Chapter 7

¨ If you feel even slightly uncomfortable or things seem to be anything remotely like the last time, just leave. Come to my room and spend the night there okay.¨

¨ I don't...I don't know where ….. Where is it again?¨

Dan Bi visibly frowned at the question. She was unconsciously caressing Her Highness´ face, which she was gently holding in her hands.

¨Did you forget?¨

¨I´m sorry.¨

¨Oh no you don't need to be sorry. I guess it has been long since you last came there.¨

¨You are always here with me so we don't really go to your room.¨

Dan Bi pulled away her hands and sat back thinking.

¨I am always with you these days, aren´t I?¨

Rose didn't notice the hint of remorse on Dan Bi´s face and lept forward to embrace her.

¨Yes and I love you so much for it. Thank you for always being right by side.¨

DanBi returned the hug for a few seconds and then slightly patted her back.

¨The king will be here s-¨

¨His Royal Highness Taewang Seongrim is requesting Her Highness´ permission to enter.¨

The two girls immediately separated at the voice of the guard. DanBi straightened out the creases from Her Highness´ hanbok and checked her overall look one last time.

¨ If anything happens, come to the Royal infirmary. Walk a little further from the library, it will be on your left.¨

¨Okay.¨

¨Do you want a few minutes alone?¨

¨No it's okay.¨

¨Fine I will be going then. Keep care.¨

Placing a light kiss on Her Highness´ forehead, DanBi took her leave. As part of her duty she informs the guard that the king is allowed to enter. When the king enters the room, the maids follow him. They set up the table for dinner and one of the maids sits to taste all the dishes. After all the dishes are deemed fit for consumption, all the maids retire for the night leaving the King and the Royal Noble Consort alone who had their gaze stuck on the food in order to avoid looking at each other.

Rose patiently waited for His Highness to start eating since she was taught to wait for the elders to begin. The King made no sign of reaching for his chopstick. What if Seo-yeon was the older one and he was actually waiting for her to begin.

Rose was almost going to pick up for the chopsticks but at the end moment decided to just straighten them. The Consort being older than the King didn't seem right. Then again the King could like older women.

No no wait it didn't matter what their ages were here since of course the King will eat first because…..well he is the King. That should be right.

Feeling restless, Rose reached for the table again, this time to shift her cup's position. She slouched but immediately straightened back up. She fixed her sleeves for absolutely no reason.

¨You must be hungry. Let's eat.¨

¨S-sure.¨

Seeing His Highness pick up his chopsticks, Rose reached for hers too.

¨ Huibin I wanted you to know….¨

Ah seriously, why can't he just eat?! Will it be too wrong to talk after eating? Rose just had soup today!

¨….that i am very sorry for the last time. I was drunk but that is no excuse for attacking you like that. I deeply regret my actions.¨

Attack? He attacked Seo-yeon? What kind? Did he try to kill her?!?!

Huibin let go of the chopsticks without realising as she took the information in. The queen wants her dead and so does the king. Why is she still here? Just to suffer?

¨I didn't mean to scare you! I promise I won't do anything to you. Please forget about it. Let me pour you a cup as repentance¨

¨Are you crazy? You seriously think I can just casually forget about it?¨

¨It was a mistake Huibin.¨

“ Your Royal Highness Taewang Seongrim…”

“You can just call me Joonwoo.”

“...your court may accept your apology for every mistake you make big or small but I am sorry I don’t have that big of a heart.”

Joonwoo places the cup down with a thud which sends shivers down her spine. The body she was in seemed to remember the past incident. Seo-yeon’s body backed away from the table in reflex. She felt like she was suffocating. Rose wasn’t liking how she didn’t have much control over it.

“I understand. I am sorry and I will make it up to you in any way you want.”

“Please l-leave.”

“As you wish.”

The king didn’t think twice and immediately left. Rose was able to breathe freely only when she heard the outer door close. Picking up her chopsticks she ate a little but didn’t really have the stomach to eat properly.

Rose wore an outer robe and left for the Royal Infirmary. She really didn’t want to sleep alone tonight.

The palace was silent since everyone had locked themselves inside their warm rooms hiding away from the chill air of night. Rose held the lamp with both her hands to keep it stable. It took her two wrong turns before she found her way to the Royal Infirmary.

She knocked on the door softly first, second guessing her decision to come here. She turned to see the way back but her heart strongly disagreed with going back. For the second time she knocked, a little stronger this time.

“Dan-Bi…”

She had wanted to call out the name loud enough to be heard but only a whisper came out. Tears blurred her vision as she knocked again. Her body was reacting to a fear her mind had no clue of and she hated it.

“Please….please open the door.”

She leaned her head against the door and knocked again. The door suddenly opened making her fall forward. A pair of firm hands held her by the waist to steady her.

“Your Highness, are you okay?!”

Dan-Bi emerged from inside, deep furrows in her brow. Sang-Ki let go of Rose when she was sure she wouldn’t fall again.

“Dan-Bi…”

Looking at the one woman in this strange world who genuinely cared for her from the start, Rose couldn’t help but breakdown. Dan-Bi instantly embraced her, holding her up as she let go of her emotions.

“Did he do something to you?”

“N-no. He just apologised but I felt this unbearable fear…..and I told him to leave. I just couldn’t be near him.”

“Well he did almost choke the life out of you the last time you saw him. It’s no wonder your body still remembers the feeling.”

“Sang-Ki!”

Dan-Bi’s disapproving face made the doctor feel guilty for her insensitive choice of words but she didn’t verbally apologise instead chose to gently rub Her Highness back.

“Let’s go inside, it is very cold here. You both may be okay with getting sick but I can’t. If the doctor gets sick then who will see the delicate Royal family.”