(READ AFTER SOF CHAPTER 31 AND 32)

Even though Hoseok had departed with his personal squadron, his letters started to be delivered at a fixed time to Aaya.

It was either Hoon Chul or Ha-Ru, Hoseok's most trusted men who brought her the letter in the evening and right before she retired to bed.

Aaya was still trying to settle in and didn't know who to trust, so even in the face of the both men being extremely polite and cheerful, she did not interact. She would turn around when they came with the missive, let them talk, inquire about her day.

For six days without fail, both Hoon Chul and Ha-Ru came to visit her with a cheerful voice, brushing aside her cold welcome. They chatted with her, asking if there was anything they could help her with, trying to lure her for a tour of the large manor with several buildings and houses that consisted of Hoseok's home where she resided in.

When Aaya would not respond, they would place the rolled up letter on the table and depart.

Once she had been sure of their departure, Aaya would then creep forward to snatch away the letter and run inside her inner sanctum to read.

I saw you when you stepped up to that boulder by the clearing. To me, you appeared like a ghost. But when you refused to go, everytime that I tried to harm you, When you kept asking me my name in that honeyed voice of yours, not afraid of me, even though I appeared that way. The way you kept trying to take care of me, I started falling in love with you then. When I finally told you my name, it wasn't because I felt guilty for hurting you. It was because you are the only one in this life who truly wanted to know my name. When I agreed to go to that hut with you, it was because by that time, I knew, I didn't need to know your appearance to know that you were going to be important to me. Strong, fearless, yet delicate and kind. No one such as you exists. That was when I thought, the only one who does, should be mine.

You were sent to me, you had to have been, when I had made peace with death. Fear, jealousy, hatred, corruption, respect is all that I have ever experienced from people around me. As my reputation grew, so did the distance between me and the society. No one wanted to know me, the real me. The me that perhaps I did not know, as that realization of self had not appeared.

You questioned me, laughed with me, cared for me. Loved me, despite knowing who I was.

Is it truly strange that I fell in love with you?

Her General did not know how to write romantic letters. Nor did he know the etiquette of writing one. He never addressed the letters, nor did he ever sign them off. His letters had always been straightforward, direct. He wrote what he felt, he wrote, what he wanted to say out loud, but couldn't.

His letters were poetically poor.

His letters, were precious to her.

The nights were the worse for me. During the day, my senses would only be filled with you. The way the smallest thing pleased you, if something upset you, the way your voice would change. The way you knew what I could do but were gentle. I followed you the day you found the bodies. I expected fear, revulsion or hatred. What I never imagined was the pure goddess venturing in the carnage of rotting bodies to see why I killed, or who they were. Your senses were troubled, yet you wanted to know the truth about me. Then you came back and gave me a sword.

Did you know what I did the night after I buried the bodies? I followed you home. I asked the guards to look after Tang and I followed you. In your household, I waited until sleep claimed the light of the lanterns and darkness ruled, but still I could not enter your room. I did not have the courage to. I found myself unworthy. That was the night I decided to change, to be worthy of having your name linked to mine. Every night, I dreamt of a life with you. Every night, I yearned to have you. Even if you asked me to never touch you, even if you remained veiled, I still wanted you.

That night, I fell desperately in love with you. Because that day, in my countless times of carnage, only you cared enough to know why. Only you Aaya, cared to look beyond the ugliness of the bodies. No one else did. No one else will.

I hope to convey why I fell in love. I hope you understand why, in my life, the only thing of importance is only you. Will only ever be you. You are the sweetest place of heaven which calms me.

Aaya Had kept all of his letters stored away, she never allowed anyone to know. Because just like the man, the letters too lacked artifice. It was just, purely him and his thoughts.

The way Hoseok was, it would always be a difficulty to know what thoughts he had, what he felt given his cold mask. This path to his innermost emotions was a treasure to her.

During the days he was away in the Palace, given that no news reached her, she had asked Ha-Ru to accompany her and Nana to roam the house. That was when she had found out, that it was as big as a palace, with various houses in the boundary along with beautiful courtyards and gardens filled with exquisite flowers and trees.

The General's influence in the north of the Kingdom was heavy, as evidenced by the loyalty of the villagers and the men. With his influence, the King and the officials feared a potential rebellion so to pacify him had given him the title of Duke, along with properties befitting it, hoping for him to be satisfied with what was given.

Hoseok in turn had never really cared for his wealth or name. At least that had been what Aaya had though, but seeing the house, she thought to revise her opinion. That was when the maids and old ladies who visited the house to work had laughed with Arissa and let them in on a secret.

