Nothing is better than going home to family and eating good food and relaxing.
-Irina Shayk-
Day Four
Today we went on the deck to see the waves. I just stared at the waves until they made me sick with their constant movement, while Alfred fed the seagulls. I cannot understand his belief that it would help them, when they are wild creatures. Taming them is just useless. I told him that they would only be tamed, and they would never be able to return to their original state. He just laughed at me. He really doesn't get the point of nature, doesn't he? Anyway, we stared at the sunset as well. The sun is the most beautiful when we see it on the sea. It was a good day, and it was rather comfortable.
Ha Yeon had nearly finished writing her journal, and then bit her nails self-consciously. She sighed, then lifted her pen once more, making sure no one was looking at her. Alfred had left the room, going to the toilet. 'I am going to miss Alfred Jones.' She was never going to admit this to the man's face. It would be insane. She would rather kill the Queen of Spades, the King, and the Jack-no, not her own brother, perhaps the Ace.
"Hey! I'm back!" And there he was, bringing all the color and noise into her dark world of seclude, smiling brightly. "Oh." She dumped her journal into her bag. "What's with the journal?" "Oh, nothing." "Lemme see-" "There's something called privacy." It was too late, as Alfred picked her journal up with lightning speed. Ha Yeon frowned, wondering if the lad had military training. 'He's too fast for a normal person... Is he from military school?' He had started to flip through her journal, to her horror. "Stop!" She ran toward Alfred, snatching the notebook away from him. "Is it personal?" "Of course!" It would have been terrible if he had read it, he'd demand to have her executed-why am I even falling for his pathetic King talk?
"Anyway, I can't believe I actually stayed in the cabin with you for four days without murdering you!" Alfred chortled, as if he found this extremely funny. Ha Yeon kept her face blank. This was no laughing situation, she could have actually killed the idiot for his behavior on that first day. "Well, you're rich to talk." She dumped her journal back, this time, sitting on the bag. "Really, did you have to do that?" She nodded to the unbelieving Alfred. "Privacy is important." Alfred laughed at her, rich peals of laughter bursting to her ears. "You care so much about privacy, and I thought we were friends! Who knows how much more secrets you carry." She decided to forget about the secretive part he had brought up, and focus on his laugh. It has been such a long time since I could enjoy laughter. I do not know when I have last heard it.
The night fell, her face dark and making the sea the color of black ink. "Good night." Alfred yawned as he lay down on his hammock. Ha Yeon did not answer him, as she had been upset at him cheating on cards. I admit cheating is wrong, but she didn't have to win every single time! Yes, they had been playing Flush, with the pack of cards Alfred had bought(he had forced her to, but she had enjoyed it too!) and he had cheated.
"Are you still angry? I admit hiding the King and Ace in my sleeve was not honest behavior but well, you kept winning and I wanted to win-" There was no answer. "I'm sorry! Please don't be angry at me!" He didn't like it when people were angry at him. "Um.." "Thank you." It was unexpected and rather sudden. "What?" He bolted up, surely he had misheard. "Thank you." It was the same words, that would not change. Now Ha Yeon was up as well, and her eyes met his, a small smile spreading across her face.
The smile disappeared quickly, and the eyes averted, staring at the floor. "Thank you, for reminding me of what happiness felt like." Leaving him to wonder about her life, the girl lowered herself back in her bunk, and Alfred sighed. She really left him with one alternative. He would have to ask the Captain about her, as he seemed to know her. He'd leave as soon as she fell asleep and implore the man to tell him about Ha Yeon. Somehow, she had managed to get him intrigued, and worried.
When Alfred opened his eyes, it was dawn. He had fallen asleep, and he inwardly cursed. He hoped Ha Yeon was not up yet-and she was not, still sleeping, blissfully unaware. He got his boots on, his jacket and cloak and left the cabin. He'd be back soon. "Ah, sir." The Captain smiled at him as he entered. "I'm surprised the young miss has not killed you yet." "Yes, we're lucky to both be alive, and not missing any body parts." Alfred walked casually towards the man, then sat down. "There is a question I ask of you, good sir." "Well, ask away, young man." "Tell me what you know of the young miss."
