(READ THIS AFTER SOF CHAPTER 31 AND 32)

Four of the windows were open facing the inner gardens, letting the sunlight stream in to make the room bright. The room was big, perhaps the biggest in the house, with it divided into various sections by huge and beautiful wooden room dividers.

The dividers were tall, intricately made with delicate and artistic designs, which were exquisitely beautiful and covered a long distance. Placed in various ways, the room had a receiving section, a bathing section, an open middle section and her sleeping corner.

Except of that, billowing red curtains were placed in the room, gathered by a tie. In front of windows, aside the bathtub, screening her bed behind which there would be absolute privacy.

Different lamps were distributed throughout the room, may it be the big ones, the glass ones, or the small earthen lamps placed in various spiralling tall rack holders having the place for 30 at a time.

The most beautiful handcrafted chairs, tables, were placed with a circular pool of water decorated with flowers gracing the room.

Aaya glanced around thinking about its beauty and elegance. It would absolutely not be a stretch to say that the splendour of the room could rival that of the Royal palace.

This was her chamber in the General's house, made exclusively for her, by, the General himself, where she had been residing for a month now.

Aaya looked out of the window to see the chirping birds sing in the inner garden the pavilion had, then she sat down on the parapet of the circular pool of water in her room. A month had passed since she had been brought here.

In that time, a lot had changed. . . .

She still remembered the first 2 days when she was given a different room, a room that was much more humble than the one she had now.

Aaya had shut herself in the room, refusing to meet not only Hoseok but also anyone else. She refused any food or any other items except water. At that time, she was in a state which was not easily describable.

She felt the burden of the deaths of the family who had sheltered her for nineteen years, because even if the one to end their lives had not been her, without her, their lives would have not been extinguished.

But most shameful had been the emotion that . . . . . . she had been feeling guilty for feeling happy at being free from them.

She had loathed herself for not being able to hate the murderer. Because even if she tried with everything she had, she could not hate a person who did not kill for the sake of it, nor did he kill because that was the only way he knew.

No, Hoseok ended them, to save her.

These emotions conflicted with her shame, so much so that she ended up isolating herself from everything, creating her own suffering.

It had been Nana who had asked the door to be broken after her refusal to allow her entry, that she strode in to shake her up.

"Creating a prison for yourself to feel better is the sign of a coward, Aaya. Rather than shying away from the truth, why don't you experience the life you have got a chance at now to ascertain if your feelings were correct? Why don't you take this chance to know, whether your happiness at this freedom was your selfishness or your right?"

Her words had been as truthful as it had been bitter, more so when Nana had sighed,

"Aside from this, you punishing the one who is desperate for your smile by dragging him through hell for doing something you cannot bring yourself to admit, brought you happiness, is you being supremely selfish. You are making the other falsely feel that he has gravely hurt you because you cannot bring yourself to show the world that you feel relieved that he took a decision, freeing you from its responsibility? I am disappointed in you child. I am. . . . . . truly disappointed."

It was then she had noticed, that Hoseok had not left her door since the moment she had closed it. For two days, the General who was the pillar of the whole Kingdom, who was feared by not just their Kingdom, but the enemy provinces too, had stayed on the floor, waiting for her.

The Palace had summoned him when the news had been delivered of the attack, the Prince raising floods of destruction at been given the news of the demise of his future wife, commanding the appearance of Hoseok to explain, while the man in question remained guarding her door.

For two days, he too had not partaken any meals. For two days, he had sat quietly outside, his eyes closed, back against the door, thinking about the smile in her voice in that little shabby hut with no amenities. Contrasting it to the tearful fury of hatred burning in her eyes when he saw her celestial face at last.

For two days, the warrior had not spoken. All he had done was to stay at the place where his love was, stay at the spot where only a flimsy wood separated him from her. He bore her anger without complain, happy still, that her anger at least indicated that she cared enough.

That was when Aaya understood her Nana had been right.

