Fugitive Arc:
Princess
.
Through a steep valley, an army marched with the flags of their nation raised high in the air, the light of the morning sun beginning to touch the flowing banners. Splashes of orange and pink tainted the blue sky that was filled with fluffy and white clouds, making the break of dawn seem like the heavens glowed like ethereal fire.
From above a ledge that oversaw the marching the enemy troops of well-armed soldiers, the hooded figure of a young woman with blazing hair gazed down at the number of soldiers that walked or rode horses to their destination, and she knew that the military force was headed into the Kouka Kingdom to try and invade the country. Behind the young woman, seven people also stood staring down at the soldiers with the sun at their backs, each one wearing clothing that was vastly different from one another. Only two of the seven people stood closest to the hooded girl; a tall, dark-haired man and the only other woman of the group who also wore a cape to shield her from the cold with the hood over her head.
"Princess Yona," the dark-haired male began as he held on to his guandao, a glaive-like weapon. "We should get going."
The crimson-haired girl sighed, her warm breath visible in the cold climate, "All right." She looked to the mountains in the distance as the cold hair chilled her skin. "It's chilly here."
"Well, we are on the edge of the mountains," the young woman standing next to the dark-haired man said, a small smile on her lips as the wind rustled everyone's clothing.
The young woman stared at the princess' back and couldn't help but think about the past, when the princess lived in the very same castle that they were trying to protect, and when the crimson-haired girl didn't know about the cold beyond the walls of the palace that she once called her home.
That lavish life that the princess shared with her childhood friends disappeared in one night.
.
It was a week before Kouka Kingdom's princess' sixteenth birthday.
The day's sky was a nice blue and mostly cloudless with light drizzle falling over Hiryuu Castle, the prominent landmark within the city of Kuuto and main royal palace where the royal family who ruled over the Kouka Kingdom resided. The cool drops of water that fell from the few light grey clouds that gathered was a refreshing feeling to the people in the city, giving them a reprieve from the hot weather.
At that moment, anyone who looked up to Hiryuu Castle could see the effect the drizzle had by creating a faint rainbow that acted as an arch over the palace that stood on top of a small mountain, which overlooked the town below. Within the walls of the castle, soft humming could be heard throughout the halls of the palace, raising a smile on anyone's lips whose ears heard the soft tune.
The wordless melody came from a young woman of rosy skin who walked toward a certain room with an extravagant article of clothing in her arms, greeting people as she walked by. This slender woman possessed slightly wavy hair that was a bright copper and reached a few inches past her upper back, but she kept half of it tied in a braided bun woven together with a lilac scarf on the back of her head. Her fringe that just about reached her eyes was slightly swept to the right with bangs that framed her face falling to her chest. She also had pale green eyes to match her hair.
The only accessory she wore was a pair of silver earrings with dangling teardrops.
"Lady Mira," a strong voice greeted from ahead of the young woman as the person came to stand in front of the young lady, halting her steps and humming. Not long after the soft tune ended, the drizzling stopped.
The woman smiled up at the man who called her name, recognizing his black hair and brown eyes, especially the medium-sized scar on his right cheek. His usual scowl was painted on his face, not that it meant that he was always in a bad mood. "General Joo-Doh, good to see you," she greeted.
"You look lovely today, my lady," Joo-Doh said but then stammered when he processed what he said. "Not that you don't any other day," he said nervously.
"Thank you," said a smiling Mira.
Joo-Doh then noticed what Mira carried in her arms. "I'm sorry for keeping you from the princess. I saw you walking by and only meant to make sure you're doing well." He added, "And I thought I've told you that you didn't need to use titles with me, my lady."
"I have also asked the same of you, but here we are," Mira countered, chuckling behind a hand she brought up to her mouth when he pursed his lips. "Still, I greatly appreciate your visits."
Joo-Doh's cheeks turned a light shade of pink at that comment, his eyes darting all over the place to stare at anything except Mira's face. "I'm glad." He cleared his throat. "I also want to talk to you about something important, and–"
"I'm sorry, but I must tend to the princess. I can practically feel her panicking," Mira said as she slowly stepped around the Sky Tribe's General. And what she said was more than her imagining things, she suddenly felt anxious and could only think about the princess.
"Right," Joo-Doh sighed with a hesitant nod, realizing why Mira was in such a hurry. "But the king is already addressing the people."
"Not good," she sighed. "I hope we can talk later." And then she walked away with hurried steps.