The Captain turned white when he gave the man the question. "Well? You seemed to know her." "You're prying into dangerous territory, sir. Please return to your cabin." Alfred smiled reassuringly, and handed the man a bag of gold. "I...I cannot accept this." The man pushed the bag away, looking horrified. "Please, sir. I am only asking out of worry, she keeps to herself, is secretive-" "That is her way of protection, sir. Please understand her, she is trying to protect others, if she did not, a lot of people would be d-" "Is she important?"
The Captain sighed. "I cannot tell you much, but you seem like a persistent fellow." The man looked right, then left as if someone would be spying on him. "There is no one here, captain, save for ourselves." Alfred could guess that whoever was related to his inmate was a politically influential, and powerful fellow. "Promise me, good sir, that you will ensure my safety." Alfred nodded. "Go to the Kingdom of Spades after all is finished, then ask for the Dealer of the Cards in the Ally Bar. He will make sure you may live." The Dealer of Cards was the name his Ace used, and he would make sure that Matthew helped this fellow out.
"She is from a very powerful family, born out of noble blood. I remember her older brother, a man of regality, strictness, but kindness as well. The young miss at that time was...quite different from the person she is now." The Captain sighed, running his hands through his hair. "She was a cheerful, outspoken lass, and she was very sweet." "That's very...different. Are you sure it's the same person?" Alfred tried to imagine Ha Yeon as a child, then failed. "Things changed for her. Let me say...that life has been very cruel to her. To believe at that time that she would be betrayed and hurt like this..." As the man shook his head, Alfred couldn't help but notice the word betrayed.
"What happened?" "No more, sir. But I can tell you this." "What?" Alfred leaned in. "The young miss is very strong, if anyone else was forced to live her life, they would have died." He thought of a few scenarios about what could have happened to her. "Did her brother go bankrupt? Did he abandon her? Did-" "No more questions." And he was forced to leave.
Alfred opened the door without thinking much, and felt the whole impact of a shoe thrown at his face. "GET OUT!" He turned red as his eyes fell on his new friend, who had been changing. Half-naked."Sorry!" He jumped out, slamming the door. Terrible timing for him, really. He tried very hard not to think about her nudity, and focused instead to the disturbing news that the Captain had told her. Her brother had to be some kind of nobleman, to make the Captain worry. He knew quite a lot of nobles in that court, but he wasn't sure that any of them had sisters. The Queen had a sister, a sweet kid named Mei, but Mei was not Ha Yeon. He could see the difference between their hair curls, or overall appearance.
Who the heck is her brother? The door creaked open behind him. "I'm done." She was wearing men's attire just like always, hair in a ponytail, black cloak flowing out. "Yes, sorry." As he walked back in, the girl gave him a questioning look. "Where were you, anyway?" "Oh, just talking with the Captain about the weather." Ha Yeon just nodded, leaving the room.
"Did he ask anything?" The Captain sighed. Really, it was all too much strain for him, the unofficial Princess had a glare on her pretty face. He thought about lying, but then remembered that this girl was renowned-for doing the dirty work of the Queen. (The Queen had told him himself about the cruelty that she could commit.) "Yes, my lady. He asked me about your family-" Wonderful. Ha Yeon tried very hard to regain her calm demeanor. If he was no King, but just a nobleman with zero protection, and if the Queen found out there was someone prying about her, Kiku would kill this man. If he was a King, then she'd have to kill him.
"But no need to worry, my lady. I sent him back before he got an answer out of me." At these words, she relaxed. "Good. Captain, with all due respect, return my possessions I left for safekeeping." After the older man handed her her possessions, she nodded in thanks. "Captain." The man gave her a look of fear and curiosity. "Yes?" "Stay safe." She left without hearing an answer.
The sun had risen high, and the waves were sparkling with light, emerald and sapphire, the sky azure blue as the ship reached the port of the Spade Kingdom. The passengers were crowding around the deck, and Ha Yeon watched their struggle to leave the ship. They'd all leave eventually, why they were acting like this she did not know. "Silly of them, really." Alfred was chewing on a sandwich as he remarked. "True." The ship had embarked, and people were teaming out.
"So, we are going our seperate ways, are we not?" Alfred cracked a smile on his face, while Ha Yeon could do nothing. "Yes, we are." "Do you have any place to go?" "I am going to my brother." "Good." Alfred had thought of asking her to join him, in his miserable court where the men gave him stupid pieces of advice and where the ladies fawned over him. It was a lie when he said it was good, he'd have no one to rebut him excepting Matthew and Arthur, along with Yao. "If you don't..." He cut himself off. He didn't want her to find out he had asked the Captain about her. "What?" "Oh, nothing." He checked his pocketwatch, seeing the time-Matthew would be waiting for him. His dear brother.
"Good bye, Yeon." Ha Yeon nodded, as she walked to the east side of the boat-although she'd never admit it, she watched her 'friend' descend the boat, as his hair disappeared among a sea of heads. 'Good bye, Alfred.' Her heart hardened, for she had a job to do. A disgusting job. A worthless thing. 'May the gods be just, and may we never meet again. For if we should ever meet, it would not be a meeting of smiles and chess, it would be a meeting of blood and tears, and you would be the victim while I the assassin.'
"He's late." Arthur grumbled, his face gruff. "Since when is he on time?" Allistor, his brother scoffed, while Alfred's own brother Matthew just looked away. "Lad, it isn't your fault Alfred's never on time." At the words of the older blond, Matthew seemed to relax. "T...Thank you. Alfred has been difficult." Difficult would be a kind way to put it, Arthur believed. They had thought the lad would grow up, before his coronation. Now, a year had passed, and there was no development. Alfred had run away a few months ago, only leaving a note. Matthew had to pretend to be King, taking the twin's place for the entire term.
"Mattie!" A familar voice called the Ace's name out loud and clear, making them all turn. It was Alfred, giddy, cheerful and bright. Well, nobody cared about Alfred's happiness for now. Arthur clapped a hand over the King's mouth, and Allistor dragged the tall lad off before he could cause any more noise, shipping Alfred into the coach. "The Palace of Spades." The coachman bowed deeply, then cracked his whip.
"Where's Yao?" The first thing Alfred asked of Arthur sent the Queen into fury. "Where's Yao?" The Jack, after the King had left, had overworked himself into exhaustion, saying someone had to do the paperwork. As a result, the man was now taking a well-deserved break. "Yes, where is he?" "He's on break." Matthew explained, but Arthur cut in. "-Because someone thought it was okay to leave the Kingdom for his own joy and comfort!" Alfred cringed at Arthur's facial expression but Arthur wasn't done with him. "You're a bloody King, act like one! Why do I, or Matthew or Yao have to clean up the shit you leave?" "I'm sorry, I notified you-" "If you think leaving behind a piece of paper can justify your pathetic behavior then you're sadly mistaken!"
"I'm really sorry-" "I'm not taking your blithering I'm sorrys! You never change, you always play, you-" Matthew had to restrain Arthur, pushing the man down in the moving carriage. "Thanks, Mattie!" Alfred sighed in relief, but Matthew gave his twin a look that meant nothing good. "Look, Mattie, you can't be mad at me, too?" The quiet twin rearranged his own curl as he spoke. "I'll determine whether or not to get angry at you, after we go to the palace." The King looked ashamed for a second, but the glint returned to his eyes. "By the way, Mattie, Artie, Al, do you know any aristocrats in the Kingdom of Hearts with female siblings?" "If you want to talk about marriage at this point, Alfred, I am going to murder you." "N...No!" Matthew inwardly sighed, massaging his head. It really seemed like his brother was back. Good-bye, peace and quiet. But even as he thought these words, a smile tugged at his lips.
"Excuse me, but where is the house of the Jack?" Ha Yeon asked for the thirtieth time that day, her face imploring. Some people had thought she was a prostitute, others thought she was crazy, and most said to her that it was none of her business. So far, so bad. She needed to find Yao before day became night, the city at night was a very dangerous place. The passerby smiled at her, his face kind. "I'm sorry, miss, but I don't know the Jack myself." "Oh." Perhaps her attire was the problem. Only the commonfolk dressed like males here. Just when she was thinking about going into a shop for a dress, she heard a familiar voice. "So, I heard from someone that the Queen is flirting with the King of Diamonds, and I was really shocked, but well-"
It was Xiang. Her younger brother, with his enormously thick eyebrows. He had grown into a fine lad, and was talking with a boy with silvery hair who was holding an exotic bird. She wanted to go and give him a hug, tell him she had missed him for ages, cry, laugh, sing...But somehow she couldn't. Some part of her didn't want him, Xiang, who was dressed richly, who spoke so calmly, to see her in this state, with her boyish clothes, her knives and scars. She continued to just listen to his conversation.
