...Flower of Evil...

As Iseul heard about other Iseul's punishment, she fell into a silence. She didn't know what to feel. She felt a sense of loss knowing she probably doesn't remember anyone by now. She couldn't even speak a word with her but Iseul figured out it was the best for the two of them.

A farewell without a good bye yet it was comfortable for both Iseuls. No regrets. Both of them did what they had to do and that's all.

"What about Beomgyu and Yeonjun?", Iseul asked from Taehyung.

"Their business with you is done. You won't see them again", Taehyung answered.

Iseul sighed,it is the best for them.

"By the way Iseul,there is something else you need to know",Taehyung said as he sat next to Iseul on the bed.

Iseul nodded signaling him to speak.

"About your mother...."

Iseul widened her eyes slowly. "My mother?"

"Hm,you must know that everything started with her deal with the demon,right?"

Iseul's head drooped but she nodded. She saw it too. Her mother sold her to the demon in exchange for her revenge.

Taehyung, "...do you hate her?"

Iseul shook her head immediately. "No! I mean,I get that what she did was terrible but she regretted it. She tried to stop Nian but that demon was too cunning. And my mother loved me. I can never hate her"

Taehyung smiled softly.

Iseul,"And thanks to brother Yoongi, my mother's soul was saved"

Yoongi saving her mother's soul used to be such a terrible trigger to Iseul. She thought he left her to die but in reality, he did it to save her. Thinking about it,Iseul felt her body burning in guilt.

"Brother Yoongi had given her soul pieces to the Jade Emperor. He treated your mother's soul"

Iseul looked at Taehyung with big doe eyes. She was eager to know about her mother. She had never heard a word about her mother ever since Iseul's mother died.

"But her punishment was too server. She had committed such a horrible crime. So,she had been paying the price ever since then"

Iseul's felt her heart clenched inside her chest. She didn't want her mother to get hurt. It doesn't matter if she sacrificed her to the demon,she just loves her mother too much. But because of that crime,a whole dynasty suffered. A lot of people suffered at the end. Hayoon cannot get away without a punishment.

"She became a grim reaper to see the death and feel the sorrow of people. Not only that,Hayoon was unable to see her own face without hatred and agony. Every time she sees herself in the mirror, she would peirce her own face to destroy the ugly appearance she was granted"

Iseul, "w –what...is,is it that terrible?"

Taehyung nodded slightly, "It's terrible and horrible. She was given the appearance of the person she hates the most. So every time she sees herself, she would hurt her face. She avoids mirrors even to this day"

Iseul wondered what kind of face she was given to go to this extreme.

"And she had to bear your hatred too. She deserved your hatred for what she did to you. It was her decision to receive that punishment. It was the worst punishment she ever had,seeing that disgust and hatred in your eyes"

Iseul widened her eyes in realisation. What did he just say?! She couldn't believe it! Her mother had been by her side all this time but she never knew! She didn't want to believe this but if it is true,then....,

Taehyung smiled,"I think it is enough now. She is in the living room. Go"

Iseul immediately jumped out from the bed and made a mad dash towards the door. Burst opening the door,she ran downstairs.

As she got closer to the living room,she saw a woman sitting on a couch with her head drooping down,fiddling with her fingers nervously.

Iseul paused. Her heart was drumming against her ear. Tears gathered in her shaky eyes. Her whole body was trembling from this sudden overwhelming feeling.

"M –Mother", she whispered.

The woman raised her head hearing the almost audible voice.

It was Yejun.

No,it was Hayoon in Yejun's form.

She hesitantly stood up. Her lips trembled looking at her daughter. "Iseul"

Iseul didn't waste a second before running towards her mother. She threw herself into her mother's arms. The warmth she had been searching all this time. A love between a mother and her child can never be compared to anything in this world. The warmth of a mother,something magical and heart - warming.

"Mother"

Hayoon bit her lip hard,closing her eyes. Hearing her daughter calling her 'mother' stirred her motherly heart and it also squeezed her heart in guilt. She went through a lot because of her. Iseul suffered for 800 years because of her. Not only her,but also her brothers. She was such a terrible mother yet this daughter loves her too much.

She doesn't deserve Iseul's love. She was a bad mother to begin with but how come she is lucky to receive Iseul's love even after knowing everything about her deal.

Iseul would have been such a lovely princess if it wasn't for her deal. A lovely daughter and a sister, she would have been. A great general or a queen if she ever wanted the throne,but it was just a painful sweet dream everyone wanted.

Past is gone,present is they all have now. Moving on is a matter of time. Future is unknown. There is nothing like happily ever after. Because life is not a fairytale. So,Iseul didn't want to waste the present time she has now,she'd rather move on without forgetting her past. Yes,she won't forget a single thing,she will deal with everything without running away anymore.

Hayoon's face didn't matter,what matters is she was Iseul's mother.