Joo-Doh watched Mira walk away, disappointed in himself for not having worked up enough courage to be more straightforward with the young lady. He had every intention to speak to her about something of great importance when he approached her, but she always made him loose his confidence. Usually, he was assertive, but he forgot that Mira wasn't a soldier under his command whom he could speak to without problem. Releasing a heavy sigh, Joo-Doh decided to go on his way as he scratched the back of his head, trying to figure out when he could get the lady to talk with him in private.
Unbeknownst to both Mira and Joo-Doh, their interaction was observed from afar.
Finally, Mira reached her destination, so she stopped and smiled fondly when she saw the young princess of Hiryuu Castle fussing over her bright, red hair in front of a mirror with two attendants nearby. The crimson-haired princess was the only child of King Il. He was known as a peaceful man who ruled the Kouka Kingdom. He had no son to succeed him, and no queen to bear him one. And so, the kind king bestowed all his love on his fifteen-year-old daughter.
"Princess Yona," Mira greeted the girl with a bow of her head, causing the princess to turn on her heel to face the copper-haired woman.
The female servants in the room bowed their heads at Mira. Due to her status as a lady-in-waiting and coming from a prominent family, she didn't wear a servant's uniform. Her clothing consisted of a short-sleeved, mint tunic with frilly hemlines that reached her hips, which was over a long-sleeved, peach-colored dress that reached just above her ankles. The tunic was wrapped closed with a pale yellow sash around her waist that was tied in a ribbon-like knot. For footwear, she wore a pair of dark, flat shoes.
"Lady Mira," Min-Soo greeted the young woman with a smile as he held a tray occupied with some tea and cups to distribute to whoever wanted to drink the warm liquid. He never failed to be present for the royal family, providing whatever they needed to the best of his abilities.
"Mira!" Yona greeted the older girl in return with a wide smile, her purple eyes immediately focusing on the robe the other woman had in her arms. "You found it!" She hurried over to Mira, taking the robe to put it on before going back to the mirror, her face pensive as she thought if the article of clothing would match her dress.
The vague sound of drums reached Mira's ears, to which she exhaled with an uneasy smile. "It appears that the commemoration ceremony is drawing to a close."
Yona was too focused on her appearance to have heard Mira, preferring to scrutinize the outfit she wore. The lady-in-waiting did not blame the princess she saw as a younger sister for ignoring her, since she understood the girl's feelings. Mira and Min-Soo shared knowing smiles, the former dismissing the attendants that had also helped with getting the princess ready.
"You look wonderful, Princess," Min-Soo complimented, wanting to get rid of the frown on Yona's face as she stared at her reflection with doubt. The robe that Mira brought failed to convince her that it was a good match for her dress. "Forgive me, but you should proceed to the courtyard soon."
"No, this isn't right," Yona said as she took off the blue robe, deciding she didn't like the combination.
Mira approached the princess from behind with a raised eyebrow. "What's wrong with it?"
"I think I'll go with that chintz," Yona mumbled to herself as she handed the robe back to Mira.
"You're sure?" Mira asked as she followed the princess with worried eyes, handing the robe to one of the servants. "I think it looked lovely on you."
"It isn't the right one." Yona shook her head, going past Mira to leave her room. She came to a halt as a gasp of surprise escaped her mouth when she saw her father enter through the doorway. "Father, what about the ceremony?"
Mira and Min-Soo both bowed their heads out of respect at the king's arrival.
"As you can see, it's over," said the king as he approached his daughter with an ever-present smile on his round face.
"Oh, no," Yona mumbled as she looked at the floor sheepishly. "I'm sorry."
"Well, no matter." King Il laughed to lighten his daughter's mood, disliking making her feel sad. "It was merely a formality," he continued when he had Yona's attention. "There is no need for you to appear before the people."
Mira hummed to herself, disagreeing with the king's words, but she did so in the privacy of her own mind. She knew better than to disrespect the king in such a way. She did admire King Il for his peaceful ideals and wanting to show others that there was nothing good about violence, but sheltering his daughter was something Mira thought he shouldn't have done. She wanted her princess to be loved by her own people, to let them teach her about the kingdom she would help rule over in the future so that she can be even better than her father.
"Is there something wrong, Mira?" King Il asked, having noticed the young woman's downcast gaze.
Mira choked on a breath, hoping she didn't say anything out loud while she was lost in thought. "N-No, Your Majesty," she stuttered while smiling widely before she paused, narrowing her eyes when she noticed the smirk on the man who stood behind the king. "Just a bit dazed today," she explained.
"Father," Yona inquired, her interruption causing Mira to sigh in relief. "Do you think there's something wrong with my hair?"
King Il was surprised by the question, just like Mira and Min-Soo. Still, he offered his daughter a smile and told her, "No, not at all. Even precious gems can't hold a candle to your beauty."
