A/N: Thank you, silkyjacob. That scene is one of my favorites in the Drama.
Thank you, Davies467. The chapter had more words than my usual count. Next time, I hope I give an appropriate long chapter warning.
Hey TheWiseNut, updates will be either on every Wednesday or Thursday.
Chapter 5: Yield not to temptation.
Wang So
They reached 8th Prince's residence. They were disappointed that they are going to part ways. Wang So got down and helped her off the horse.
"Next time, don't ride like that people will get hurt and apologize for your action so I won't report you" She was concerned about his reckless riding and pretended that she was unaware of his identity.
"Apologize and Report?" he was shocked. He was expecting her to say to thank him for saving her life, but here she was asking him to apologize. He then remembered that she doesn't know him, and this action of hers made him fall for her in the first place. He smirked, "Don't you have something else to say?" he teased. "Say what?" he scoffed at her reply. "Shouldn't you thanking me for saving you?" she scoffed this time. "I wouldn't have been in that situation if you hadn't been riding like that, and I didn't ask for a ride home. You volunteered. Apologize" He took a step closer; she backed away from him in reflex. It hurt him a little that she was afraid of him as he took another step. She stood firmly. He leaned closer "If I apologize, you will have to die, is it okay?" he gave her a meaningless threat to see whether she fight back like before. He started to utter his words, "I am s.."
Suddenly they were disturbed by Myung Hee apperance. All three exchanged their greetings. Using this as her chance, she runs away from him. He smiles at her receding figure.
Hae Soo
Hae Soo was happy and excited that she saw her Prince. Even Yeon Hwa's punishment to make glue didn't dampen her happy mood. She was pleased to follow her instincts to go behind the astronomer, hoping that her new actions hadn't changed their first meeting even though she almost forgot about it. She knew when exactly she would meet him again. She can never pass an opportunity to see him. She started making glue with an excited face. Princess Yeon Hwa, Myung Hee, and Chae Rhung cannot understand why Hae Soo was so happy to make glue?
Wang So
After finalizing the plan for one last time with Ji Mong and Crown Prince, Wang So was about to retire to Wook's residence. He was stopped by Ji Mong, who suggested him to take a bath in Damiwon before retiring. Wang So agreed because he was confident that Hae Soo of this time wouldn't sneak into the bath. She wouldn't know about secret tunnel into the Damiwon. He dismissed all the court ladies. He removed his mask to see his reflection. He wasn't affected by it anymore thank his Soo. She loved him entirely. Suddenly a figure break through the water of the pool. He was stunned to see Hae Soo standing in front of him like a goddess. He was suddenly aware of the bare face. This Hae Soo is not his Soo yet. He was afraid that she would be scared of him. He covered his scar with one of his hands while the other started searching for the mask left behind the platform.
He asked, "Did you see it?". He finished tying his mask. He asked once again, "Did you see it?" this time, he was furious. She started apologizing and asking for his forgiveness and mercy. He told her, "Forget it, if you want to live," she nodded. She was about to leave. He caught her arms and pulled her out of water. Wang So got dressed, throwing some glances then and there to check her reaction. To him, she seems to be scared. He hated this situation, but he cannot let her go back on her own. He covered her with his coat and motioning her to follow him
They were walking beside each other silently. They were thinking about the incident, which happened a few minutes back and didn't know what to say in this situation. They reached her chamber in Wook's residence. They both were glad that they hadn't run into any of the nosy servants. Hae Soo removed his coat and handed it over to him. She gave him back his hairpin. he realized that he might have dropped it Damiwon this time too.
"You can have it. My mother doesn't need it anymore." Though he got for his mother, he wanted to give it to Hae Soo. When he realized his mother wouldn't take it nor appreciate it this time too. He wanted to give it to her later in a much better situation than this. He started walking away from her, not wanting to hear any response from her. He was scared that she would reject him and run away from him like the first time.
Hae Soo
Hae Soo sneaked off from her chambers, went to the secret tunnel, which led to the Damiwon. She saw 4th Prince entering into the Damiwon. She just wanted to see him hoping not to repeat her previous mistake. She was cautious enough not to slip into the pool again, but she did. She thought she had been caught surprisingly, and the court ladies were distracted and gossiping. She tried to get out of the pool before anyone notices, and it was already too late. The 4th Prince entered the bath. She broke through the water surface when she ran out of breath. The first thing she noticed was 4th Prince was steadying her, and he was half-naked.
He asked, "Did you see it?" she was stunned to see her Prince in half-naked. She was getting dizzy from the sudden rise in temperature from the atmosphere and bath pool. He was wearing his mask when he asked the same question for the second time. "I am sorry. Please forgive me", she started pleading for his forgiveness. She had seen his scar this time too. When he threw a death threat at her, she can't say that she wasn't affected by it. Unlike the threat she received today morning from him, this one made her to realize her mistake. Perhaps she shouldn't have come to see him. She forgot about his insecurities. She never meant this to happen. She tried to escape from him, but he caught her, pulled her out of the water and towards the dressing room. She was lamenting herself for her stupid actions and scared that she would be reported for her actions while he was getting dressed. His coat suddenly covered her. He started walking ahead of her without saying anything on the way she picked up his fallen hairpin. It seems like he hadn't realized that it was missing in the first place.
They were walking silently back to the 8th Prince's residence. Hae Soo was hugging to his coat. She was shivering underneath it. She was relieved that this time no one would be looking for her. She took care of it beforehand. She told her servants not to disturb her till morning and sneaked off after few minutes.
She gave back his coat, which he accepted while she was returning the hairpin. He asked her to keep it since his mother wouldn't need it anymore. She was about to say thank you. He started walking away from her into the darkness. Hae Soo felt terrible. She went to Damiwon to see him once again. If she had resisted her temptation, they wouldn't be in this awkward situation.
She sighed and started walking towards her chamber, hoping that things will be back to normal between them. She was failing to acknowledge the fact that it was never normal between them in the previous timeline as well.
A/N: I hope you everyone liked it. Thank you for reading. Please let me know what you think about it. I appreciate critics as well.
-AG
