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𝐓𝐇𝐄 path seemed like endless loop to the girl who walked way too rushed , that her hurried steps interlocking the rhythm of hem of her skirt colliding the rusty ground swiftly continuous til the destination arrived.

Cheonbugwan.

Na-ra's eyebrow raised with a twitch of unpleasant as her eyes fitted onto the man that is embodiment of malice.

" Pleasant to see you aft- "

" Where is Uk? "

The man's question cutted down at once with hers that laced in Inclement and diminished formal politeness .

Jin-mu's forged smile beneath his vile intentions faltered before it regained in seconds, putting aside the acrimony as his way for the proposition.

" There has been a misjudge of things- "

His words were again unfilled as the girl's corner of her sight identified the boy she was looking for til now before she chose to walk away , already knowing the conversation wasn't going anywhere where she tolerated to hear upon.

" Why in the hell are you here?!? "

The girl sneered out her words since she she loathed the fact that her twin made her to be present at the top hateful place in her list, and the word perplexed would be an understatement for the boy after seeing his sister who is supposed to be residing in Sejukwon .

" Why are you here?!? You were- "

" Na-ra."

The familiar voice that belongs to

Master park called out her name, which made the girl to turn her head to the face where the concern mixed with frustration etched in all over.

" Return back ,You need to rest. "

" But- "

The girl was about to protest since all her wounds was clearly healed and the scene where even the crown prince was presentable, This wasn't just a mere problem, and she wanted to be there for her brother yet, the man rejected her protest in an second.

" I need you to return back. I'll make sure nothing happens...Uk saw something that someone didn't wanted him to.."

The word need and someone was more preferably emphasized than it should be , a skeptical gaze lingering inside her eyes as she watched the man's gaze glancing back to her shoulder for a minor second as if he's indicating something .

She took a second before glancing to her side, following his gaze fell seconds ago, in her corner of her eyes she saw the man that she conversed earlier staring at them in a curious gaze.

Cursed words flied throughout her mind, suppressing the urge to just speak out once and for all. Yet, elegance is an misery.

" Then I'll return and.... I don't know what he did but.. " Her eyes darted to her brother who appeared like in a crucial conversation with mu-deok.

" ...I know he wouldn't do anything I wouldn't... "

The meaning to her words were crystal clear to the man, who gave a reassuring nod before she walked away . However, just as she was about to leave the place, as an shadow the hateful man appears yet again.

" I heard you got attacked by the soul shifter yesterday. Somehow, you look very much fine to be a person who got attacked....You're becoming a very much interesting topic...in the capital. "

His words that displayed out only to her was nothing else but to get into her head, she knew that well enough.

It was getting into her head to a point where she wished to let go of the grasp of sanity that she held on tightly and slap across his face if that's make him shut that mouth of his.

He was good at this, spewing nonsense to people where it hits them. very good indeed.

Nonetheless, manipulation is a very fine art only to the manipulator.

" Oh, Am I?? But... I'd say you are more interesting topic....."

Her eyes tauntingly glinted at man's smirk that plastered upon fading away slowly, as if it the girl was leeching off, since the triumphant smirk passed on to her lips instead.

" ... I mean in the capital of course!! "

Her smile that shoved off the innocency after the words almost reaching her eyes as the man's smile disappeared in the thin air before taking a step towards her.

" .... Young lady, don't play too much games.... You might get caught up very bad... "

The man's venom passed out through his words as an warning, not wanting to take care of an another nuisance to his plans, thinking the girl might backout and play the perfect puppet as it's been.

However, her eyes narrows with an unreadable gaze as she takes a step towards the man. Too close that if one of them takes another step forward, other could easily cut down thier throat if they wants to.

" What can I do?.... The game is too amusing just to see... "

Gritting down his teeth in the frustration caused by the girl who's less than half of his age, the man's eyes darken with a hint of rage. Nevertheless, the girl found it quite amusing rather than the fear she thought she should have felt.

A surge of confidence overthrowing her senses of fear as she wanted to keep taunt the man who looked like is in the edge of throwing everything to the ground ......Like a toddler.

" Be more careful....If you keep shedding you skin , you might get caught soon enough. "

A slight chuckle escaped from her lips before she chose to walk away from the rageful man who appeared to be wanting the chance to kill her this very much second if he can .

And Na-ra, she , herself unbelievable of what she said. Nonetheless, if felt so great to say it out loud finally.

Even if she called out loud the curse words that has been laying up in her mind for ages wouldn't be this.... Satisfying.

But the slap would have been much better-

.............

The heat radiated throughout the air of jeongjingak walls, the cause of it maybe it was the aftermath heat that the rain left behind or the boy was simply too caught in a dilemma of his own feelings after the wretched meeting with his cousin, the crown prince.

𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐅 𝐀𝐍 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄:

" You called for me, your Royal highness?"

Seo-yul, who is slightly annoyed yet curious because of his so-called-cousin prying for his presence out of nowhere took him in a surprise by their fewer meetings.

However, Go-won on the other hand was more pleasant with a mix of hesitation filled his eyes as his eyes fitted on to the boy. Praying to the one God that his strategy would go just as his planned before his eyes fell on to the posy of purple lilacs, a flash of concern and hope passing through his mind before he chose to inquire .

" Who is that for?? "

The man's gaze were strictly towards the flowers that the latter held aside from the narrow eyes as the question were raised, a crease of pink tint lurking outside before he chose to hide by clearing his throat.

" It's just.... Just for my dorm since it uh.... Looked pleasant to the eyes. "

The blatant lie almost caused the other to puke by the lovesickness that got tight around the room for a mere second, yet he chose to conceal his nausea as he played along with the lie with a nod in acknowledgment.

"  Your highness, you asked for my presence because..? "

Seo-yul was the representation of the word impatient at the moment.The man who is known as the most calmest man alive , was profusely getting impatient time to time all because of one another.

" I want you to fight against Jang-uk. "

The words almost baffling the other to even merely think. Yul's eyes profusely blinked in the request .... Or an order.

Why in the earth does the crown prince thinks that he helps him rather anyone else-

" This time , filthy mu-deok put herself on the bet that she'll serve the person whoever wins..... And I'll give you any reward in my power you choose as an addition ."

Go-won's eyes pleaded with a tinge of mischief concealed behind before he eyes his trusted eunuch , like he was implicating something that only two of them aware of as the latter nods in understanding.

Yul on the other hand still about to turn down the offer. How much a tantalizing it would be , he would never betray his friend for nothing-

" Your Royal Highness, Although this is not the time to intervene or relay this message, Cheonbugwan Jin-mu has been urging for your answer to his proposition."

The eunuch relays on his words like a hurried manner which gives off a Curiousness to boy that held on the flowers, however he doesn't pry into the matter either .

" What?... What message??.."

Go-won questioned the question with another question appearing like he was oblivious to whatever his guard was saying , as a matter of fact who clearly knew the message is just a fabrication to his plan as he eyes yul's calm posture that is about to be ripped off , if his plan doesn't.

The eunuch whom stood out like the best actor there is, his eye vary between the other two as he was hesitant to say whatever he was supposed to in the presence of the latter , even when he was desperately in need to say it as he loved his little acting he showcased.

" It's just Yul, tell me what are you obligating to- "

" The re-unite between Young lady Na-ra and you, your highness!! "

A pang of silence passed through the room like no other just as the posy of flowers hitted the ground histrionically.

A crack of something rumbled throughout the naked ears of duo, which they could not find out from where, til the prince's eyes fell upon to the man who looked like his soul was left out from his physical form.

By the very pleasant sight that his plan was going on the way it should be, Go-won's lips withheld the tempt to tug upwards.

" Ah that..... I don't care. It's not like there isn't other women anyway...but she is a good option. However I wouldn't marry her if I won the bet. I mean, how could I marry a woman with a brother that has a grudge towards me??.."

He facepalmed himself at his words he choose to state, clearly knowing if the same girl he's talking about hears those words the next second he would ascend to heaven , ignoring whatever the title he held onto.

Nevertheless, his plan is on the same path as he intended to be, watching the man stood before him like a Soulless statue, and that's all matters.

" I know you and Uk are friends from the beginning... But as your cousin, can't you help me out once?? I will give anything you want. "

The plead in his eyes to fall for his tricks for the better of other,were cascaded by the forged affection towards the other.

All while he watched every contemplation that flashed through the eyes of the man stood before him, anticipating for the answer that could change everything-

" I will duel against him. "

The sudden declaration emerged from the voice of the man who stayed silent til now, which taken aback the other two. A hint of smile trying to fight through latter's end of lip after hearing the former's words.

However,a little confirmation would help.

" What? "

" I will duel Uk. But, rather than taking  mu-deok as my maid, I want your word as a promise to my reward. "

success.

" ....very well. "

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𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐈 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐲'𝐚𝐥𝐥.........

𝐇𝐞𝐲𝐲 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬𝐬, 𝐈'𝐦 𝐬𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫 ╥﹏╥.

𝐎𝐦𝐠!! 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐠𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧!!

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐡... 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧'𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐨... 𝐈'𝐦 𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲'𝐚𝐥𝐥. 𝐁𝐮𝐭!! 𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐥𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭♡

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬 ♡