*Slowly walks in and places chapter in front of you while you glare at me*

Heh...*runs*
            -------------------------------------------------
             

Ever since that day, I was sent to him more frequently. At first it was only at night, but soon I started going during the day.

  He was very easily bored, so my job was to entertain him. So I read for him. I'd read from any book I picked out of his large library that day. If I didn't finish, it was alright. I'd continue the next day.

  It didn't matter what kind of book it was. I realised that all he really wanted was for the silence in that underground palace to be filled. I understood that feeling all too well.

  Of course, that wasn't all I was there for. He needed to feed after all.

  He didn't feed everyday, but I found myself getting used to it. And when I got used to it... I began to welcome it. Oddly enough, the familiar heat became pleasurable in a way.

  I would be weak and dazed for a while after. He'd always hold me and nuzzle the spot on my neck where he drank from after licking away all the excess blood. He was a neat eater.

  If I passed out I would spend the night in his bed. It got to a point where I sat through his meetings with my father. That's when I really got to know what this whole arrangement was about. He approached me about it one day after my father had left.

"Aren't you appalled, Eunhee?". I turned away from my book to look up at him. He tilted his head, waiting for my answer.

"Why should I be, my lord?", I asked in response.

"You know what I'm talking about. Your master is the mastermind of a whole conspiracy. You're on the bad side", he grinned at me, "It's despicable, isn't it?"

"It is, my lord. But I can't say I expected any less", I answered truthfully.

  He stared at me, then promptly burst into laughter. Sitting next to me, he shifted and laid his his head on my lap.

  "Read to me, Eun-ah".

  Placing a hand in his hair, I complied.
     -------------------------------------------------------

  "Hurry up, Eunhee."

  "Yes, Father", I responded, taking my sseugae chima from Soonie then promptly making my way to the gama.  [A/N: This place deadass sounds like I'm trying too hard😫 I'm sorry I just wanted to be accurate and match with the pic please forgive me if you cringed. 😭🙈]

  I settled in and after a while it was picked up and we were on our way.

  Everything went normally before I realised that the turn we had taken was wrong. I frowned. Where were we going?

  After a couple of more unfamiliar turns, we stopped at an equally unfamiliar house. From the looks of the luxurious architecture of the house as well as the guards stationed around it, I concluded that this was the home of a court official. A very important one.

"Come, Eunhee", my father ordered. I followed after him.

  My father headed straight into the courtyard and met a servant who briefly spoke to him before scurrying off. It wasn't long before a richly clad noble, looking about father's age, came strolling over.

"Minister Han. Welcome."

 My father bowed to him in response and I mirrored his action.

"Thank you Right Minister. This is my daughter, Eunhee."

"Ah, yes. She looks to be around Hyeryung's age."

"Yes, she's 16. Almost 17."

"Then she's two years younger than- ah, Hyeryung. Come here", he broke off to address someone who had just walked in. I realised that the beautiful girl must be Hyeryung.

"You sent for me, Father?", she asked the Minister. So he was her father?

"Yes. This is Minister Han and his daughter. I thought it might do you some good to have a friend in your age group other than the maids", he explained, "Minister Han and I need to discuss some work. Why don't you take her to the garden and get to know each other?"

"Yes, Father", she said, then turned to me, "Shall we go?"

I nodded, but just as she turned her back to me my father held me back.

"Get along with her alright?", he whispered. I nodded blankly before heading after her retreating figure. I trailed after her as she took me out to the back garden where a small gazebo stood, ordering a servant to prepare some snacks.

"Have a seat, please", she said, gesturing to a cushioned chair. She waited for me to sit before doing the same in front of me.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Eunhee-ssi. I've been looking forward to meeting you for a while now."

I gave her a shy smile.

"I'm afraid I was not informed that we would be meeting... but it is a pleasant surprise. It will be nice to have a friend."

She nodded, meeting my gaze with a strange smile. I was about to ask what the matter was but then the snacks came and we promptly got distracted. Soon the conversation picked up and I forgot all about what I was going to ask.
               
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"...and then in the end, they took off with everything. Their families never heard from them again", I finished narrating a story I'd read. She'd listened with rapt attention, her eyes wide.

"Wow... that's amazing", she said. I nodded in agreement, picking another cookie.

"I wish I could pick someone to fall in love with all by myself."

My hand paused and I looked at her. Her head was down as she picked at crumbs on her plate.

"Why can't you? Surely you must have more than one suitor?", I inquired. She shook her head, a smile on her face which didn't reach her eyes.

"I'm already betrothed, Eun-ah."

"Oh. Um...," I cleared my throat before speaking again, "If you don't mind me asking... to whom?"