"Anyway, Yao wants to get a new servant. A maid, perhaps, from the Kingdom of Hearts." A maid? Ha Yeon paused thinking about Xiang's words. "Well, I thought your brother was fine with his butler and male servants. Why someone female? Now of all times?" Xiang's friend seemed genuinely curious. "He's never gotten over losing Mei and the twins. Especially Lee jiejie, he was so proud of her and everything. He wants a maid who can remind him of her, he says he's going to provide everything, from shelter to marriage-he really misses Ha Yeon and Ha Eung." "What about Mei?" "Oh, Mei." Xiang chortled at the word. "Well, Mei's liked Kiku ever since they were little, and it's obvious who she would have chosen between Yao and Kiku."
Her brother smiled at his companion, then turned abruptly. "Come, I need to find a maid for gege." An idea hit her, and Ha Yeon ran towards her brother. "Excuse me, sir!" Xiang, with curiosity in his eyes, looked back. His golden eyes were blank as he stared at her. "Yes, miss?" He doesn't recognize me, he thinks I'm someone else. It hurt to know she had changed. "I did not mean to overhear, but is it true that you are looking for a maid?" She gave Xiang a sweet smile, hoping, hoping against hope.
Something about this strange girl wearing men's clothes, something was disturbing. She reminded him of a memory far far away. 'Xiang, come and catch me! I'm just here!' Xiang's head started to ring, just as it had when he had been forced to come to this strange kingdom. "My family is in distress, and I wish to seek for a new life in this Kingdom. I can do anything asked of me." Xiang studied the stranger from head to toe. Her cloak was made of fine material, but her clothes were ordinary. Overall, she was very pretty, but there was something disturbing about her.
"Do I know you?" The girl's eyes shook violently at his words. "Perhaps we have met in a life before this one." He knew her, just where was she from? "Well, didn't she just ask you about the job?" Emil, his friend tapped him on the shoulder. "It is not for me, it is for my older brother, the Jack of the Kingdom. He wishes for a maid." He stared at the girl, speaking every word clearly. "The job is not taken, but I am not sure if you will meet his qualifications." "Could you please take me to him? I assure you, I can do a good job."
The need, the want in the brown eyes told him that for some reason this girl desperately wanted this job. He nodded, dumbly, then motioned for Emil. "Get a carriage for us." "Why?" "Older brother might get his maid." The girl's eyes sparkled dangerously, and before Xiang knew it, the girl was hugging him, drawing him close. "Thank you, kind sir. I cannot express my fullest gratitude-" "Get off, I'm not fond of physical contact." But as he got into the carriage, the stranger next to him, he realized that he wouldn't mind her.
Ha Yeon gazed at the grand estate she was standing in. The grounds were sprawled around, luxuriously, the flag of the King flew everywhere in every window, the walk was paved clean, and a luxurious marble fountain was at the center of it all. "Well, aren't you coming?" At the sound of her brother's exasperated voice, she ran towards him. "Yes, sir." "I'll get you an audience with my brother. The rest is up to you." She smiled at Xiang, and then guilt hit her. You're just using your siblings. Ha Yeon wanted to throw up, as she walked down the halls. All of the portraits, the armor, they all signified how hard her brother had worked to climb the social ladder. And she was going to turn this into nothing.
"Please wait in here."As he led the girl into a guest room, Xiang wondered about Yao's reaction to this whole thing. He walked upstairs to his brother's study, and knocked. "Come in." At Yao's cool voice, Xiang walked in, bowing. "Older brother, about the maid-" "Yes, what?" "There is a girl wishing to apply for the thing." "You know, perhaps I was too inconsiderate about the whole thing." Yao's voice was filled with worry. "Why?" "It could be a spy, or an assassin. I could be digging my own grave." Xiang knew his older brother was talking sense, but then-"She is waiting for you downstairs. Just give her a simple interview and let her go." "Fine." Grumbling, his brother stood.
