"What if you did, there are countless maidens here." I retorted back to test him if what he's saying is not just clouded from his simple attachment to me from all this time.

"I want the mother of my Seol." He used his thumb to wipe my eyes and cheeks. "I never met a woman as humble as you." and with that, i covered my face and broke down.

He immediately took me in his arms and hugged me. I felt his lips plant on the top of my head as his arms securely held me tight.

"I apologize for all that I did," he then held my face and lifted it up, "Stay, so I can make up for it."

He searches for my eyes, looking for any hope.

"Say you'll stay." I.. "I left someone behind.. aunt Mona.."

His face contorts in confusion, "was that the old lady who took you in?" I nodded.

"I'll take care of her, I'll move her to the acre." Acre, right, that big farm.. "Okay.."

"Is that a yes?" his face lit up a little. I gazed at him and I thought of the time where he reconsidered my death. Who am I to also not give him his plea. I slightly nodded my head.

He scoffed in disbelief, he placed his forehead to mine then his lips are inching to mine but I had to put my hand up and cover my mouth.

"Really?" He asked, face softening. I could just see him as a puppy with ears down.

"Yes." I then got flustered and looked away. He just can't have his way like that.

"Of course.." he then kissed my forehead and i had to pretend like it was nothing but really, it caused me butterflies.

This man just showed me his vulnerable side and I'm afraid it's stirring my emotions.

Now he's checking my hands, arms and looking down at my legs but the dress aunt Mona bought for me was too long.

He had to pull it up. "What happened here?" He looked at my dried-up wound by kneeling with one knee.

"N-Nothing.." I tried to move my leg away but he held my ankle while I felt unsettled with his hand. Like my skin burns to where he touches me.

"This isn't nothing. Tell me." He said looking up to me. I couldn't utter because of his hand and I don't know why I'm acting this way.

"Were you mistreated?" He said while getting up and looking at me a little irritated. "No! No, please, I am absolutely taken care of." I composed myself after I raised my voice.

"Then how do you explain this?" He took my hand and I got embarrassed that he's talking about my nails that had dirt under them.

"I-I was rinsing out those yams that I gathered before I got.. caught." I couldn't look him in the eyes.

"And your knee?" He doubted. "That was the time where I.. slipped inside a dark bunker.. trying to hide from your men." I avoided my eyes and looked around.

"You really want to escape from me that bad?" I looked at him and he looked a little hurt.

"I wanted freedom.. and you couldn't let me." My voice broke.

He nodded as he closed his eyes. Then he opened them just to look at me dearly.

He held my chin with his hand and his thumb brushed against my bottom lip.

His eyes felt like speaking to me.

"All along, I thought someone was hurting you, keeping you. It pains me everyday to think of you in undescribable scenarios."

His face grimaced as he said those. "When they called me, said that they found you, I prayed to God not to hear the word.."

He couldn't even continue. The irony that he's my executioner, and now, he couldn't bear to think of me that way.

I kept looking at him. When the guards took me, I thought of unimaginable ways he'd punish me.

I just never thought that he'd felt this way all along.

This is what aunt Mona was saying, when she said it'd be alright. She must've predicted it with the conversations we had.

I smiled as I looked down, thinking of her. "I missed that."

I dropped my smile as I looked at him. "I hope that smile is not for another man." He then took my hand and kissed my knuckles long while looking deep into my eyes.

I felt my heart fasten but I had to look pale. I can't.. I just can't be soft with him yet.

His other hand held my back and pulled me closer to him. Our faces are threatening to close the gap.

I gulped feeling the urge to just kiss him. He sighs, looking at my lips.

If we stay this long, we won't survive this atmosphere. "I should.. I should clean my nails, Majesty."

I turned around and before I got to enter the bathroom, "No." I looked at him. "No Majesty this time around."

"I can't do that, I'd rather not speak to you if that's how it'll be Majesty." He smirks at my boldness and I too feel new to myself.

I closed the door and opened the faucet. When I left, I felt half of me missing, and now that I came back, I felt something new, filling the void.

-

I pat my hands dry on a paper towel after minutes of trying to dig clean my nail beds. There was so much dirt in it.

I came back out to find him swaying Seol in his arms as she laid upright on his chest.

My heart felt full seeing that sight. I missed Seol more than ever.

I walked towards them to kiss her hand and stroke her back.

I then watched him carefully hand her to me which I quickly took her in.

All along I'm her mother. Being away from her for so long felt torture.