Why are you asking? You don't know any young nobles?! How would you know her fiancé?

"...the Crown Prince", she muttered.

There was silence as I processed what she'd just told me. Apparently I did know him.

"I..."

"You don't have to say anything, Eunhee."

I sighed.

"In different circumstances I most likely would have congratulated you, but now...", I licked my lips, unsure of how to continue, "...I hope you find happiness with him, unnie. You deserve it."

She smiled a little smile but it seemed to reach her eyes this time so I returned it.

"You deserve it too, Eun-ah."

"Thank you."

"That being said... how long have you been fed to him?"

Did she have a talent for catching people off guard? I froze briefly before turning to her.

"What are you talking about, unnie?"

She stared at me, her eyes hard. Her gaze then dropped to my neck.

"I'd recognise that wound anywhere, Eunhee." I swallowed. This was bad. Of all the times he could have refused to heal it! 
                                     
                                      ***
 "My lord? You didn't heal the wound...?", I trailed. He looked at me silently.

"Does it bother you?"

"I-", I hesitated, not sure myself, "-I guess not."
He smirked, still watching me.

"Good. Because you belong to me. And I like to mark what's mine. Okay?"

"Yes, my lord."

He hummed, satisfied.
                                       ***

"Eunhee-", she grabbed my hand across the table, "-what does he do to you?". Her voice was urgent, cautious. I stared at our clasped hands and licked my lips.

"You've... you've met him...?", I asked in a quiet voice. She nodded, her lips set in a grim line.

"I was ten. It was only once and the memory is blurry, but I remember waking up in my room with a wound just like that. I didn't think it was possible then I remembered who my father is and..."

"I'm fine, unnie", I tried reassuring her. She stared at me with a shocked look on her face.

"But- He feeds from you!", she gritted out, her grip on my hand becoming tighter. I simply smiled.

"It's a lot more complicated than that, unnie. I'm a companion."

Apparently this wasn't the right thing to say if I was trying to set her mind at ease because she became even more panicked.

"What do you- what else does he do to you?!", she demanded, grabbing my shoulders. I grimaced.

"Nothing! I just... entertain him! He gets bored and wants someone to talk to! Unnie-", I broke off, pulling her hands off me and holding them.

"-I'm fine... really! And if I feel something is off, you'll be the first person I come too, hmm?"

"Eun-", she was cut off by a servant who walked up to us. We turned to her as she spoke.

"Agassi. Lord Han is ready to leave now." We both shared a look before Hyeryung dismissed the maid. I sighed.

"Listen... You have your own role to play and I recommend that you make the most of it. Be a good queen, support His Majesty. Do the right thing, always", I advised. She swallowed before answering.

"Alright... please be careful, Eun-ah. I know we just met today but I really would like to remain a close friend of yours."

"Likewise", I smiled. She smiled back.

"Let me walk you out", she offered, rising to her feet. I followed after her, back to my father.

                 ----------------------------------------

"Are you alright, Agassi?"

I blinked up at Soonie. "What?", I asked.

"You were spacing out. And you've been chewing the same piece of meat for the past five minutes", she explained. I looked down and noticed my unfinished food, realising that my chopsticks were still in my mouth.

"Ah... sorry. I was just thinking about something", I apologised.

"What could be so intense that your spirit seemed to be elsewhere?", she asked, her nose scrunching up. I chuckled.

"I made a new friend today. She told me she was betrothed." A loud gasp erupted from Kyungsoon.

"Oh my-! Who's the young master?", she asked. I could tell she was itching for gossip. I rolled my eyes affectionately.

"She was shy so she didn't say. We just met today, remember?", I lied, chuckling when Soonie literally deflated after hearing my words. I shook my head and continued with my food.

"Eunhee... what does he do to you?"

A wave of pleasure flowing through my veins.

Wetness on my neck being wiped away.

Gentle fingers stroking the wound created, as if to soothe.

I shivered slightly.

...what does he do to me...?

                 
                   ----------------------------------------
           'Hyeryung has entered the chat'
                                    😁😁😁

That's right! Hyeryung is here! We need all the girls don't we?? This chapter was actually longer but I decided to cut it so I'd have something to use to begin the next chapter.

Sorry for the wait I'm preparing for Uni so I've been busy busy busy😓. But I'll try! I'll try. I can't just not continue when I literally have the ending all written out😏.

Anyway thanks for reading I hope you enjoyed it and I may not be regular but I will give you more.

Vote🌟 and comment🗨 it REALLY motivates me!

Have a beautiful day!!☺🤗💜💜💜
[Sorry for any mistakes I tried proof-reading but I'm tired rn so I may have overlooked some. Don't hesitate to correct me tho]

Toodles!!