As Ha Yeon studied the portraits in the room, her breath caught in her chest. One particular drawing was of a girl. A girl with raven-black hair, and chocolate eyes, holding a riding crop, a smile on her face, wearing a dress the color of the sunset. "Magnificent, isn't it?" She nearly jumped. Yao. Her brother was tall, he had always been tall, but he seemed tired, less imposing. "That's my sister, Ha Yeon. She's the Princess of Hearts. Although Kiku never talks of her." He sounded miserable. "He never got along with her, and yet he took her."
Ha Yeon could only nod as her oldest brother talked of her. "She was such a sweet child. And when I hear about her from my resources, she's cold, miserable, and cruel. That was never my sister. This is not her." She wanted to talk back, about what Kiku had made her do, made Ha Eung do, but she just kept her mouth shut. "Her brother is worse. He...He murders in cold blood. They say he drinks blood-" "He does not!" What made her say that, she didn't know. "What?" Yao's voice was sharp but she went on.
"Ha Eung threw up after his first murder. Kiku held a knife to my throat and forced him to kill the Earl, and he cried afterwards. He still has wounds on his back and lacerations on his wrists. He wanted to die, but he couldn't, I stopped him!" Yao's eyes turned wide. "Please, if even you believe this nonsense about us being merciless killers without remorse, then who can we lean on?" It only occured to her that she had been ranting after her words afterwards. "You." Yao grabbed her by the shoulders, his face worried, shocked, but hopeful. "Oppa." Ha Yeon half-whispered, her eyes filling up. Her oldest brother, the one who sang her songs, told her stories, brushed her hair and told her about court, who wiped her tears, and who had to give them up.
"No." His words were firm, and his body shook, his hands dropping. The girl standing in front of him was pretty, yes, sounded like his sister, true, but also sounded like she was on the verge of death itself. He didn't want to believe the rumors about the twins being Kiku's pawns, he didn't like to think they were mistreated, but here this girl was, her eyes filled with terror and sadness, and her speech about his younger brother assassinating the noblemen...
"Tell me you are not my sister." The girl gulped, her eyes teary. "Tell me that your speech about Ha Eung is false, that the rumors are lies, that Kiku loves them and cares for them! Tell me my sister lives a life of comfort, and that she is well-loved, and that my brother is a General just as he has always hoped to be! You cannot be my sister, she is an innocent, she should not have blood on her hands, she should be riding or reading-" "I am not your sister." The girl spoke, her voice shaky.
"I am Kiku Honda's servant, his underdog, his assassinator, and so is my brother. I am nothing more than dust or ash to him, and even if I die, he will not mourn. " Ha Yeon knew Yao would be hoping that she lived a good life, but that was all for nothing. "I am not an innocent, and I have killed, and I have been tortured. If you are searching for your sister from a few years ago, such a lass no longer exists." Good-bye, Ha Yeon, Princess and Lady of Happiness. Hello, Ha Yeon, Ace and Dog of Hearts.
Her brother hit the floor with a thud. "No." But even as he said the word, he got up shakily. "No, no, no!" Yao reached out, then again took her by the shoulders. "No, please, god..." With all his might, her brother hugged her like there was no tomorrow. "Oh, Yeon-ah... What has Kiku done to you..." Fat tears trailed down her brother's face and fell on her clothes. "Older brother..."
The door opened. "What's taking so long?" Xiang stood there, but he looked horrified as he looked at one, then the other. "She's here." Yao spoke, not looking at Xiang. "Your sister has come home, she is here." "Jiejie?" And before she knew it, Ha Yeon felt another pair of arms around her. "You're finally here." Xiang's voice was gruff, but it was also wobbly. "Welcome home, Ha Yeon." She knew she was a liar, a betraying, backstabbing assassin, but she held on to these two words; Welcome Home. She was back. She was accepted. And as she clung to her powerful older brother, and her tall younger brother, she cried all the tears she had never been allowed to shed all those years. For they are the only ones who care for me.
I am home, I am back.
Author's Note: Extremely long chapter, excruciatingly painful process... I already have teen awkwardness plus hilarious love in Keeping Up with The Asians, and I have angst and fluff in China's Sharon... Which means I am at the verge of death. Thank you for the review, the favorite and the follow. It really warms my heart, and gives me hope to carry on. The next chapter will be a little brighter (I think Ha Yeon has been through enough misery for 4 chapters, let's give her a short break!) and a little fluffy! Thanks, everyone, and I don't own the characters excepting for Ha Eung-who I bet no one remembers!