She wanted to keep her model image, of not showing that she was an ungrateful person happy to be free from the daily mental abuse and potential harm she had constantly been living in. And to achieve that, she let Hoseok take the burden of the blame.

She put that blame on a person, who bore it without a word.

And she, had selfishly let him.

On the third day, Aaya had opened the door in the dawn, to find Hoseok sleeping against the wall. Although just the slight creak of the wood had made him jump up and stare at her, his face filled with part disbelief and part elation.

Yet, the Warrior had not spoken a word.

He had simply extended his hand and bowed down in front of her, paying her a respect that only a King deserved. Though, for all his calm and collected expression, Aaya had noticed that his extended hand had been shaking.

That gesture went a long way to bring her back to the memories of not the man who had indifferently walked over the carnage of slaughter in her house, but the gentle man who looked forward to her presence beside her in that small hut.

When she had placed her hand on his, for some time, Hoseok had stared at their clasped fingers, almost reverently. Then he had guided her to her present room, each step measured to adjust to hers, his grasp of her small hand so careful, so gentle.

"Since the day you took me to that hut, this was the what I imagined for you." His voice had been low and hoarse, "A dwelling befit for you. Every night that you left to go back, I would imagine every detail, every fabric, every little object that might maybe make a place worthy of you."

Aaya had just gazed about, unable to respond to the tall man whose dark eyes had hungrily been trained at her face, lapping up all her expressions even as he spoke in a voice bereft of emotions.

"My soldiers had found me 3 days after you took me in."

Aaya had frozen where she stood when she heard it.

"I did not wish to be parted from you, so I stayed." He quietly confessed, "I needed them close by during the night as at the start I had been unable to protect little Tang if any harm came. Your trust in my ability to protect someone you left in my care was of the utmost priority for me. More so than that of this nation." The low voice could not disguise the quiet sincerity.

Aaya had felt that he meant it, and it warmed her, it truly did. The people that he knew she loved, he guarded zealously.

"I sent back how I wanted your room to be. Unfortunately it was not completed the day you arrived--"

"I think the General means the day I was kidnapped and brought here, right?" Aaya spoke sweetly.

But the barb, had not produced the desired effect.

Hoseok had closed his eyes as a relived smile had spread on his face. "Your voice." He had whispered, his voice almost inaudible, "To hear your sweet voice again. I was afraid you would never. . . . . ."

Aaya had felt a shiver at the way Hoseok was genuinely moved on hearing her talk to him playfully. He had been that scared that he had lost that sweet connection they shared.

Trying not to show that she was moved by his worry, Aaya had asked, "Am I supposed to admire this room? No matter how beautiful, it is still a prison for me-"

"I will never imprison you! I am not capable of that!" Hoseok had fiercely replied as he had swiftly come forward. Standing in front of her, he had looked her deep in her eyes, his sincerity shining from the very depth, "I am not capable of it."

He had repeated the same words with a shaking voice. The General was a man of few words and Aaya had instinctively understood that the flow of all that he wanted to convey could not find the right words. Still, the way he talked, the desperation in which he needed her to know got across.

That had been the point where the man she had known for almost a month collided with the man who single handedly slaughtered her entire household, and that had been the point where Aaya wanted to find the distinction.

"If," she slowly asked, not taking her gaze away from him, "My family were my blood family-"

"I would have done the same."

Pausing, Aaya had tried to understand him more, than getting afraid of his answer. There certainly had to have been a point, a twist in his personality that she could not perceive yet. Or hadn't tried to. So, She had tried again.

"If my family had loved me, truly cared for me the way my Nana does," Hoseok gave her his undivided attention, "And they wanted me to marry the Prince, then what would you have done?"

"If your family loved you, they would not have forced you to be with someone while your heart belonged to another."

"Still." She had persisted, "Still. Then what?"

"Then the Prince would have to die."

"Why? Why can you not think of any solution other than death?"