"Well, my face is pleasing," Yona said with a proud smile as she twirled a strand of her frizzy hair in her fingers, causing everyone in the room to sweat drop while still smiling at her.
"Still!" Yona stomped a foot due to frustration, slightly glaring at her hair that she held between her fingers. Even the hair's texture bothered her. "Why is this hair so frizzy and red?"
"It's quite beautiful, Princess," Mira complimented, sincerely finding the shade of red quite alluring, and it even went along so well with the princess' purple eyes.
"But Mother's hair was so black and silky," Yona whined as she waved her hands in the air due to her desperation to tame her wild hair. She often wished she had inherited her mother's hair. "It makes no sense at all! It won't behave at all!"
Mira chuckled. "She looks adorable."
Min-Soo feigned a smile as he stood next to Mira. "You have a situation opposite to the princess'."
"Yes." Mira nodded. "As far as I know, the women of my family have the same hair color and eye color, but different shades."
"No need to disparage your hair so," the king told his daughter, glancing at the person who had followed him into the room. "Right, Hak?"
Yona froze and waited to hear the person's response.
"Indeed, King Il," answered the dark-haired, young man as he knelt on one knee. "I can't see anyone claiming there's a single thing wrong with the princess' hair. If I were to venture an opinion," he paused to raise his head and stare at the back of the princess' head, "it is her brain that's weird."
"Silence, flunky," Yona hissed before grabbing anything she could to throw at Hak, who caught everything that was thrown at him.
"They're so cute together," Mira said as she stood beside the king while they both watched Yona and Hak's argument.
"Yes, they are," said King Il, smiling at his daughter interacting with Hak. At that moment, he wished that moments like those would be plentiful in the future.
"Do something about this impertinent cretin, Father!" Yona raged as she continued her assault on Hak. "A servant shouldn't be so arrogant!"
"Now, now," the king tried to pacify the squabble. "Hak has been your friend since childhood, along with Mira. And he may be only eighteen, but the fact is he's one of our finest generals. There is no one better to be your guard." He then glanced at the other female in the room. "You also have Mira as your court lady and talented herbalist, who tends to your every need."
"I don't mind Mira!" Yona countered as she went over to Min-Soo, grabbing a glass cup. "But I'd much rather have a more charming protector." She then hurled the cup at Hak, who caught it with ease.
"Speaking of charm, shouldn't you be making yourself look more charming?" Hak questioned out of the blue.
Yona raised an eyebrow as Hak turned away from her. "Huh?"
"Lord Soo-won has arrived," Hak informed the young princess.
"Why didn't you say so sooner?!" Yona scoffed before flying out of the room with a big smile on her pink lips while holding up her skirts to prevent her feet from tripping on the hem.
Mira huffed, not knowing how to feel about Hak enabling Yona's affections toward Soo-won. It wasn't like she disliked the young lord of the Sky Tribe–she practically helped raise him alongside Hak and Yona–but she still couldn't help but ache for Hak, even though he had completely erased any hope of ever seeing the princess in any way other than someone he had to protect.
"Soo-won?" The king then realized what he thought was causing his daughter to worry so much about how she looked. "Is he why she was concerned about her hair?"
"Most likely," Mira said to the king, following Hak to get some of the tea Min-Soo had prepared.
"It's apple tea," Min-Soo told Mira with a smile. "Your favorite."
Mira smiled, feeling her mouth begin to water. "Thank you, Min-Soo."
King Il raised an eyebrow. "What difference would it make to him?" He hummed, trying to make sense of whatever it was that went through his daughter's mind that would make her worry over what Soo-won thought about her hair. "They're cousins."
While Hak placed the cup to his lips with both of his hands, he mumbled into the tea, "It must be that thing they call a 'maiden heart'." He then swallowed some of the liquid.
"Well, she is trying hard to achieve her goal of getting his attention," said Mira.
"King Il, you still have official business to attend to," Min-Soo said, the tray he previously carried now replaced with documents he presented to the king.
"Oh, right," mumbled King Il.
Mira noticed King Il's face filled with concern as he stared at the spot where he last saw Yona, so swalked over to him and said kindly, "I'll go make sure she's all right."
"Thank you, Mira," the king said, smiling at the young woman. "You take such good care of her. I'm sure she appreciates having you around to watch over her."
Hak snorted in the background, holding the teacup to his lips to take another sip.
"Did you say something?" Mira asked, looking to Hak over her shoulder with a fake smile after making sure King Il and Min-Soo left the room. Her sharp eyes sent a shiver down his spine.
