Sun-Hi fainted from the fear. Feeling the sudden weight of the woman, the man stopped. He turned her around only to see her unconscious. Seong panicked at the realization that his prank may have gone too far. He put his gown around her and carried her to his brother's room.
Jiwoo was just about to get to sleep when he saw his brother entering with Sun-Hi in his arms. He watched in stunned silence as his brother carefully laid the unconscious woman down on his bed, her pale, bruised skin a stark contrast against the dark fabric, praying that she was still alive even as a thousand unspeakable scenarios played out in his imagination.
-What happened?
-I thought it would be funny if I pretended to be infected
-YOU WHAT?
-I didn't think she would faint just because I've bitten her a couple of times. For a woman with such a nasty temper and foul mouth, she's quite frail!
-HAVE YOU FINALLY GOT MAD? Look at her state? Her clothes are ripped! She is bleeding! WHAT KIND OF BITES ARE THOSE?! What are you, a wolf?
-Well, fucking woof I guess!
-GET OUT!
-Now, Jiwoo, just because I have let you yell at me for a bit, that doesn't mean
Jiwoo drew his sword in a quick fluid motion, pointing the blade unde his brother's neck
-I said out!
Prince Jiwoo's voice carried a menacing, predatory quality as he barked the order. The words rumbled forth from his chest like the guttural growl of a lion, raw power and unrestrained fury lacing every syllable. His dark eyes narrowed to slits, smoldering with a hatred so intense it was almost palpable.There was a palpable malice in the air, an aura of danger that crackled around the prince like electricity.
Seong left the room annoyed. So he pranked her a bit. Yeah, it was a bit rough, but it was called acting. He didn't mean to harm her, just tease her a bit. He kicked the small stone in frustration.The heavy, panicked breaths and erratic heartbeat of Sun-Hi echoed in his ears.He felt a deep sense of remorse and shame wash over him. This was no longer fun.
Turning to glance back at the chamber where Sun-Hi lay, Seong hoped that she would soon wake up unharmed. He would need to make amends, to find a way to apologize for his cruel actions. Perhaps he could hunt and bring her a gentle rabbit to calm her nerves, or gather a bouquet of fragrant flowers as a peace offering.But even as he considered these gestures, Seong scoffed at himself. He was a tyrannical royal, what did he knew about flowers or apologise?
Inside the chamber, Jiwoo was rubbing a cold wet piece of cloth on Sun-HI's forehead. She had a slight fever. He blamed himself for letting Sun-Hi unattended with his brother. What kind of mockery was this anyway? What fun could he have in torturing her?
Sun-Hi opened her eyes weaken. Seeing the sick prince, she felt a wave of confusion and fear.
-It was Seong… My brother bit you…
-Is he infected? sobbed her. Am I gonna die, Jiwoo?
His heart ached with sorrow when he witnessed the sight of Sun-Hi, the woman he cared for deeply, trembling and overcome with distress.Jiwoo reached out a shaky hand, gently pulling Sun-Hi towards him in a clumsy but tender embrace. He could feel the tension in her body, the way she shuddered against his touch, but he persisted, his fingers softly caressing the tangled strands of her messy, disheveled hair in a soothing, comforting gesture.
-No, it was just a cruel joke!
-I am gonna kill him! cried her in his arms
-I am sorry, Sun-Hi…
They continued the embrace until the woman sobbing fainted. She broke the clutch and looked at the prince. He was crying too.
-Your back is full of wounds… I need to treat them… but I can give you a mirror and leave you alone to treat them yourself if you are uncomfortable…
-Don't… don't leave me alone tonight…
Jiwoo's face flushed with a mix of concern and discomfort as Sun-Hi slowly revealed her back.The skin was torned , the blood having already begun to coagulate in the wounds.With the utmost care and tenderness, Jiwoo set to work, deftly preparing a soothing, medicinal brew from an array of carefully selected plants. The pungent, earthy scent of the remedy filled the air as Jiwoo gently dabbed it onto Sun-Hi's wounds, the woman flinching slightly at the sting of the treatment.
-I am sorry… it must hurt a lot
-It does, but you are making it better, said Sun-Hi shy.
-It might leave scars…
-Who will look at my back anyway? said sad Sun-Hi.
-I will… I'll treat them until they won't ache anymore at least.
Sun-Hi turned around to face the prince. Her clothes ripped and bloody barely covering her. The prince gazed at her full of remorse. She looked at herself.
-Seems like every time you see me I'm a mess. You must think I'm pretty pathetic.
Jiwoo brushed tenderly his fingertips on her hand, too shy to hold it.
-Quite the opposite. I think you're wonderful.
The atmosphere between him and Sun-Hi shifted palpably. A newfound sense of connection and understanding blossomed in the air around them, an invisible yet tangible bond forming. Their eyes locked, each suddenly captivated by the depth and emotion reflected in the other's gaze. An electric anticipation built, making their lips tremble slightly with the unspoken desire to close the distance between them.
Sun-Hi reached up tenderly, her fingertips caressing the prince's cheek with gentleness, her touch sending a shiver through him. In response, he reverently brought his hand to cover hers, holding it against his face with a trembling, almost reverent gesture. In the stillness of the night, the only sounds that could be heard were the rapid, almost synchronized beats of their hearts, thundering with the raw intensity of their connection.