Hoseok never let his eyes wander from her, nor did those eyes ever convey anything other than a wealth of affection, an ocean of protection. With a gentle voice he had replied, "Any solution where your name stays attached to another being is slow poison to me Aaya. Death is the only way to be free of all attachments. I want you free."

With his gentle voice and dark words, he had scared her.

"To be yours?" she asked, a bit of scorn leaking out.

"You already are."

Aaya had been stunned by the raging possession in his voice, "Is this your freedom?" she had faintly asked.

Hoseok had looked at her for a long time then, seeing her fear, her uncertainty, the mounting trepidation at his behaviour. He had understood that it had been his intensity, his insanity that had been scaring her. Seeing it, something had firmed in his eyes.

Taking just a step back while making sure he had her attention, with flowing seriousness, he had placed one hand on his heart and then gone down on his knees before her, proceeding to bow until his forehead touched the floor.

Aaya had been at a loss to see the proud General kneeling before her so humbly in the form of a bow that she knew he would never have given even to the King.

Understanding the gesture to be having a deep meaning for both him and her, she curiously waited.

Waited for him to speak.

"Aaya, I pledge to you my entire life, my wealth, my heart body and soul. Anything that you desire, will be my goal to fulfil. Anything that brings you happiness, will be my destiny to achieve. My loyalty to you will not waiver even if you choose to plunge my heart with a sword, if it pleases you, I will be wearing a smile of anticipation to see the delight in your eyes at my demise. Whatever I am, I am yours. Yours to do whatever it is your heart desires."

Every word had been crisp. The clarity of his sentiments was transparent.

But, Aaya knew there was a catch.

She knew it, because even if the General had fallen in love with her, he was not a soul whose love could be the sunshine that would bring the brightness of a glorious summer in her life.

No.

His love was like the darkness of a moonless night. Seductive, hidden, mysterious and utterly consuming.

"But?" she had prompted.

Hoseok had remained in the same position, his forehead still touching the floor, his eyes still hidden. But his voice changed.

The sincerity was still present, but so was an unequivocal steel rigidity dripping with ice when he continued.

"But." With that chilling aura he said, "You will only belong to me."

"Again I ask, then where is my freedom?" Aaya had shrunken back a little, retreating step by step as Hoseok continued kneeling on the floor.

"I only ask you to stay by my side Aaya. If you want to amuse yourself, if you wish to play or tease a man, if you want to learn about physical pleasure, turn to me. You love me, your heart is already mine. All you need to know is that it should continue to be that way."

His posture had been extremely humble, low even, his gesture worshipful but his words held a distinct danger, a toxicity, an uncontrollable possessiveness which was not normal. Not healthy.

With the same chilling voice he continued, "I will give you anything that you desire, I will take you anywhere you wish to go, never restrain you or disrespect you. You only have to keep remaining mine. You cannot belong to any other, neither in name or thought."

Aaya had found her back against a wall when she had spoken listlessly, "And if I don't? if I refuse? If I run away from you?"

"To the Prince?"

Aaya had responded without thinking, "He is someone who can stand up against you."

It had been then that Hoseok had lifted his head from the ground. He slowly sat back on his haunches, his eyes trained on her face. A small smile quirked his lips. But that smile was not warm.

"There is no one in this world who can keep me from you." He had simply said. "There is no where you can hide where I wont find you."

"And if I kill you as you said?" Aaya had challenged, "If I desire your death right now? What will you-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" screaming, Aaya had gone running to the General who had drawn out his sword, placing it on his neck.

She jumped to stop his hands, more terrified by the calm gaze he looked at her with. "Then I will die for you right now." He said softly, as if agreeing to her request for a flower rather than his death.

"And after that, I will haunt you till the day you die."

Shaken, scared and confused Aaya had simply sat down on the floor looking at the regally handsome man with gentle eyes and a dark soul, "You do know that you are scaring me? The things you are saying is not comforting General. Anyone will be frightened." She had beathed out shakily.

