I'm so sorry.
I had exams.
I'm so sorry.
This is such a short chapter [edit: I'm done proofreading and it's not as short anymore but y'all still deserve this apology from me]
I'm so sorry.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🐰JEON JUNGKOOK AND 🐨KIM NAMJOON!!!🎊🎊🎂🎂🍰🍃🍦🍦🥂🌳🍾🍾💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Again... I am so sorry.😩
                 --------------------------------

It was quiet.

  Don't get me wrong. I wasn't alone. I was sprawled in my usual seat while Eunhee sat on a cushion at my feet. There was nothing in my hands, but I was completely occupied.

  Eunhee was totally engrossed in the book she was reading, only moving her eyes to skim over the words and her slender fingers to flip the pages.

[A/N: Imagine she has a book in her hands.🙇🏾‍♀️]

  It was quite endearing when she was like this, so occupied that she seemed oblivious to the rest of the world. I wondered how true that was.

  The image of her, sitting crosslegged on the floor of the inner chamber, a sword in her lap with her head bent and determinedly wiping away every bit of dirt she could see crossed my mind.

  I had scoffed in my head then, marvelling at the fact that she had held one of the only weapons capable of leaving a lot more than just a scratch on me -a silver sword- moments before and she hadn't even known.

What if she had known?

  Would she have taken the opportunity?
She suddenly let out a little gasp, probably at something she read and it broke me out of my thoughts. I chuckled.

"What have you read that has shocked you so?" I asked. Eunhee turned away from the book shortly when I spoke to look at me, but turned back immediately to continue reading. However she began to reply. 

"Oh... it's just- something just happened in the story which I wasn't expecting", She frowned, thinking. I propped my cheek up on my hand, waiting for her to sort out her thoughts.

"Well I wouldnt say I didn't expect it...", she continued, "I had my suspicions, but I really hoped it wasn't the case. Everyone saw him as the villain of the story already, so instead of feeling satisfaction I just feel... sympathetic? It would've been nice if he was innocent for a change."

"Hadn't he done awful things before?"

She froze at my question, obviously having overlooked that factor.

"Well yes but- you see, he was a mercenary", she countered, shutting the book and turning to me, "It was either he did that or he wouldn't have been able to survive. He had no choice."

"He did. He could've chosen a better line of work."

  Her face dropped, a slight pout already forming. She was clearly annoyed that I wouldn't agree with her, especially when I hadn't even read the book. I probably hadn't.

  It was amusing to say the least, the corner of my lips twitching lightly. She may have been about to say something, but then all of a sudden, the silence was disrupted by the sound of the heavy metal door being pushed open, screeching against the stone floor.

  I frowned, although I knew who it was. The sound startled Eunhee and she turned to see what was going on.

  A few moments later, the Right minister walked in... trailed by a tense Hyeryung.    
         
  "Unnie?"

  The father and daughter turned to Eunhee after she exclaimed, with the older girl's eyes widening. Hyeryung gaped at her friend, then at me. I cocked a brow when our eyes met before she quickly looked away.

  I felt a hand on my leg and looked down to see Eunhee staring at me, a silent request in her eyes. I nodded slightly and she immediately shot to her feet and rushed to her friend, but not before bowing to the minister. Walking over, I stared at Hyeryung.

  My observation years ago seemed to be correct. She was a spitting image of that bastard Guardian's lover. I stood in front of Hyeryung and lifted her chin, confirming my theory.

"Exactly like her", I murmured, withdrawing my hand.

"My lord...?" I hummed, turning to Eunhee and waiting for her to continue.

"Could I, if my lord wishes, know the reason for Hyeryung-ssi's visit?", she requested, concern laced in her voice. I stared at her jaw. It seemed... tense?

I dismissed the thought and answered her, "I believe Hyeryung-ssi has something to tell you."
                                     ***
After the two girls had gone inside to catch up, I turned to the First Minister, "Well?"     
      
"The Crown Prince is still on his little vacation. He does nothing but loiter around and visit gisaeng houses. There is nothing to be worried about", he answered.

I hummed. It seemed like the Crown Prince wasn't as diligent as his deceased counterpart. But people could be deceptive.

"Keep an eye on him still. Just in case. If he goes poking his nose into things he has no business in... we might as well be prepared."

"Yes, my lord."

  My attention shifted to the entrance of the inner chamber, from where Eunhee and Hyeryung were emerging. I tilted my head as they approached.

"Is everything cleared up now?", I asked her, ignoring the tense glare Hyeryung gave me.

"Yes my lord. She told me everything I needed to know", Eunhee answered.

  It seemed like she had something more to say but hesitated, her eyes darting to Hyeryung shortly before coming back to me. I thought about it a bit.

"Right Minister."

"Yes, my lord?"

"I have some personal matters to attend to today. They can't wait. Take Eunhee with you and your daughter as you leave."

"Of course. As you wish my lord", he looked at Eunhee briefly before speaking again.

"Do you mean, right now...?", he inquired.

  I cocked a brow at him, not wanting to waste anymore words on the matter. He bowed, indicating that he understood, and promptly excused himself. His daughter followed him to the door, but Eunhee hesitated. I turned to her.

"Will you not go?" I asked. She chewed her bottom lip.

"Does my lord truly wish for me to go now? You haven't fed today...", she said. I stared at her.

"That can wait a bit, don't you think?", I said, walking closer to her. I leaned closer, my face mere inches away from hers. "You always taste better when I'm starving anyway."

  I smiled as a blush rose up her neck. It was fun to fluster her like this. Leaning back, I straightened up and began to turn away.

"Go with your friend. You're always in here. Anymore and you would start hissing at the sunlight. I have things to do this evening and tomorrow. Come over the day after", I ordered.

"Yes my lord, I understand", she said, then walked over to pick up her sseugae chima and the book she was reading. On her way out, she stopped briefly and turned to me again.

Bowing, she said, "Thank you."

  Then she was gone. I stared towards the direction she had gone, replaying the image of her pale grey skirt billowing behind her as she left.

It was quiet.

                 ------------------------------------
Uggghhhhhhh.
  I wish there was no plot and they could just live in peaceful silence forever...☹
  But alas! Tis not to be. I have to reread the recaps of the show (I don't have time to watch and besides we're all reading this and it's gonna be canon divergent anyway) before I get the rest of the story together.
  Its funny cuz I've already decided how it's going to end but how we get there is a different ball game😂😂
But we will get there!

Enjoy your day!💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

(PS: I've been reading cultivation novels lately. Does it show in the way I wrote their speech? Or it seems normal?)