Its the sound of birds chirping and light rays flying into my eyes that makes me wake up.
At first, my whole body feels stiff, and with the first movement, my joints feel like I haven't moved them in years, which hurts and makes me groan loudly, curling up like a baby caterpillar before I open my eyes more and notice the veil infront of me.
And then realize that I am on something very, very comfortable and soft.
I stare down, noticing the mattress...
Bed...
Then sit up as I see the veils at the four corners of the bed, long white veils billowing with the wind...
And I see the marble floors, my reflection showing clearly on them, and the golden goth like columns and....
"Finally, you are awake"
I can hear the faint sound of irritation and distaste in that sentence as I turn to my side and jerk, nearly falling off the bed but steadying myself on the beds headrest as I see the male sitting on an armchair opposite me, his eyes on a scroll.
On contrary to the clothes I'm used to seeing him wear, this one's look like those old korean army general clothes you'd see on TV shows, except of course, this isn't just a TV show anymore, we've graduated to reality now.
As he looks at me, his red eyes burning so brightly, I suddenly feel myself heat up and I'm looking down before I realize I'm naked and I raise the sheets over my body.
He raises an eyebrow at the movement, rolling up the scroll and sitting upright "Really? You want to be modest now?"
"Where am I?"
My voice sounds hoarse, talking hurts even as if I have not drank water in a while as I reach out to touch my throat, realizing it's sore.
As I do so, Chan Yeol hands over a cup to me, of water inside.
I mutter a thank you, taking it before I take a sip and quickly spit it out "What is this?!"
It comes out as a shriek and I wince at the pain in my throat as Chan Yeol says "You have no manners whatsoever, do you Chan Yeol? You're only good at seducing innocent man that seem to find you irresistible"
I redden at that, muttering under my breath "You're the only one that seems to fall for it"
But he hears as he leans closer "Ah, pray tell me more lies"
I ignore that "What did you give me?"
"Tea" He says, leaning back.
"This isn't tea" I say.
"Prove it"
"Prove what?"
"That it's not tea"
".... What? It obviously doesn't taste like tea"
"Does it even occur to you that there are many types of tea's in the world Min Ho? And it does not necessarily have to be sweet"
He crossed his legs, resting his chin on his hand as he says "It's jasmine tea. Without the honey. It's good for curing sore throats after a fever. Of course, you might have never had it because it only grows here in the Palace grounds. Sad how you of lower birth suffer at times"
Wait...
Jasmine tea?
Palace grounds?
Lower birth?!
"This isn't the palace" I say slowly as possible as my throat was beginning to burn and swallowing saliva hurt as he says "Use your head. This IS the palace, but the IMPERIAL palace. Where we were was more of a relaxation spot than a palace itself"
That would make sense.
I start to fidget with the sheets as I mumble quietly "Does... Does it have a garden too? With an apple tree?"
"Yes. It's a bigger garden actually"
This time I look at him, my face brightening "Really?!"
His eyebrows at the excitement in my voice and I cough, saying "It's... It's the sore throat"
He says nothing.
I stare around now, noticing the furniture around the room and mat, a unique sort of smell in the air and I notice the bouquet of roses on the window.
"It is from Mother"
I turn to him as he says "She wishes the baby safe recovery"
"The baby?"
As I ask that, my hand instinctively goes to my stomach as I say "Why? Did anything happen to hin?"
He sighs "You never seize to amaze me. I clearly just told you how my Mother wishes your death and only my child safe yet you worry about him?"
"Why should I care if your Mother doesn't like me?" I ask "You don't either, so it might just have been you putting her up to it"
"Have you ever thought for once that you're unbearable and impossible to put up with and my feelings for you are entirely your fault Kim Min Ho?" He asks.
I feel the pain there but I say "Why do they wish safe recovery for my son?"
He lets out another sigh "You have been under a fever for three days now. Started on the day I brought you here till now" His eyes go over me for a while as he says "You seem to finally be out of it"
Makes sense.
Then I perk up "Where are Byul and Hwang?"
"I don't feel like answering your question"
My heart begins to race as I say "Where are they? What have you done with them?!"
"From the moment you awoke, I knew you would be irritating. Watching you sleep was way more satisfying"
That seems to knock the air right out of me as I say "Y-you watched me sleep?"
"I told you were in and out of it" He says "And you kept calling my name"
"No I did not"
He rolls his eyes "I knew you'd deny it, no surprise there"
Then his eyes twinkled, it twinkled in a way that made me feel good but terrible at the same time "I want to have sex with you right now"
My eyes widen as if they want to come out of it's sockets as I say "Chan Yeol! You... You just said I was sick!"
"And you seem to obviously be well. I mean, hear how you shout my name, I can already imagine how you might moan it"
I am blushing but I say "I... I am sorry that I am shouting but I... Why... Why don't you just meet that woman you are always with?"
His eyes flash to rage there and I know I have passed a line as he is suddenly above me, his hands pinning me down as he stares down at me "I hate liars more than anything. You say I should go be with her but the sad look on your face as you say it tells me otherwise. Why do you act as if you don't want this as much as I do? Or do you prefer the beatings and the force?"
My heart is racing there as I shake my head as he continues "And you were the one to start this whole thing. First, you seduce me to making you have a child, then you make a stupid deal saying I shall get your body in return, yet you refuse me now"
Tears seem to be at the corner of my eyes as I say "B-But I can't right now. I am sick, if you would just wait..."
"Wait?" He chuckles darkly "I have been doing that for three days, besides I did not even have the need to be satisfied. You caused this"
"Me?"
"Why do you think you are undressed Kim Min Ho? Do you think I would undress you to stare at you and not have sex with you? Do I look stupid to you?"
What?
"Th-Then how...."
"You undressed yourself" He says, a smirk on his lips "You wanted to have sex with me last night"
"M-Me?!"
"And because I am a good person, even to you, with all things considered, I managed to not do anything" Then he adds "Whether you believe it or not, I do not care. You will give me what I want"
I say nothing there.
He stares at me for a while before releasing his hold on me and taking the sheet off.
I am naked and I squirm about to cover myself but he slaps my hand away as he begins to trail his fingers on my chest "Look at you. Your ribs make one see how bony you are now. You are nothing but a wilted rose from what you once were"
I look away, the words somehow stinging as he says "And still I...."
"Your Majesty!"
The door suddenly bursts open as a guard enters, the one from before in the garden and before I can do anything, Chan Yeol has the sheets over my body and I turn around while I hear him say "You have horrible entrances Song Hyuk"
"My apologies. It's just... There are urgent matters to attend to. That is why I rushed in that way Your highness"
There is a moment of silence before I hear him say "Get out"
I am still facing the other way, clutching the sheet around my body and curled up, my heart pounding heavily as I feel Chan Yeol tower over me.
His breath is cold on my neck, making all the hairs on my neck stand as I hear him whisper, so close to my cheeks that it almost feels like a kiss "And still I find you beautiful"
And with that, he is gone.