"Nope," said Hak, averting his eyes from her own. Though he stood nearly a head taller than her and appeared capable of standing his ground against a smaller person, he knew better than to test Mira's patience.
Mira hummed as she went over to him, taking their teacups and placing them down. "Good."
"Hey!" Hak protested as she took his arm and pulled him along with her.
"Come along," Mira said as she released after making sure he would walk beside her, following the shouts that called out for the princess to slow down.
"Where are we going?" he groaned, loathing having to be tugged along somewhere he might not want to go.
Mira gave him a knowing look. "Like you don't know."
Hak huffed, "I really don't."
"You're just as excited to see Soo-won, but I think you're coming along with me for another reason," Mira explained, eyeing him with amused eyes. She liked to believe that Hak wanted to make sure the princess was all right and that–deep within his soul–he didn't like the young girl being alone with Soo-won.
"You dragged me with you. This isn't out of my own volition," Hak countered, taking a snack from a platter a servant was carrying without asking for it, which was a habit of his.
"Oh, please," Mira rebuffed with a wave of her hand, grinning widely. "I know what goes on in that mind of yours, even when you don't know it yourself. That especially applies to your deepest desires."
"Really?" hummed Hak, not really paying any mind to her teasing. He knew better than to indulge her in her antics to tease him. "And how are you so sure you know my 'deepest desires'?"
Mira shrugged her shoulders, still smiling as she glanced up at him. "Big sisters know best."
Hak was about to make a remark but paused when they saw Yona talking to Soo-won a little bit ahead of them in a hall after turning a corner. Since Soo-won had his back to Mira and Hak as he jogged away from the princess, he didn't see them as they approached a despondent-looking Yona, who also didn't notice that they were behind her. Hak was leaning against the verandah's railing, while Mira stood beside him with her hands clasped together at her front.
"Princess?" Mira inquired, taking notice of Yona's mussed hair, as if someone patted it too much.
Yona groaned. "I spent all morning scenting my best silk clothes with the finest incense, and I'm wearing the highest-quality lotions and makeup."
"You're wasting your money," Hak remarked through his mouth chewing on the bun that was his snack.
Yona immediately glared at the dark-haired general. "No one asked you!" She sighed before staring at the floor with sorrow-filled eyes.
Mira approached the princess and placed her right hand on Yona's left shoulder, earning the girl's attention. "I don't think Soo-won cares for such extravagant things, Princess," she explained with a soft smile.
"Of course, because he still thinks I'm a child," Yona grumbled, puffing out her cheeks that had Mira thinking about how the princess looked like a squirrel right then.
"Probably," Mira whispered, taking her hand off Yona's shoulder to rub the princess' hair affectionately. The princess may not like her hair, but Mira sure did. The bright strands of fire possessed such beauty that drew everyone's eyes to it.
Yona whined at Mira's comment, "He's stupid to think so." She hummed in content at having her hair stroked with such gentleness.
"Maybe we can think about other boys who are close to your age," Mira suggested as she eyed Hak without being noticed. "I'll make some of those sweets you like and bring them to you tonight as we gush about anything else to take your mind off Soo-won."
"Fine," Yona sighed before looking up at Mira. "But you'll help me, right?"
Mira stared at Yona with round eyes filled with confusion, but she still smiled as she continued to pet the princess' hair. "What?"
"It's settled. You'll help me change Soo-won's mind," said Yona, her eyes filled with such intense determination and her clenched hands drawn up to her chests.
"Wait, what?" Mira was still confused as to what Yona was saying.
"That's what you meant, right?" Yona questioned, eyes filled with innocence. "We should think about other things that'll help get Soo-won's attention."
Mira found it hard to come up with words that would explain what she really meant without outing what she was really planning to do. "Um, actually–"
"We'll talk when you come tonight," Yona said as she left. Mira sweat dropped as she watched the princess walk away, her hand still hovering in the air from having been stroking Yona's hair.
Suddenly, Hak, who had remained quiet the entire time while he munched on his own snack, jumped in alarm when he saw Mira ram her head against the wall. He stared at the woman with wide eyes, afraid to even ask her what was wrong.
"This is not good," Mira mumbled to herself, her forehead and hands still pressed against the wall, glaring at the ground.
"What's wrong?" Hak asked, his mouth full and snack gone.
"Don't talk while you eat," Mira chided, pushing off the wall to lean against it, facing Hak with a reddened forehead that she rubbed with her hands to sooth the throbbing. "And it's nothing for you to worry about."
"What, you're not looking forward to the princess fawning over Soo-won?" teased Hak, smirking.
"Neither are you," Mira murmured.
Hak's ears perked up. "What?"
"Nothing," Mira huffed, smiling as she went over to his side, leaning her hands on the balustrade of the railing. "You can joke all you want about it, but it's quite serious. I have the princess' ear and might have some influence on her decisions. I dislike how listening to her innocent feelings has become like some sort of a burden on my shoulders."
"Whoever she marries will be the next king of Kouka," Hak realized, but then chuckled. "That is quite the responsibility you have there." His gaze became downcast, preparing himself to voice something he didn't know how it made him feel. "I don't see the problem, since she already has her eyes on Soo-won. I think he would make a good king."
"I don't know," Mira exhaled as she took an apple from the folds of her robes and began to eat it.
"Where do you get so many apples?" Hak asked, not at all surprised to see her make the fruit appear out of nowhere. "It's like your body produces them."
"I can't help it. They're so good," said Mira, smiling at Hak before turning serious. "I've noticed that King Il isn't keen on even entertaining the thought of Princess Yona wanting to marry Soo-won."
Hak raised an eyebrow with only one eye open that he focused on Mira. "Why is that?"
"Not sure," said Mira, frowning as she gazed at the garden. "Normally, the king has no problem indulging her in whatever she asks of him and takes care of how she feels. I find it hard to believe that he would arrange a marriage for her with someone she doesn't love."
Hak sighed. "The king has to worry about who his successor will be, and that is whoever the princess marries. I can see him putting his foot down on the matter of the princess' suitor."
"Yes, it is quite troublesome for the king, and for her," whispered Mira, enjoying how the breeze blew against her skin and had her loose strands of hair dancing. She took a deep breath and exhaled, enjoying how the cool wind made her feel so relaxed.
"So, I saw you talking with the General of the Sky Tribe," Hak remarked with his elbows leaning against the balustrade, his head tilted back to stare at the sky from under the roof.
Mira was confused as she glanced at him, not knowing where he was going with his statement. "What about it?" she asked, since it wasn't odd that Joo-Doh spoke to her from time to time.
Hak raised a suggestive eyebrow at her while smirking. "I think he likes you."
"What?" Mira blurted out with a squeaky voice, her body tensing for a moment. She chuckled awkwardly, "That's funny."
"I'm not joking," deadpanned Hak.
"Really?" she asked, frowning as she finished eating her apple.
"Why is it so hard to believe?" Hak threw an arm around her shoulders as he smirked at her. "Almost all the prominent warriors of the kingdom have a thing for you, no matter if you're engaged or not. I find it quite surprising that you haven't noticed how you draw the eye of many."
Mira gave him a completely dumbfounded look, her head tilted to the side. "Well, I've noticed it about some of them, not that you're one to talk. You have girls fawning over you anywhere you go, even when you glare at them."
"Not my fault, and I have no interest in any of them," he countered.
Then, her lips pulled up into a dejected smile. "Just like me, I have no interest in anyone." She escaped his hold and walked away to tend to her work before going to the princess, but he followed behind her.
"Except for your fiancé?" he reminded her.
Mira gave him an unimpressed look. "Of course."
Hak shrugged his shoulders. "I just can't wait to see the old man's face when he finds out you're breaking things off with the man he predicted you'd end up with. He was looking forward to more kids to torture."
The young woman released a despairing sigh. "I am not breaking off the engagement. I only told you I was thinking about it." She groaned. "I regret telling you about that."
"He's good enough, so I can't understand why you would even entertain such an idea," Hak told her. He wouldn't pressure her into anything, but he wanted to clear any doubts she might have of her fiancé, if it was that which was bothering her. He wanted her to be happy with whoever guaranteed that she would always have a smile. "Now, tell me again why you even thought about breaking things off with him."
"I don't recall telling you," she said.
"So, what's wrong with all of the men in Kouka?" Hak asked as he walked beside her, remembering how she would complain about suitors long before being engaged.
"There's nothing wrong with all of them," clarified Mira. When she glanced at him, she saw him giving her a knowing look, to which she responded, "Okay, maybe there is something, but I am very fond of my betrothed."
The young general hummed in thought. "You're a bit picky about this sort of thing."
Mira's eyebrow twitched. "If you must know, the thing I don't like about some men has to do with what also differentiates you from every other man I know," she told him through her annoyance.
Hak was taken aback and intrigued about what she meant. "Really?"
"Yes," Mira said while nodding once, smirking over at him. "But I'm not going to tell you what that is."
Hak rolled his eyes. "Of course."
Mira giggled.
.