The prince and Sun-Hi leaned in, their faces mere inches apart as the tension built between them. He tentatively pressed his lips to hers, the clumsy, uncertain gesture revealing his inexperience. But Sun-Hi responded eagerly, parting her lips to deepen their kiss. The embrace was gentle and tender, conveying a sense of care and affection. As the prince wrapped his arms around her, however, Sun-Hi suddenly flinched as he touched by mistake one of the bites his brother left on her.The prince instinctively wanted to pull away, to apologize for overstepping, but Sun-Hi refused to let him go, pulling him closer instead.
When they finally broke apart, panting softly, a new feeling hung heavy in the air between them - was it pity, a shared understanding of the pain and trauma they had each endured? Or was it the beginnings of a genuine, budding affection, a connection forged through their shared struggles?
-I'll give you something to change into, said the prince, flustered.
-Thank you.. Your Majesty.
-I will let you sleep on the bed. I will sleep on the chair and tomorrow I'll move your bed in my chamber
-You should use the bed, Your Majesty. You fainted because of your mark today.
-I faint sometimes, but you don't need to worry. You are hurt. Please, don't insist.
-We could share the bed…if you don't find me repulsive…
-I think you're the most beautiful thing I ever laid my eyes on, Sun-Hi.
Seong's mind was consumed with a crippling guilt that kept him tossing and turning.With a sense of dread and resignation, Seong made his way to the imperial chambers, where his father was sleeping.
As Seong entered the dimly lit room, the air thick with tension, the Emperor eyed him warily, his fingers drumming against the arm of his ornate chair.
-Why are you here?
-I need advice, Father. I-I have wronged someone who I care about apparently and I don't know how to deal with the guilt.
The Emperor's hands started to shake slightly. This was surely about his son wanting to take his throne. To ask the man who you'll kill how to get rid of the guilt of the murder was on another level of tyranny, even for his son!
-You shouldn't have done it in the first place!
-A little too late for that, Father!
-Then you should immediately fix your mistake and save the person!
-What if I won't receive forgiveness after?
-You should put your life in their service then!
-I don't enjoy that idea… to give my life as an apology for something as childish as that!
-YOU NEED TO, yelled the Emperor, still thinking his son talks about killing him.
-Father!
-I did not raise a slug that crawls on the earth without a spine or reason!
-I understand… Thank you, Father! Your wisdom is as immeasurable as ever!
After Seong bowed in front of his father, he left the room puzzled. The Emperor exhaled loudly. He survived another attack from his son. He manipulated him into offering his life to him. The old man smiled satisfied. He was still the clever cunning fox even after all those passing years.
Seong thought about his father's advice. He needed to put his life on the line for Sun-Hi? The notion felt strange. What did that mean? A man puts his life on the line for a woman when they marry, don't they? Does that mean he needs to marry Sun-Hi? Forfeit his liberty? What if he gets fed up with her deviant attitude and goes to another woman, breaking his vow? But what woman? It's not like he could sleep with the infected outside? Sun-Hi as his wife might not be such a horrible idea after all.
Entering his room, he imagined a more loving version of Sun-Hi.He pictured her waking up beside him, her nude breast pressed against his chest.And throughout the day, the intimate moments would only continue. When she moved to the kitchen to prepare their midday meal, he envisioned taking her there, pressed against the wooden table, as he entered her from behind in a frenzy of passion.Then at night, when they retired to the bedroom, he imagined her eagerly sucking his manhood, her mouth sliding up and down his shaft until it hit the back of her throat. Her breath would grow ragged, chest heaving, as she worked tirelessly to pleasure him, lost in ecstasy.
He imagined her trembling withdesire, every inch of her skin tingling in anticipation as she pleaded for his attention. In his mind's eye, he saw her writhing and moaning beneath him, her back arching as she begged shamelessly for release. Seong could practically hear the filthy words tumbling from her lips, each one dripping with lust and meant only to drive him wild with need. He pictured the way her mouth would fall open, her breath coming in ragged gasps, as she guided him into the wet heat of her throat.She would swallow every last drop.
Maybe being married is not such a bad idea after all. He smirked. He took a piece of metal and started sculpting a beautiful ring for his proposal.
In the morning, Seong pampered himself up. He was excited. Sun-Hi might be a bit indecisive at first, but how could she refuse him? What other better choice did she have?
As Prince Seong entered his brother's bedchamber, he was met with a sight that left him stunned and filled with a swirling mix of emotions. There, nestled in the disheveled sheets, lay his brother, his head resting intimately upon the bosom of Sun-Hi, holding Sun-Hi close with a possessive hand upon her hip.How dare his own flesh and blood betray him so brazenly, stealing away the woman he was supposed to marry? He even had the Emperor's approval… in a way.
Gripping the hilt of his sword tightly, Seong leveled the sharp blade directly at his brother, the metal gleaming menacingly in the dim light of the chamber. His brother stirred, awakening in a confused daze, only to find himself staring down the edge of Seong's sword, the prince's eyes burning with a righteous fury.
-What are you doing, Seong?
-Why are you two sleeping together?!
-I was scared to go back to my chamber because the maniac who marked me might still wait for another chance to attack me, yelled Sun-Hi.
-Why are you pointing your blade at me? asked Jiwoo. What are you doing here so early in the morning anyway?
-I am marrying her!
-What?
-I am marrying you! Father ordered me to after what I did!
Seong left the sword and got down to one knee, pulling out the ring he worked on all night.
-Be my wife!
The silence pressured the room. The only sound breaking it was Jiwoo's bird chirping. It sounded like a chuckle.