2. Disappear
July saw Elie crying.
"Elie? Why are you crying?" She asked.
"J-July, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be rude to him. He was being a jerk and made me mad-"
"I know that he's being rude but it's normal since he doesn't know us. I also know that you did that for me, so still... thank you. But I want you to apologize to him, okay?"
Elie sobs and nodded.
"That's my girl." July kisses her forehead.
"Now, you go talk to him. I'll cook something for us to eat." July said and went to the kitchen.
*Smeraldo Empire, Purple palace*
"WHAT?! WHERE'S MY SON?!"
"Empress Dowager, please calm down-"
"HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO CALM DOWN WHEN MY SON IS MISSING AND INJURED?!"
"Your majesty, it's bad for your health." Dianne, one of the five consorts, said.
The whole palace was panicking. If the other Empires knew about this, they'll probably plan something to attack the Empire while he's gone.
"Is this how you should act while your Emperor is gone?" A man wearing a unique mask and black coat suddenly appeared.
"WHAT- WHO ARE YOU?! HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO COME INSIDE THE PALACE?!" The Empress Dowager yelled, also scared.
"You don't need to know who I am. But don't worry, I'm not your enemy. I'm here to notify you that your Emperor is safe and healthy-"
"IS THAT TRUE?! My son... is okay?"
The man nodded.
"It's just... he needs a few more days to treat his legs. He will come back soon so you better do your job properly and stay calm until he comes back. That's all."
Then, in just a blink of an eye, the man disappeared.
They were still scared and worried who it was. But they still believe in him and do their jobs.
A week later*
"Take care of yourself, Taehyung. Make sure to keep safe. And... if something bad happens..." July paused and grab something on her pocket.
She grabs his hand and give him a bracelet.
"A bracelet?"
"That's not an ordinary bracelet, Taehyung. It's made from Pixie thread and magic ores. But there's something about the magic ores that made it even rare and special. I think July casted a spell and put some of her magical powers inside. Am I right?"
"Yes, Elie is correct.There's a total of 21 beads. I put my magical powers inside these beads so that if something bad happens, you can just remove one bead and make a wish. Then, it will come true. Didn't I told you that I can do the impossible?"
Taehyung chuckles.
"Thank you, July. I will gladly accept your gift and treasure it. I will definitely use it wisely."
"That's good to hear. Remember if I knew that you use it to harm someone-"
"He won't be able to do that, Elie. Because if that happens, the Pixie thread will bring these magical bracelet back to me." July said.
"Really? Pixie threads can do that? I didn't know that."
"Then, July is much smarter than you." Taehyung said and he started laughing with July.
"Hey!"
They laugh for a few seconds.
"Okay then, it's time for me to leave. I bet they're worried about me. See you both again, I promise I will come back and repay your kindness." Taehyung said.
"We don't need you to repay us, Taehyung." July said.
"That's right! Just don't come back unconscious and full of injuries again."
"I know, then... I'm leaving." Taehyung was hesitating to leave.
He bit his lip and went to hug July.
"Wha-" July stops Elie and hugs him back.
"I will miss you, July. You really can't come with me? I can give you everything." Taehyung said in a sad tone.
"I'm sorry, Tae. But I can't leave the mountains right now."
"I... I love you, July." He confessed.
July and Elie was surprised.
"I... also love you, Tae-"
Taehyung broke the hug and look at her in the eyes.
"Really? Do you love me as a friend? Family? Or lover?" Taehyung asked.
July gave him a beautiful smile.
"I love you... not because you're a friend or family. It's because I fell in love with you, Tae-"
Taehyung quickly gave her a long kiss. Elie's patience ran out and started hitting him but it wasn't enough to stop him.
"OI!" Elie yelled, mad.
"Okay... Okay." Taehyung said after he broke the kiss.
"I promise I'll come back, July. So make sure you won't fall for anyone but me. Okay?"
July nodded.
"ARGH! JUST GO! STUPID HUMAN!" Elie yelled.
After that Taehyung left and went back to the Empire.
"EMPRESS DOWAGER! HIS MAJESTY IS BAC-"
The Empress Dowager quickly go out of her room and went to Taehyung's room.
"OH MY! SON!" She said and hugs him tight.
"I thought I also lost you too."
Taehyung smiles and hugs her back which made them all speechless and shocked.
"That won't happen, mother." He said.
"Did... his majesty just..."
"... he's... smiling?"
"And hugs... her majesty."
The Empress dowager broke the hug and checks Taehyung if he was sick or something.
"Son, are you sure you're fine? Are you not sick?" She asked, worried.
"Mother... I'm fine... really!"
She stops and started crying.
"You did not just came back safely... you also started smiling like when you were younger." She said.
"By the way, your majesty... a mysterious man wearing a mask and a black coat appeared a week ago. He told us that you were fine and that you need to treat your legs. He also told us that you will be back in a few days." Ryu, his right-hand man, said.
"That is right, your majesty. He came at the right time when all of us were panicking and didn't know what to do."
"Maybe... he's just one of the friends of the people who took care of me." Taehyung said.
Taehyung started working again as the Emperor and bring everything back to normal. And a year later, he decided to visit and come back to the mountain for July and Elie.
But when they arrived, there was only a house and nobody was there. And that's not all, everything was in a mess. Some of the furnitures were broken.
Taehyung got scared and angry.
"GO SEARCH!" He yelled, desperately.
"Your majesty! No one is inside the house, but we saw blood."
When Taehyung heard the word 'blood', he quickly ran to the room when they saw it. He was trembling.
'It's impossible that this blood came from Elie... she was a spirit and her body is made from wood... July... no...' Taehyung thought.
"Leave and wait outside." Taehyung said, coldly.