Mira was humming to the lulling sound of the drizzle that fell over the castle at nighttime, walking down the dimly lit hallway. She passed by guards on her way to Yona's room and greeted each one with a smile, receiving the same response in return. There were some fruits and sweets that were cushioned inside a basket she prepared, which hung on the crook of her elbow by its handle.
Just as she was going to turn a corner, she released a small yelp when she collided with another body, which caused an orange and an apple to fall out of the basket. The light rain ceased to fall.
"I'm so sorry," Mira apologized as she knelt to pick up the fallen fruit.
"No need for you to worry, Big Sister," said the familiar voice that belonged to the person she crashed into, who also knelt in front of her to help her pick up the fallen items. "It was an honest mistake that happens to all of us, especially you."
Mira's head shot upward before a smile appeared on her lips when her eyes met familiar aqua blue eyes. "Soo-won!" she laughed as she assaulted him with a strong embrace, taking in his scent that always reminded her of the smiling child who always followed her around with such a wide smile. She paused and immediately stepped back before the young lord could return her gesture. "I'm sorry, I forgot myself."
"Nonsense," Soo-won waved off with a kind smile. "You're the last person I'd want to be formal with me. We were practically raised together."
"Oh, please," she chuckled as she placed the orange back in the basket. "You give me too much credit, Lord Soo-won," she said, using the title to tease him a bit.
"Big Sis," Soo-won whined, pouting. "You're being mean."
Mira chuckled. "Sorry, sorry."
Soo-won raised a hand to reveal the apple she had dropped. "You're going to see Yona, right?"
"Yes," she responded with a nod, taking the apple to place back into the basket. "I normally go to her room to help her get ready for bed after I do some studying."
"That's right, you've become an amazing herbalist, just like you've always wanted," said Soo-won, remembering how she was determined to increase her knowledge to become an even better herbalist than she was before.
"Oh, here." Mira picked out one of the five tarts she made before she offered it to him. "For you," she told him as he grabbed the tart with bright eyes. "I know how much you like sweets."
"Only the ones you make," he said as he held the wrapped snack in his hands with such reverence. "You're always so good to everyone," he said with a fond smile, his softened eyes taking in every detail of Mira's face to commit it to memory. At her raised eyebrow, he continued. "You're always so warm to everyone in the castle. All the servants speak highly of your kindheartedness, and the guards have nothing but respect for you."
"I think you're exaggerating a bit," she chuckled nervously, not having known that people thought of her like that. It brought such a warm feeling to her chest that it had her feeling embarrassed.
"No, I'm not," Soo-won said with his soft voice. "You've always taken such good care of me. You'd protect me, play with me and raise me whenever I stayed at the castle. You never had to do any of that."
Mira tilted her head with a raised eyebrow and a confused smile. "Of course, I had to."
"No, you didn't," he argued while shaking his head. "You only had to take care of Hak and the princess, but you never had to do the same with me. I only visited and wasn't a real constant in your life."
Mira gave him an unimpressed look as she flicked his forehead, causing him to yelp. "That is for saying dumb things."
"That was mean," he whined while rubbing the spot she hit on his forehead.
"It was justified," she countered. "Hak, the Princess, you and I grew up together. We looked out for one another and created such good memories. We're not just childhood friends," she said as she placed a hand on his arm, "we're family. It was never a duty to look out for you guys. I love you all and want to see nothing but smiles on your faces."
Tears ran down Soo-won's cheeks. "Oh, Big Sister."
Mira froze when she saw the tears, not knowing what brought Soo-won to tears. "Why are you crying?"
"Your words are always so moving," he sniffled, his eyes closed as he continued to cry. "You're such a good person, and your fiancé is a very lucky man to soon have you as a wife. I can't wait for your wedding ceremony."
"Yeah," Mira chuckled while looking away from him, a drop of sweat going down her cheek.
"What's wrong?" he asked, noticing that she wasn't looking at him straight in the eyes and that her smile was quite fake, as if she was forcing to quirk her lips upward.
"Nothing's wrong," she said, still refusing to meet his eyes. She turned her head away to stare elsewhere when he tried to lock eyes with her. "What are you doing?!"
"You can't look at a person in the eyes when you have to lie under pressure, but you only do that when you can't come up with a lie, and even those are so outrageous that they aren't believable," he laughed as he continued to try and meet her eyes, but his every attempt was evaded.
"I can lie," she argued, but she really couldn't. Whenever she tried, she came up with such ridiculous stories that left people dumbfounded.
"Something happened," he stated.
"Nothing happened," Mira chuckled nervously, looking at the ceiling now after Soo-won gave up trying meet her gaze.
