Chapter 89: Teulaeb (Traps)

Even in our most tender moments he couldn't resist controlling the situation, he even went as far as to rip my top straight off of me for those last few kisses. But I now had an ever bigger problem on my hands now, I had to come clean to Seon-Ho about everything. I refused to believe that he didn't think about my brother despite the tough act he was starting to put on around me. Now that I thought about it, it must have killed him to both acknowledge my existence in his home and to keep me so close. Maybe he wasn't entirely crazy...maybe he was treating me this way because of my brother, because he missed him but he wasn't allowed to express it.

But as soon as I calmed down, I immediately realised where I was and couldn't pass up on the opportunity to sneak around a little and find what I could to clear Seon-Ho of evidence against him and to see if I could find anything that could help him in the future. And I only had an hour before the morning assembly ended and everyone returned to their offices. I raided every single draw that I could and I went over every single inch of the room, but Seon-Ho was smart and there was no evidence of corruption to be found anywhere. I was due to meet the second prince for breakfast so I made my way over to his residence which wasn't far from his brother, the third prince. And he was actually waiting for me right outside his own door with an eerily wide smile that made me half want to run away. There was no turning away now, especially when I had so many eyes staring at me, especially from those who had become desperate enough to become his concubines, and all 20 of them had come out to greet me with their painted lips, gleaming teeth and rather painful attire.

We all exchanged pleasantries before the price awkwardly dismissed all of his concubines so we could eat privately again. I did not understand why they couldn't join us, but I just went along with it as usual. But it was very hard to focus on what he was saying or joking about when all I could think of was what had taken place last night as if it were a dream. He was just so ...stubborn, demanding and he knew exactly how to get what he wanted from me. I was still shaking slightly and I had to do my best to cover up the so-called love bites that he gave me on my neck by covering it with my hair and my hand. And speaking of hands, he certainly knew what to do with his, and it was that memory that kept my legs buckling under the table...

"Are you listening to me?" "Yes, Your Highness." "Do you have any talent in music?" "Very little, Your Highness." "I would like you to play something for me." "I can play a little bit of the zither." "Go on then." I barely picked up the instrument when the doors suddenly burst open and a team of maids and eunuchs who looked more than familiar to me started to head towards me with such force that the prince almost threw himself on me to protect me. But before either one of us had the time to ask what was going on, Seon-Ho emerged in front of them with the most conflicted look that I had ever seen on his face. I could already assess the situation and it looked like it was really hurting him, so I made the choice to approach him with my hands in front of me so he could tie them up in rope as he had to do with criminal that he confronted, which actually shocked every around us.

"Miss? Are you in need of any assistance?" "It is ok, Your Highness. I know that I haven't done anything wrong, so I do not require any assistance at this time." "So why are you giving yourself up?" "Because if I do not do it now, the people who hold grudges against me will never let me be." "Do not act as if you are so innocent! You are here to seduce the prince..." "Seducing? Who am I seducing? The prince asked me to play the zither, and I was just obeying his request. There are servants here who can attest to my innocence..." I couldn't even finish my sentence before the second prince's concubines all started to come out of their little rat holes to accuse me as well. It really was one of the most hysterical scenes that I had ever witnessed in my life and I couldn't help but to start laughing, quite loudly in fact. And even more so when I saw the look on Seon-Ho's face, he looked like I had lost my mind. "Are you ok? Stop laughing like that! Do you have any idea where you are...?" "I am currently in a place where conspiracies are born and families are ruined." I said loudly enough for Hwi to notice as he came running into the room behind everyone, so nobody noticed him except for myself. I had my eyes on him the whole time, which really took him by surprise, but the last thing I needed was my overprotective big brother ding something stupid to jeopardise the situation even further.

"Yeon!" "You really are devilishly handsome when you work, Young Master Nam." I couldn't help but to whisper in his ears as he proceeded to tie me up and couldn't help but to blush at that comment. "Do you have any idea what you are doing?" "Do you trust me? That is all that I need to know." "You have never been in the palace before. How can you possibly survive the conflict and conspiracies here?" "If I can survive your father's antics, then I can walk away from this." "How are you so confident?" "You have no idea what I have survived when you left me alone in your home." "Yeon...?" "Where do you think my bruises come from? Take a guess." "How can this insolent girl keep mocking us? Enough of your mindless conversation and take her to the dungeons!" "Of course, lock up and come up with a good excuse to frame me for something that I haven't done. Excuse me, Master Nam, but isn't the most common form of trickery after one is accused of a murder they did not commit, a bunch of evidence coincidentally shows up after the arrest?" I had to keep a smile on my face to pacify both men as I was led to the dungeons without uttering another word. I had a lot of people scream and shout at me in the dungeons, but that still couldn't unnerve me. I wasn't going to give that satisfaction to the person who wanted to harm me...and most likely my loved ones...

"I promise you that I will do everything I my power to let you out...." "You will not lift a finger to help me. You will stay far away from this case unless you are carrying out orders. I know what I am doing, I can promise you that I will be alright. Don't you dare ruin your future for me, otherwise you will never see me again." "Yeon!" "Do you really want to help me out?" "Of course I do." "Then tell me you love me, that would help me out a lot right now."

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That goddamned brat! She knew I threatened her earlier so she could finally confess her feelings for me, and here she was trying to reverse the situation. What was wrong with her? Why was she acting so playful in a situation like this? Did she have any idea how bad I felt when I had this assignment handed to me? My heart dropped down to my toes and I almost fought my entire office on my own to fight for her. And she was putting my career before her? What on earth was going on? "Seon-Ho, I now you are disturbed by this, but you told me that you didn't want any secrets between us. So I will tell you everything, but there is no point of you do not trust me and will not stand by my side."

Her eyes were piercing into mine when she gave me that innocent face and acted so pure that I could not deny her anything. "There is no me without you." That was the best that I could offer her, but her sad look said it all. I wanted to take it back and stay there with her if that meant that the world would finally leave us alone, but I had an appointment with Hwi that I couldn't afford to miss. He had never left my thoughts or my heart, not for a single day. And as for Hui-Jee...I tried with her. But after spending a short amount of time with her, I realised that it was never going to work out between us. She wasn't the romantic type, she used my money endlessly to better herself and I had a feeling she wanted me to buy the brothel for her, and that won't going to happen at all. She was a bold and beautiful woman, but she could never see past herself in her own world, so there was no point trying with her at all.

I closed my almost bleeding eyes as soon as I could to temporarily escape the pain and burden that were causing me to burn out and act on impulse instead of being able to come up with plans like I used to. I was lost, I was broken and I needed a fresh start away from the palace for a short time. Despite all the success that I had on my way to transferring into the office of censors, my father was doing everything in his power to keep me as a general inspector to catch his enemies and anyone else that stood in his way and I was sick of it. His enemies were not exactly saints, but the things that man made me do...I had finally found someone who touched me, moved me, listened to me, indulge me and even made me want to be a good person and my father hand even managed to ruin this without knowing it. I heard what she said last night, about how I ignored her when she needed me the most, but she had no idea how guilty I felt towards her back then. She always waited for me, she always smiled at me and she was always watching me of concern and I couldn't stand it because I never deserved it. And now, she was the only sinless, unsullied and preciously unique light in my life. Along with the little girl I kept seeing over and over again in my dreams. The sun was in her face so I still couldn't see her properly as we were back at the river. All I could hear was her voice, begging me to remember her.