has occurred to me is marrying you".
She blushed crimson at his words and chuckled softly. Suddenly, she felt a feeling of guilt.
"When would your men take actions against this men?", she said. In response, a firework went off in the sky . He smiled proudly at her and replied.
"Tomorrow morning. it's not ideal to escort a child at night", he beamed.
"You found her?", she exclaimed excitedly but kept mute for a while. "I had momentarily forgotten about the baby", she said dejectedly.
He held her hands reassuringly and squeezed it lightly. "Don't worry my darling, I remembered for the both of us".
He kissed her forehead lightly . A soft feather-like touch that sent shivers all over her body. "Let's tell the empress about us on our return", he said but Yoona clung imploringly to his arms. "Do not tell her yet. Until I figure out some things".
He was sad but readily agreed at the fear that she might change her mind.
"It shall be as you wish, my darling. I will not mention it until you give me your permission", he said as he grazed lightly her lips for a warm peck.
She got away from the puzzled Daejong and asked him to get some sleep.
"Not yet", he said, "Not yet, Yoona. Let me be happy in my love for a short while". He drew her back to himself and kissed her hands. Then, laid her down on the ground with his chest as a support. A human pillow.
"Tomorrow", he said. "Let's return happily to the palace with my Nari, and wait till the day you publicly accepts me".
She smiled ruefully at him as he narrated his escape plan in detail and the trap he had set for them. From his detailed narration, she got to know one of his men infiltrated their camp and is currently spying for him.
Everything happened so soon she had no particular description of her emotions and present state of mind. But she knew the man holding her head gently is the young boy called Soon. Her first and only crush. The man she would love but not sure she would trust; again. Because, that young boy is now the most powerful man in her country.