Soo-won grinned. "Then look me in the eyes and tell me nothing's wrong."
One of Mira's eyebrows twitched. "Fine," she huffed, forcing herself to meet his gaze.
"Care to tell me what happened?" he asked, his kind face making it easier for her to tell him anything.
"I've thought about breaking off my engagement," she confessed with the release of a heavy sigh. She brought her hands together in front of her in a pleading manner. "Only Hak knows, so please don't tell anyone. I don't want word getting back to my fiancé or Grandpa."
"I promise you that I won't breathe a word about this," he swore, his eyes wide from shock. "Still, I don't understand. You look so happy whenever you're with him."
"I am, but I just have my doubts," she explained, her gaze downcast. "I haven't made things easy for him by living here in Hiryuu Castle. I don't love him as he loves me, so I selfishly believe that I could pretend that everything will be all right, but I'm not sure if it's the right thing to do."
Soo-won sighed while smiling and placed a comforting hand on her right shoulder. "Every relationship is a struggle. Does he make you happy?"
"Of course," she answered. "We've known each other since we were children."
"Then I think you should try to make it work," he advised. "I can assure you that I do believe that there is someone out there for you who will complete you and fill your heart, and I think he could be that for you."
"You do know how to cheer someone up." Mira smiled widely, flushed by his words. "Well, I'll take my leave. The princess must be waiting for me." Mira bowed her head. "Have a good night."
"And you," he said while also bowing his head. After he lifted his face, Mira noticed that his eyes seemed clouded with something that was bothering him. "I hope that moments like this never cease to exist."
Mira frowned. "Soo-won?"
It appeared like he caught himself before plastering a smile on his lips. "It's nothing." He began to walk away. "Have a good night, Big Sister."
Mira hummed as she watched him walk away, waiting until he was out of her sight before she continued to make her way to Princess Yona's chambers. The expression he made a moment ago caused her to worry, but she would have to ask him about it later.
Soo-won's words had stirred something inside her. She really did want to find someone she could love, and it sometimes made Mira feel envious of Princess Yona for having already found that special someone whom she loved so passionately, and someone who could ensure her happiness. Still, she felt horrible for feeling like she settled with the first man who asked for her hand in marriage for making her feel safe. She remembered how her intended always gave her such a big smile and professed his love for her with such sincerity. She wished she could feel like there was no other person in the world for her other than him, but her heart told her otherwise for some reason. It was also an annoyance for Mira to know that there was someone out there for her and she felt there was, but that was it.
Finally standing in front of the door of the princess' room, Mira was not surprised that there were no guards, since it was Hak's job to look after the princess' safety, which meant that he was nearby. Before going inside, she left an orange on top of a balustrade for him like she always did, knowing it wouldn't be there for long.
Entering Princess Yona's candlelit chambers, Mira smiled when she saw the young girl sitting at her window and staring out at the night sky while her fingers played with the ends of a few strands of her hair. "Good evening, Princess," she greeted, startling the girl.
"Mira!" Yona gasped as she stared at the smiling face of the young woman standing in front of her. "You scared me."
Mira chuckled. "I'm sorry, Princess. It was not my intention to frighten you." She approached the young girl and sat down in front of her with the basket placed between them on the cushioned floor with a view to the starlit sky. "I brought some sweet things, as promised."
"Oh, good," Yona cheered, clapping her hands together in her delight.
"So, did you find another chance to speak to Soo-won today?" Mira asked as she picked up the apple, whereas Yona chose a tart.
Yona suddenly looked like she had an aura of darkness surrounding her. "No."
Mira smiled sadly, opting not to mention she saw him earlier. "Maybe he doesn't see you as more than a sister."
"It's so annoying," Yona whined before taking a bite of her dessert, her mood brightening instantly. "Your desserts are so delicious, Mira."
"I wish I could say the same thing about everything else I try to cook that isn't a dessert," Mira chuckled sheepishly, biting into her apple. She sighed in defeat. "I can't seem to be able to make anything else without risking someone's health."
"Well, I think your desserts are better than any other in the entire kingdom," Yona complimented.
"Oh, Princess, you're too kind," Mira mumbled with red cheeks, happy to be given such praise.
"It's Yona," the princess complained.
Mira chuckled. "I know, but I am your lady-in-waiting." She began to hum, feeling completely relaxed at that moment.
Yona stared at Mira with a smile, watching the woman's face be illuminated by the moonlight as their voice was carried into the night. It was only humming, but the sound brought so much calm within the princess that it warmed her heart. It was so strange how Mira's voice had such an effect on her, making her feel like she knew the sound from somewhere before. "Would you mind brushing my hair?" the princess asked, her cheeks tinged with pink, embarrassed that she was asking for such a childish thing.
