Chapter 7: Seon-Ho/ Seo Yeon

I tried. I really tried to get stay away from that brat who was turning out to be a lot more trouble than she was worth sometimes...in her own private life anyways. At home she was an angel though...the amount of time i snorted or rolled my eyes at her honey sweet act to us became a source of entrainment for me in this miserable place. It was better than nothing though. I thought I would take things up a notch and go back to teasing her like I used to...well I would throw indirect comments to her every now and again just to see her sweat but she didn't crack, even once! She was always the one to throw theses sarcastic comments around with us and she knew how to do it well...myself and her brother always felt like we were being sucker-punched with her words when she didn't get her way...even now I was the one left feeling that way every time she chose to ignore me or feign ignorance. It was actually...getting to me a lot more than I thought it would that I couldn't catch her out. Maybe it was because I had nothing else to do in this mansion apart from eat, study and train that it kind became my...mission to catch her out and have her beg me for mercy just like we would have to for her. I was good as my job as inspector but I was treated just as insignificantly in the palace as I was at home...although I was given some consolation as I knew it had nothing to do with my work abilities...no matter how high my father thought he was in the palace everyone deposed him from coming from a simple background, working in the Royal Stables to Privy Councillor. At the palace I wasn't exactly a favourite since I was illegitimate and his son...and at home I was despised for those same reasons as well. So I guess...I guess that's where my...infatuation with the girl started.

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That jerk; did he really think he could catch me out with whatever he thought it was knew about me so easily? I didn't miss those snorts, eye-rolls or indirect comments either. But I knew him too well, far more than he knew me so I knew how to handle him...and keep him wrapped around my finger as well just like I used to before all of this corrupt mess happened. I had gotten my memories back only recently; yes I was horrified that I had forgotten all about my brother and when I found out the real story- Seon-Ho's father rigged the military exam in his son's favour I knew something was wrong. No matter how ambitions Seon-Ho was in his plight that my brother didn't pay much attention to since he was the one that was alway victimised wherever he went I know deep down that Seon-Ho would never willingly partake in something rigged, even if it was the answer to his dreams, he was too disciplined in fairness to do that...it was one of the reasons why I always had a crush on him. I knew deep down he betrayed my brother to save him...he even came back from war a while ago so I knew he was looking for him. And from the moment I woke with him by my side watching over my like a hawk...despite the severity of the situation I felt his sincerity to protect me. I put the pieces together and his behaviour started to make sense...he was so lonely here in this miserable place. So it only made sense that he had no choice but to keep his distance from me, even when I could tell it upset him.

Luckily I got my memories back in time to recognise him when he came looking for me in the mansion. I dragged him away just in time before all hell broke loose when he went to meet Seon-Ho's father. We met up a lot when I could sneak out...but I could only be truly free when my brother dealt with Nam-Jeon himself. And I was in-between both men so profoundly that I just let my brother get on with it how he wished. And now....all I could do was kill time until my brother got me out of here...and hopefully Seon-Ho as well.

So...if he wanted to catch me out, why should I make I easy for him? I went to bed with the best grin on my face as I racked my mind at what tricks I could to catch him out in his own game...I would pour sour substances in his drinks and chilies in his refreshments to see if he would stop dropping unfounded hints at me again. I had a hard time keeping my smile fixed when he threw me annoyed yet amused looks at the same time. I was completely unaware of where these interactions with him would take me in the future...

I kept that in mind as I continuously told myself not to be so close to him in the mansion, even when I was desperate to. But much to my shock, it seemed that I wasn't the only one who felt that way. The more his father suffocated him, the more he ran to me. I remember an incident when I could feel a presence outside my door late at night. I was already in bed when I couldn't ignore it anymore; but the minute I opened the door he fell into my arms completely drunk. He was taller than me and had a warrior's built; it was a miracle he didn't knock me onto the ground. I tried to make him talk to me but he was slurring his words. I had seen him drunk before but not to this state; he was completely out of his senses. I din't want him to get into trouble with his father so I ha don choose but to clean him up to the best of my ability and put him next to my bed as the room was barely big enough to separate us comfortably. He was unconscious but he kept...touching me while I helped him and tried to make me comfortable. I was confused at first, and I kept putting his arm down but when I did that; he only grabbed onto me even harder, to the point where I was in pain. He...he was digging his nails into my skin as if I was the only thing he could hold onto. It made me sad, to the point where I forgot the pain. I was about to go to bed when I hear him mumbling something in his sleep. I got curious, and put my ear to his mouth, trying to decipher his words. I was expecting him to call out for Hui-Jee; but the minute I heard him call for me I immediately ran into my bed and hid under my blanket, trying not to think about it.