Chapter 32
Kim Hae-yoon, who was soothed by Cho Shiye, managed to maintain her composure and quietly hold Cho Shiye's hands. Her makeup was a mess but she didn't seem to notice as she smiled sweetly at Cho Shiye.
Looking at the messed up appearance of Kim Hae-yoon, Cho Shiye burst out laughing which left Kim Hae-yoon in confusion. Her smile, which she thought was sweet, looked like a crooked smile to Cho Shiye.
"What's wrong?" Kim Hae-yoon asked as Cho Shiye waved her hand off in the air and stopped herself from laughing as she chuckled and pulled out a tissue on her purse.
Cho Shiye wiped the excess makeup that had run down Kim Hae-yoon's cheeks with a smile. Kim Hae-yoon blushed and blinked twice, unsure of what was happening but felt that the closeness between the two makes her feel giddy.
"My mother," Cho Shiye paused, looking directly into Kim Hae-yoon's eyes. Mustering up the courage to speak, she took in a deep breath and let it out as she uttered her next words. "She died when I was really young." She spoke softly as Kim Hae-yoon listened to her words.
Cho Shiye then began telling the story of how her mother had died and how her parents met. She heard those stories countless times from her mother and remembering those moments made her tear up and laugh.
Kim Hae-yoon carefully held her hand and listened attentively.
Feeling the warmth that wrapped around her fingers and seemingly stretching out into her body, Cho Shiye smiled. She's not alone anymore.
"And that's how she died." Cho Shiye said with a sad smile. "No one blamed me for it nor did they try to tell but looking back, my mother would've lived if I had looked for servants to help her when I first saw her pass out cold on the floor."
Kim Hae-yoon could feel the remorse and guilt embedded into those words Cho Shiye had spoken as she looked at the lonely woman sitting beside her looking longingly at the stage which was where Cha Seo-yoon we're playing her violin.
"Shiye…" Kim Hae-yoon muttered as Cho Shiye dropped her head.
"Pitiful, aren't I?" Cho Shiye asked with a sarcastic smile. Kim Hae-yoon didn't reply as she stood up and walked in front of Cho Shiye.
Kim Hae-yoon hugged Cho Shiye's head and pressed it against her body as she rubbed her head.
"What are you doing?" Cho Shiye asked in a soft tone, her voice cracking. "You don't need to pity me—"
"Shh." Kim Hae-yoon interrupted with a soft hush, patting Cho Shiye's back. "It's alright." Kim Hae-yoon whispered. "It's not your fault." She added as Cho Shiye snorted.
"Hmm." Cho Shiye replied as she silently cried. She had told this story of hers only to Kang In-eun and Kim Yun-hee.
While Kang In-eun offered her support, honestly, it's been so long that it seems like a distant memory, forgotten and buried by the bad memories that Kim Yun-hee had given her. But, it's all in the past now.
The painful memories can now be replaced by new ones. Yes, she can now move forward and create good and happy memories with the people around her and especially— Kim Hae-yoon.
*****
Kim Hae-yoon held Cho Shiye's hands as they walked down the stairs. The concert ended on a good note and they felt relaxed. Cho Shiye couldn't stop talking about the songs Cha Seo-yoon played along with facts about violins and their conversations progressed as Kim Hae-yoon replied in every word Cho Shiye would utter.
'Honestly, my wife looks cute whenever she would nerd out like this.' Kim Hae-yoon thought to herself as she smiled.
The reporter who captured a picture of them before the concert started saw them and took quick candid moments of the royal couple. The empress could be seen with a warm and bright smile while the empress' consort's hands moved in bizarre directions, speaking passionately about something with a big smile on her face, her eyes glittering with excitement.
The reporter smiled, feeling the good aura radiating between the couple as he left with a big and satisfied grin along with the crowds who saw a glimpse of the imperial couple.
As the two were about to visit Cha Seo-yoon, they were stopped by a man with a big grin on his face, he greeted Kim Hae-yoon curtly which made the two stop talking.
"Greetings to your majesty, may you live a long life!" He greeted with a warm smile, Kim Hae-yoon looked at her and recognized him immediately.
"Greetings, Marquis Han." Kim Hae-yoon replied coldly with a frown as Marquis Han's, who's full name is Han Dong-hoon, smile grew even bigger.
"My, I didn't expect your majesty to recognize me." Marquis Han exclaimed excitedly as Kim Hae-yoon only replied with a nod. "A-ahem! I didn't expect to see your majesty in this place, had I known you're interested in this, I would've made reservations and given you lovely performances of famous musicians around the empire." he explained enthusiastically as Kim Hae-yoon ignore her and instead look at Cho Shiye who was looking around, feeling uncomfortable.
Kim Hae-yoon looked at him and then frowned deeply, Marquis Han's back started sweating, wondering what he did wrong when he looked at the woman who was standing beside the empress and gulped.
"My apologies for my impudence!" Marquis Han bowed deeply. "And greetings to the royal consort, may you live a long life, your highness!" He greeted Cho Shiye as Kim Hae-yoon scoffed.
She can't believe that the nobles would blatantly ignore her wife, 'How dare they disrespect her?' Kim Hae-yoon thought as she clicked her tongue. 'Right, not everyone would treat my wife with respect because she's the daughter of a concubine and was entangled with Kim Yun-hee.'
"F*cking bitches." Kim Hae-yoon muttered under her breath as she looked at Marquis Han."Is there anything else?" Kim Hae-yoon asked as Marquis Han shook his head vigorously and stumbled on his words.
"N-no, your majesty!" Marquis Han replied as Kim Hae-yoon started walking past him holding Cho Shiye's hands.
"I'm sorry about that." Kim Hae-yoon looked at Cho Shiye worriedly as Cho Shiye smiled at her.
"Don't worry, it's nothing big." Cho Shiye replied. She's used to this treatment anyways. "Oh, but back on our topic…" Cho Shiye started talking about the song that Cha Seo-yoon had helped in making as Kim Hae-yoon sighed a breath of relief and replied to her.
*****
Cha Seo-yoon was sitting on the couch set inside the backstage for her to rest when she heard a knock coming from the door. She frowned and groaned. She explicitly told everyone not to disturb her but before she could even shout the door burst open with a panic stricken employee who was bowing his head and apologizing towards her.
She was about to reprimand him when she saw two women entering the room and was dazzled by the woman with long black hair wearing a gorgeous white gown as she felt her heart skip a beat.
Cha Seo-yoon's face reddened as she felt the world slowed down as their eyes locked with each other, the soft and gentle eyes looking at her with admiration as the woman's mouth curved into a smile along with her eyes.
All the sound in her eyes were full of her loudly beating heart as she felt her chest felt a burst of warm and gooey feeling flowing through body as she felt like her heart, which was like a machine which stopped operating as the last missing piece were nowhere to be found, beat again with a thunderous start.
"A-ah!" Cha Seo-yoon blurted out, feeling breathless but then she felt a cold and suffocating feeling wrapped around her, strangling her as she looked at the tall woman standing beside the love of her life, holding her waist with a frown and predatory look.
"Is there something wrong on my wife's face?" The empress asked with a scowl.