"Like when we were smaller," Mira chuckled.
Yona nodded, avoiding Mira's gaze. "Yes."
Mira smiled. "Well, come over here," she said as she tapped the cushioned spot in front of her.
Yona resettled herself with her back to Mira and her legs folded under her, finishing the last piece of her tart before placing her hands on her lap. Mira finished her apple and discarded the stem inside the basket to do as the princess requested.
"You have such beautiful hair," Mira whispered as she ran her fingers through crimson tresses, making sure there were no knots that would cause the princess any discomfort.
"I doubt that," argued Yona.
"Why?" Mira wondered, the discussion familiar to others they had about the princess' hair. "Your hair is unique. Not many people can say that they have seen such bright, luscious hair that looks like the sun as it rises in the morning."
Yona hummed, thinking over Mira's words. "Still, I rather have my mother's hair, or even your hair."
Mira raised an amused eyebrow. "Why my hair?"
"It's such a nice shade that looks like chestnuts," said Yona with a finger under her lips while in thought.
"Chestnuts?" Mira chuckled with a raised eyebrow, not knowing how it looked like chestnuts, given that her hair wasn't brown.
"I don't know how else to describe it. I'm sorry," Yona said, her head tilted forward due to how horrible she felt for comparing Mira's hair to a liquid when the other woman had been so poetic when describing her crimson hair.
"No need to worry, Princess. I know what you meant," said Mira.
"That's a relief," Yona sighed in relief. "Your hair is also soft and beautiful, and not unruly at all."
"I think yours is beautiful in its own wild way," said Mira, holding back the laugh that wanted to escape her when she saw Yona's annoyed but cute face. "It goes well with your face and falls down your back like a waterfall of fire. My hair isn't all that special, it's actually even odder than yours."
"What?" Yona asked disbelievingly as she glanced back at Mira. "I much prefer yours. I'll find something equally beautiful to compare it to."
"No pressure, Princess," countered Mira.
"Thank you, Mira," Yona said out of the blue.
Mira hummed inquiringly.
"You know how to make me smile," said Yona, finally feeling completely relaxed. "I am grateful to have you with me. I know I don't show it a lot, but I do appreciate the care and affection you have for me."
Mira smiled and thought that this was the side of the princess that she wanted others to see. "I love you and your father very much, Princess. I did not have to think twice about my answer when the king asked me to be your lady-in-waiting," she said, ruffling Yona's fringe with affection. "You're like a sister to me, and it brings me nothing but joy to watch you grow into a fine woman."
Yona felt so happy that she couldn't help but blurt out, "Can you sing for me?"
Mira was shocked by the sudden outburst, her hands becoming still in her ruffling the princess' hair. "Huh?"
"I want to hear you sing. I haven't heard you since we were little," said Yona, smiling at Mira. "I know what your answer will be, but I just really miss your voice, even though I never understood the words. We always had so much fun whenever you sang, and you refuse to tell me why you stopped."
Mira's smile was bittersweet. "I used to sing in a language my mother taught me. She told me it was passed down the generations from our ancestors."
Yona smiled as she vaguely remembered the woman who was Mira's mother. "Lady Mina's stories were my favorite, but I was so little and don't remember how she looked like except for her hair that was similar to yours."
"Yes, Mother did have a way with words," Mira chuckled, remembering the past with fondness. "She always told me that we all have a song and melody that is only ours which we don't get to choose."
"I wish I could hear you sing again," Yona tried once more, but she knew her insistence would be in vain. "It always rained whenever you sang, and it looked so beautiful." She still remembered the drops of water that looked as if stars fell from the sky, no matter the time of day.
"I apologize, Princess. I can promise to try and sing for you one day," Mira exhaled as she braided the princess' crimson hair after getting rid of any knots.
The princess cheered, "I'll be looking forward to that day. I know it's going to be amazing."
Mira promised herself to give the princess what she wanted, but horrible memories that plagued her mind prevented her from doing what her body pushed her to do, but she kept that impulse under control. She still remembered that day as if it was yesterday; the day she stopped singing. She would chastise herself internally for even humming, but she knew that it was the only way to soothe her desires and stop her voice from escaping.
Mira's eyes turned to the window and stared up at the twinkling stars, wishing to see rain fall once more without feeling like it would burn her.
I hope the chapter was enjoyable, and I am so happy to start on this new adventure.
You can comment in reviews or Follow or Fave, whatever you want.
See you next chapter!