" Eo-eomeoni....eomeoni ! Eomeoni , What's wrong ?" Hae-soo's cries were unheard by her unconscious mother.

The softness and warmth was ripped off her face.

She looked wan and ill and it only worried Hae-soo more and more.

" Hae-soo ? What're you doing here ?" Her father's voice and tone was calm, however, his eyes spoke otherwise.

" Abeoji ! What's wrong with Eomeoni ?" Hae-soo turned towards her father as she fisted his robes, demanding an answer.

" The physician will arrive soon. He'll tell us what's wrong with Eomeoni alright ?"

" Eomeoni will be fine won't she ?"

Hae-soo's father gulped, agony filled in his eyes.

He was well aware about his wife's worsened health but how could he explain that to a nine year old ?

" My Lord, a messenger awaits you in your private office chambers." A guard informed him and he nodded.

" Tell him to wait. I'll be there."

" Yes My Lord."

" Soo-ah, Abeoji has to go alright ? The physician will be soon here and Eomeoni....." he took a pause, gulping yet again, his usual stunning features had nothing but concern and stress marred on them. " Eomeoni's going to be fine okay ? Absolutely fine."

That seemed to relieve Hae-soo a bit and she nodded.

" Please return to your chambers for now. Lady Jin will make sure Eomeoni's fine."

Lady Jin was her mother's attendant who was much older than her.

The woman was like a grandmother for her and she always was very fond of her.

Hae-soo nodded and quietly walked back to her chambers.

" Eomeoni's going to be fine. Eomeoni's going to be fit and healthy enough to play Yut Nori with me, to read me stories, to go horse-riding with me." She kept reassuring herself, tears rolling down her cheeks as she got reminded of her mother's wan face.

She cried and cried silently to sleep.

And by the time she was awake, it was already day falling into night.

The sun had set and it was getting darker.

The lamps were lit.

Hae-soo slowly walked outside her chamber into the courtyard, towards her mother's chamber yet again.

She stood still, her mother's voice was soft but firm.

" Try it. I dare you. You might be able to end me. But.Not.Hae.Soo."

A boisterous laugh was heard.

" I'll let you go. And your goody husband for all I care. I just want the brat."

" How dare you address her as a brat ?" Lady Jin's voice came out harsh and furious.

" You won't be able to touch a single strand of Hae-soo's hair." Her mother's voice was calm.

" My Lady, my lady you should leave. Please leave. I'll take care of this bastard alone."

" No Lady Jin."

" My Lady he doesn't deserve it!"

" I won't back out like a coward. That's not something Abeoji or Eomeoni taught me. I'm not leaving."

What seemed to happen next was fast, her mother broke into a fit of coughs with Lady Jin scream in the background.

Hae-soo finally pushed open the doors to find her mother lay in a blood of pool as she rested her head in Lady Jin's lap.

Her eyes widened in horror and she looked up to find the perpetrator escape, she caught his eye, he was masked entirely, his eyes widened as he saw the little girl, he had the perfect opportunity to get her but escaping seemed a higher priority than getting her.

" Eomeoni...." her voice came out a mere whisper.

" Eomeoni, Eomeoni you're going to be fine! Just fine! Eomeoni won't you look at me? Someone send for the Royal physician and Abeoji !" She ordered, her voice breaking.

" Look, they're both on their way. You'll be fine! You will have to be !"

" Soo-ah.....Eomeoni....Eomeoni loves you alright. Never forget that okay. Move.....on....in life....be.....happy..."

"Hyeri !" Hae-soo heard her father's voice break as he rushed over to his wife.

" I...I've always loved you and Hae-soo, Dae...unfortunately....we cannot...be..
together.....in this life....but in the next one...I'll always..."

" Stop talking !" Her father, said harshly although his voice was thick with unshed tears, his eyes brimming.
" The physician will be here soon. Nothing's happening to you okay ? You're going to be fine, you have to be. So stop talking and save your breath. You promised to stay by me no matter what happens. You cannot leave me alone midway." He grasped her hand firmly

Hyeri smiled ruefully.

" I love you. Both of you." She whispered softly.

Hae-soo jerked up from her bed, tears streaming down her cheeks, sweat-beads forming on her forehead despite the cold weather.

" Agassi !" Her maid rushed towards her.

" I'm fine." She rasped. " Water, I need water." Her maid nodded and rushed out.

Lady Hae made her way towards her cousin.

" I'm so glad you're fine Soo-ah." Tears rolled down her pale and sickly cheeks as she sat close to her cousin.

" Eonnie...you really need to stop worrying about me. It's not good for you."

" When will you finally start remembering ?" She said ignoring her words.

" Eonnie. Stop ! Look at you ! You look paler than ever. Stop worrying about me. I'm fine. I look fine—"

" You don't." She beat her to it as she continued fretting over her.

Hae-soo or Man-wol sighed.

It'd been a week since she exorcised Hae-soo and a week since she was having constant nightmares.

She regretted slamming the book midway, calling it bullshit.

Because it clearly was not.

Hae-soo's past was a puzzle for her.

A puzzle she was determined to solve no matter what happens and what it takes.