"But you?" abruptly he took one of her hands in his, "I do not care for others for there never will be anyone. You? I only spoke the truth, I truly will never harm you."

Aaya had been perplexed by his statement when it dawned on her that he truly did not understand that his actions, his desires were abnormal.

You are not strong or wise enough to guide him, Aaya. You are not capable of making him understand.

Nana's words kept running through her head which allowed her to take notice of something. He kept indicating a violence if she crossed that only one line he had, which was to be associated with another man, yet he could offer his life in a blink to please her.

Aaya had mused a little, understanding hazily that the General himself did not know himself. He was a contradiction in terms of normality and abnormality in this world, because he was both. He was different.

She had been faced with two choices.

Either she gave in to the feeling of suffocation that she rightfully experienced and be wise enough to run as her mind screamed for, or. . . . . .

Or, stay to learn the him that even he didn't know as her heart clamored for.

A choice, that she knew was a difficulty in life. A choice in which the mind should always be considered before the heart that could only lead to a tragic outcome. A Choice, which mostly always ended in tears and pain if the chosen path was to follow the person with such unstable emotions.

A choice that she knew she would regret in the future.

A choice, which she had already chosen since the day she sheltered him.

Carefully Aaya had stood up and concealed all her emotions. Till she knew him better, she would not let him know her confusion, her hesitance. Her Love.

"This is to be my room?" she had asked detachedly.

Hoseok had simply stared at her. Even though she had turned her back on him, he had stared without replying. Because her question implied her decision. To stay. To be his.

It was a few minutes later that he had answered, his voice surprisingly shaky and hoarse, "Yes. This whole house is yours. No room, no place, no secret is forbidden." Aaya had heard him swallow a few times, but still that hoarseness had stayed. His happiness, his emotions had been too great to be supressed. "If you dislike my presence here, then I shall move out. I can stay in a different house."

"No need." Going to the window, Aaya found the ones that were open, showed a beautiful hidden lush garden with butterflies flitting over colourful flowers in a Eden of green. Frowning, she had gone to the remaining three windows on the other wall, finding them to be boarded and locked.

Hoseok had spoke before she could question him, "The Palace revered you when they came to know the ability you possessed as a healer. Your marriage to the 4th Prince abetted the greed of the Royals to have you at their beck and call. The secret that you made an elixir which saved people from the brink of death from the illness last year after the famine when even Imperial doctors were not able to, had corrupted the minds of a lot of officials to have you. As such, this matter of your death will not be easily accepted without various forms of investigation."

Hoseok had walked to her, but had not touched her.

"I regret that till the matter is settled, I will have to advice you to not roam in the village as of yet. Until I make preparations for you to come and go from this house to the outside any time you please. Even then, I will ask you to not leave this village without taking some guards. You need not inform me, but I will want you to take your own protection seriously. This is my village, this is my territory where people listen to me, not the King. Still, spies are never to be taken lightly."

Aaya had understood the hidden message he had been trying to convey, "Does this mean I cannot be a healer?"

"As long as you never reveal your presence, you can pass the medicine you make through someone else."

Swallowing, Aaya had nodded, understanding his concern. If rumours of a healer of her calibre were to spread, the selfish court would want to investigate, refusing a reality where she was dead.

"With your permission, allow me to depart to the Palace. As I said, you are free to visit anywhere in this pavilion, free to ask my men anything you wish to know. I will leave my most trusted two men with you."

When Hoseok had turn to leave, Aaya had spoken instinctively, "Take little Tang with you. He admires you and he has always wished for a big brother."

To her surprise, Hoseok had just nodded.

Aaya smiled thinking of those first two days. Standing up, she went through the section of her study parted by the curtains, to reach the wall holding her various books she had squirrelled away. Aaya went to a cupboard and pushed it aside, revealing another cupboard hidden behind it.

Standing in front of that rack, she gazed at the shelves filled up with letters.

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