But apart from everything, the best thing happened to Iseul is her brothers. Nothing would have come to this point if they didn't find her again. They had been faithful and loving to Iseul till this day. Sacrificing their chance to reincarnate,they stayed together to give Iseul what she deserved. Iseul will always be grateful and regretful.

The ghost Kings were watching the mother and daughter reunion. They all felt satisfied seeing Iseul's happiness. That was their end goal,to see her happy again. Their little sister,their one and only treasure, Iseul.

Iseul looked at Hayoon's face. The face she hated the most,the nightmare of her life yet right now,it held nothing but love for her. It doesn't matter as long as it's her mother,she'd love her anyways.

"Iseul,I'm sorry", Hayoon whispered as she suppressed her sobs. "I am a bad mother,I don't deserve you"

Iseul couldn't say 'it's okay' because she wasn't the only one who suffered because of Hayoon. But things are slowly falling back to its places,though somethings probably will never find its place. This suffering,it should end now. Forgiveness is the only way to stop.

"I.....forgive you,mother"

_________

Few days passed. The royal family was trying their best to heal their wounds slowly,including Linghe.

Within these days,a lot of things changed. They all decided everything after discussing together.

One of the changes they decided was Hayoon's fate. It was time to let her go. She finished her punishment the moment Iseul forgave her. Her sincere forgiveness was the limit to her eternal punishment. By any chance,if Iseul decided not to forgive,Hayoon will be punished for eternity.

Hayoon walked towards a small bakery.  It was a small bakery in Ilsan. She hesitantly opened the glass door making a ting sound from the bell which gave a sign to the owner that a customer had arrived.

"Welcome to our Bakery —"

Hayoon gulped seeing him. She smiled slightly as she greeted her husband who left her few weeks ago. "Honey"

Cheon Hyunbin stood there frozen.

Outside the bakery, Iseul watched them from far across the street. She smiled seeing Hyunbin and Hayoon hugging each other. Surely,they both missed each other.

Hayoon is no longer a grim reaper. Ghost kings let her live a normal life until Cheon Hyunbin dies. Both of them will enter the after life once they finished their story in this mortal world. Until then,they'll live as a normal couple.

Hoseok was beside Iseul. Both of them were wearing black matching suits. After watching the happy couple, both of them wore their shades in unison.

Iseul,"Mission complete"

Hoseok smirked at her and played along. "Roger"

Just as they were about to leave,a shout came from across the street.

"ISEUL"

The siblings looked back to see Mr.Cheon and Hayoon. It looks like Mr
Cheon wanted to say something. He sighed and smiled widely before waving his hand.

Hayoon also smiled softly.

Iseul nodded in acknowledgement and waved back. Hyunbin probably wanted to speak to Iseul but it will only be awkward between them. They still had time to communicate in the future. Maybe,they'll be able to speak again like they used to. Future is still unknown. They will meet again for sure.

Iseul turned around and left with Hoseok. They both entered Hoseok's car.

"Are you hungry? I heard there's a good restaurant around here",Hoseok asked starting the engine.

"Food is life,let's go!"

The ghost king chuckled loudly and nodded.

"Anything for you"

Iseul cheered loudly.

"Oh by the way brother,I have a quick question for you"

"What is it?"

"What do you do? I mean,Brother Seokjin and Brother Namjoon are handling their company while brother Yoongi is an attorney. Taehyung and Jimin own their own casinos and Jungkook is a gamer of something ridiculous. What about you?"

Hoseok pretended to think and hummed. "Mmmm, Iseul,these jobs are just a facade for us. We hid ourselves in the society with these facades"

"So,what is your facade?"

"Guess?"

"Mafia?"

The ghost king laughed hard shaking his head in disbelief. "Where in the world did you get the idea that I work as mafia"

Iseul,"No? Then a runaway criminal?"

Hoseok made a blank face,"For real Iseul? Are you kidding me?"

Iseul laughed hard seeing his 'so done' face. "You told me to guess!!"

Hoseok groaned,"Yes,I said that"

Iseul crossed her arms proudly. "So,tell me"

"I'm a fashion designer"

Iseul's eyes had stars, "wowie"

Hoseok,"I have a design line under the name  'hope'. Taehyung, Jimin and Jungkook sometimes do modeling for my designs as per my request"

"Woah"

Hoseok,"But as I said,these are only facades we put infront of society"

"So,what am I supposed to do to put a facade on myself?"

Hoseok looked at her then back to the road. "Why do you need a facade? You are a mortal now. Live as one. If you want a job,just tell us. But if you don't want, you don't have to do anything. Your brothers are rich as hell. Just do whatever you want"

"You guys are spoiling me too much"

"Who else should we spoil if it's not you? We are going to spoil you so fucking much,sweetheart. Alright, we are here. Let's go and eat!"

"Let's go!!!"

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Hey guys

Hope you enjoyed

See ya soon

Vote and comment