"I don't like him"
I am now resting in the tub, letting the steam calm me down through all the aching parts in my body as I sigh and rest my head backwards, turning to him "I have this strange feeling you don't like anyone"
He grunts there "I like you"
"I'm your friend. If you ask me, that's different" I say as I let out a small moan "This water is like some sort of healing fountain. It's like all the sores and aches in my body are going down by milliseconds"
"Does your body really hurt?" He asks now, looking at me.
"Ah, I suppose" I say "I guess it is part of the pregnancy package and all because I think..."
He frowns there, folding his arms "Haha, nice try Master, you successfully changed the topic"
"You know, you're damn rude to be a servant though" I say "And I wasn't changing the topic on purpose. My bones do ache and hurt and feel sore, thank you very much for asking and caring"
"Something about him is off"
"Everything about Tae Hyun is off" I reply, now swimming around "His beauty and charm and extremely witty remarks are off the charts literally"
Byul sighs "You know that's not what I meant, besides, looks are deceiving"
By this time, I have already swan to him, folding my hands at the slab nearest to his feet and staring up at him with a small smile on my face "I know right. Tell me about it. I suppose you would be the type to keep thousands of teddy bears secretly"
He raises his eyebrows there "What's a teddy bear?"
I smile "Ammunition"
"Oh"
Then I burst out laughing "It's not made yet, is it? Shame, we have to work on that. We just need some cotton, or possibly a lot of it...."
"Master, I am being serious"
I let out a tired sigh now, sinking more into the water as Byul continues "He refers to the Prince with his first name. Suddenly shows up from nowhere even though I know the man hates him and comes to you with intentions of taking you away"
"Not forever" I say as I slowly come out now, Byul immediately handing a towel to me as I dry myself off.
"I hear rumours Master. About what happened between you both"
I pause halfway, staring at him "What did they say happen?"
"Apparently no one knows" He says but immediately adds "But it made you both not talk for two years. I know you are very compassionate Master, the fact you kept him away must have had a reason"
"What if I forgave him?" I ask, now taking another dress and tying the rope around my body.
"Master, you forgive everyone"
I chuckle, holding his cheeks "Everyone should. Makes the world a better place"
When we walk back to my chamber, I hear laughing from inside, Hwang's laughter perhaps and slide the doors open, finding Tae Hyun sitting so close to her, his green eyes glittering as he stated at her.
Why... Why is he looking at her like that?
"Ah em"
They both turn, Hwang immediately standing up and bowing "Master"
Tae Hyun turns to me, his eyes slitting in such a seductive gaze that I nearly look away "You smell eatable"
But I manage to stare back and not fall in his influence "Why are you here?"
At that his eyes widens, as if he cannot believe that I could have said those words and they drift to Byul which makes me immediately say "No, this is of my own heart. Answer me"
He stands up from the floor "Min Ho. I'm here for you. The question seems confusing"
When he reaches me, I find out my body has stilled as he makes me look up at him, a sad look on his face "And I missed you. Do I really need a reason to be here?"
"But you're a Lord, right? So you must have things that keep you busy" I say.
"I do" He says "But... But I can't... I just had to be here"
His hands move to my face, gently brushing as he mouths "I lived my whole life with you. This is unsettling, no matter who you belong to. Let me enjoy this little times, no?"
Somehow, my heart bled at his words, that the fact I could not remember ever being with him lr the things we did, didn't mean he couldn't remember.
I sigh, looking away "Just get out so I can dress"
His face suddenly brightens up "Okay!"
As he leaves, dragging Hwang along with him as Byul says "Just be careful Master"
And leaves.
Tae Hyun....
What can I do against someone like that?
*
As we walk through the crowd, me wearing a veil again, because Byul insisted for my safety (Tae Hyun whined continuously about why Byul had to follow us but even I thought it was okay that he came along)
Through out our walk, Byul stayed two steps behind and was quiet, apparently, he seemed to only talk around me and kept a permanent frown with everyone else.
Tae Hyun didn't mind though.
He seemed to want my attention on him alone and I gave him that.
"Tae" I say "Do you know Chan Yeol has the biggest apple garden?"
He scoffs there "Maybe with the eyes, yes, but we have not weighed it to be sure, you know"
I know he is just being sarcastic there but I smile and say "Why does he not sell it? You now, to other countries and stuff. I suppose it would bring a lot of revenue"
"They're already traders doing that Min Ho" He says "And why are you worrying about the matters of the state hmmm? You'd have wrinkles when you worry too much"
"I just wonder what would happen with the remaining ones that no one picks"
"They get bad, they rot and he throws them away"
"But that's wasting!"
Tae Hyun sighs as he rests his head on my shoulder "You're beginning to scare me Hyung. Why worry?"
I ignore him, knowing that with the sort of life I lived, the idea of anyone wasting food would forever sound bad to me before my eyes find a stall that has trinkets and beads.
I rush to the stall, my eyes going around the bracelets and neck beads as the man in the store sneers "Don't come too close!"
I move back a little, my back hitting Tae Hyun's chest as Byul comes behind me "Be nicer to your customers Old man"
His eyes seem to waver as they go between the two men behind me as he stutters "M-My Lord. Forgive me. I had no idea...."
"I want that one"
I'm pointing at the black bead bracelets that seem to have white carvings on it, and a white bead one with black carvings "It looks pretty"
The Old man hurriedly takes it down and shows it to me, and as I take it, I hand the white one to Tae Hyun "Here"
His eyes widen there "What are you...."
"A gift" I say, with a smile "To show that I have truly forgiven you for whatever happened between us. Do you not like it?"
"No!" He yells then coughs "I mean, I do like it, it's just... This is what lovers do. I'm not sure how to react"
Oh.
Before I can retract it, he snatches it from my hand, flashing his perfect smile at me "Thank you Min Ho"
Cute.
I turn to Byul now "What do you want?"
The frown on his face immediately dissolves to that of shock as he says "Master..."
"Min Ho"
Tae Hyun's hands are on my shoulder as he says "I know you both are close, but there's a limit between servant and Master. Besides, wouldn't it be degrading that you bought me a gift and you would do same to your personal guard?"
I turn to face him "You can kindly return yours if it makes you feel uncomfortable"
He moves back a little, shocked as I continue "Byul is my friend and has once defended me with his life on the line. I intend to make sure he knows that he is special to me"
Tae Hyun seems unable to speak as I turn to the also shocked trader and say "Would you mind passing that mask?"
He does so, quickly I notice as I take it, thanking him and then facing Byul "I know you do not like the scar on your face. I do not mind if but I suppose you'd feel comfortable under it. Do you like it?"
He says nothing, his eyes on the mask and the first thing that comes to my mind is that I have possibly injured his ego, crossed a line that would make him hate me but when I see the tears drop, I still "Byul..."
"Thank you, Master. I would never take it off"
He takes it from me, wearing it and it suits perfectly, making a smile come on my face before I add "You can take it off though. Um, would Hwang like a scarf?"
When we're done getting that, Tae Hyun is still quiet which worries me but before I can say anything about it, he suddenly hugs me.
I freeze not sure about what to say before I hear him say "You are just so nice now, aren't you? It is still hard for me to take in, but you seem to actually care about people"
When he pulls away, there's a sort of sad smile on his face "How can I not love you more Hyung?"
My cheeks burn up there but I just look down and say "Let's go now"
Though a part of me wants to buy Chan Yeol a gift too, which I fight and ignore, for only some minutes before I sneak away from them and go back to collect a hair pin before hurrying back to them.
"Where did you go?" Tae Hyun asks, sighing and holding me again "I was worried Hyung"
I grumble there "I'm grown up though"
He giggles, looking up at me "But what if a Monster gobbles you up?"
"Monsters don't exist"
"Says who?"
His eyes twinkles there and then he laughs, hugging me tighter "You're just so adorable when you're clueless Hyung"
And I had no idea how clueless I was.