Chapter 14
“How are you feeling?”
“Good…?”
“Both mentally and physically?”
“Yes”
“Sure?”
“Sure”
“That’s good, that's good. What about your periods? Got them this month?”
“......”
“....”
“...yes..”
“When will be your next cycle?”
“I…I don’t know.”
“You don’t keep track of your dates?”
“...No…I am sorry.”
“It’s okay , take care of your health. If anything happens let me know I am always here.”
`Rose, nothing will happen by endlessly replaying the conversation.’
`How do you know I was doing that?’
`You are just way too obvious.’
“Huibin!”
Rose jumped back, startled by the loud voice. Ha-Eun held her hand and gave it a little tug, asking her to sit. The queen went back to writing complicated hangul words with her long slender fingers wrapped around the brush delicately…no we need to stay loyal to our MC, just a little correction, `with her regular hands´.
“I apologise I shouldn’t have yelled. You were spaced out again, I am really sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s okay…I was…just…thinking…about some stuff.”
Ha-Eun placed her brush down and turned to her.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah I’m fine…I’m fine.”
The queen stared at Huibin´s face for a moment, not really convinced.
“Did mother-in-law say something?”
“No no…she just wanted to know if I was okay…you know just normal stuff.”
“See I know she can be demanding sometimes but don’t be pressured okay. These things happen at their own pace, we can’t really force it. Always remember it’s not your fault.”
“I know it’s not my fault.”
Rose spoke up confidently.
'Dude you don’t even know what it refers to!’
`Do you?’
`No! How will I?!’
`Then shut up.’
`Yeah of course it is always me who has to shut up.’
“Huibin, are you sure you’re fine?”
“Yes I am and the queen dowager too didn't pressurise meor anything of that sort. She just told me to be careful and that she will always be there if something happens. I am really tired for some reason.”
`Because you have been running on her mind~’
`Okay that’s it we need some rules. First one no talking to me when I am with someone and second no cringe! Understood?’
`...’
`Say something’
'You told not to talk when you are with someone!’
`Fine! I didn’t think you would agree so fast. It starts now one, two , three!’
“...Or if it’s too uncomfortable to lay your head on the ground you can use my lap as a pillow. I will not move, I promise. I usually don’t while reading so it won’t be a problem.”
“I could just go back to my room you know… but I am so tired that I might fall asleep on the way so I am sorry I will have to trouble you a little.”
Something moved in Rose’s heart as she saw Ha-Eun’s face lose its shine and decided at the last moment to just stay.
“It’s no trouble at all. Here, you can lie down, tell me if you feel any discomfort.”
The eastern palace was lit up in the middle of the night bringing chaos. The shouts and cries were overridden by the melancholic melody the Royal Noble Consort played from the centre of the chaos.
“AAAAHHHHH.”
Rose felt her whole body burn suddenly. She clawed at her robes, each piece of cloth seemed to be stuck to her like molten plastic.
“Huibin?! What’s wrong? Is it painful? Where is the pain?”
Ha-Eun’s touch was hot like blazing coal.
“STAY AWAY!”
“Okay I will stay away. I will give you space so please relax.”
Rose trembled as another wave of pain washed over her. Ha-Eun reached out on instinct but backed away quickly.
“I will just call Sang-Ki. You will be fine..I’ll be right back.”
Rose could hear her talk to someone at a distance but her brain was clouded with agony unable to comprehend her words. As soon as the door closed behind Ha-Eun, the angel appeared in front of Rose.
'Rose what happened?!’
`It burns’
`Where is it burning??’
`Everywhere! MY WHOLE BODY IS ON FIRE!!’
`Okay your body is on fire…your body..is on…fire…WHAT? Your body's ON FIRE? How does that make sense???’
Angel held her forehead, eyes darting from al over the room in frenzy. Why was this happening now? Everything was going smoothly. They still couldn’t
`I don’t know!! DO SOMETHING!’
'I will report this wait.’
`I don’t care what you do but make this sto-Ahhh it’s burning more. Please please do something!! Anything!’
`TIme OuT!! Call for a time out!!’
`How?’
`Just yell the words time out’
“TIME OUT!”
Suddenly Rose was floating in a black ocean of nothing.