"The Lord is usually too busy with his activities to pay us any mind. Although he always finds time to help us with dire situation or taxes, he never really takes an interest in anything else." The maids had tittered.

"It was weeks before you arrived that he sent word to make this mansion ready for you. We were asked to clean the place, order the most beautiful fabrics for your clothes, have the best decorations up, garden the plants and have the Ginkgo tree be fitted with a swing"

While the old woman and the maids had gossiped, an affection had been plain for her to see. Her confusion over the fondness was later cleared when the old woman had found her secluded and kissed her hands , "Thank you dear." She had said with smiling eyes, "Ever since you, the Lord is softening." Was all that she had said.

It was later that Nana had confessed to Hoseok having sought her out to ask for any romantic ideas to woo her. It had been Nana who had given him the idea of writing letters.

Hearing that, the icy Warrior had gotten as excited as a little boy, retreating with shiny eyes.

The day had finally arrived when Hoseok had come back from the Palace. Expecting him to come directly to her, Aaya had been some what taken aback when he had ridden inside his house and galloped away to the section for his martial arts, secluding himself there.

By that time Aaya had been in good terms with all the maids, servants and his men living in the house which was why she knew that her assessment of his mood had been right. Everyone in the household had been puzzled but dared not ask him about it.

But Hoseok did not come out for two days. Which was when Aaya had pulled Tang in her room from where he had been pampered and resting since his arrival. Eyes big with excitement at getting to tell her a juicy tale, Little Tang had not wasted a single second in pulling her down on the grass of her secret garden and begin his chatter amid the fragrant flowers.

"The Palace was in an uproar at the loss of you. But it was only the 4th Prince who could not accept your death, the rest, even the King and the Crown Prince did not even question the General!"

"What did the 4th Prince say?" she had asked

"He kept asking for proof!" Tang exclaimed, "He refused to believe General's statement if your body was not provided! The General said that the body was so badly beaten and abused, that he performed the rites and burned it so as to not sully your spirit any further and let you have a chance at rest. The whole court agreed but the Prince went berserk, accusing us all of lying!!"

Aaya had been worried at that. Not because the prince had power against a General, but because Hoseok's irritation might end up with this Kingdom having one less Prince.

"It took 2 days to pacify him! In that time, the Prince also came in our quarters, ready to fight Hoseok, believing him to have taken a look at you. He accused him of being bewitched by your beauty and then. . . . and then. . ."

"What, Tang?"

Tang had glumly looked at her, "Hoseok did not want me hearing these things so he forced the Prince to step outside, coldly reminding him of the etiquettes of being a royal. Of speaking in an ill manner in front of a child."

Aaya could very estimate the accusation aimed at Hoseok. The Prince must have accused Hoseok to have been the one to rape and kill her.

But still, going in seclusion for 2 days without seeing her was not a reaction to this.

"Then? If that was all, why did you have to stay for 3 more days?"

Tang frowned, his little face scrunched up, "The General told me that it was expected, this reaction. We were going to come back, when the 4th Prince asked for your ashes from him. General was prepared and handed it over. The next morning, the Capital was in shock when the 4th Prince announced that he had actually been married to you in secret before he left, hence he would be known as your widow. Your name was then inscribed in the Royal Book of Family as the 1st wife of the 4th Prince."

"What??" Aaya asked in disbelief.

Tang shook his head, "And that was not all, the Prince even declared that he would not marry again, to honor your memory and prove his love for you, so that your souls may be united again in the next life. Then, he renamed a wing of his private palace in your name and has decided to create a tower in the middle of the Royal Palace in your remembrance as the only Bride of the 4th Prince.

This news spread like wildfire, with the whole of Capital unhappy for his loss at the same time moved by his love and dedication for you. Before long, the entire nation would know that you, Aaya, the healer from our village were the wife of the Prince."

For a man who was extremely possessive over her, the thought of her name linked forever with another man, for her to be a part of history where her identity would forever be as the bride of another man, Hoseok must have been disturbed.

More than just disturbed.

"Hoseok?" she asked.

Tang gave her a grown up sigh from his little cherub face, "I have to admit, at first I was afraid of him. So were all the men. Every one of us. Because even though he became absolutely silent, his aura, every single glance indicated a death we were not prepared for. The General did not speak to any officials, standing stone cold calm in midst of them, but none ever tried to approach him.

Aaya, he was raging mad! His hand often traced the hilt of his sword absently as if any false word spoken in front of him would result in him beheading anyone!

It was only when I felt like crying that in the night, when I was sharing a room with him, I shouted out that you were still waiting for his return, to not be concerned over a lie."

"Then?"

"Then!!!" Tang hmphed angrily, "Then Big Brother dragged us all out the next instant, not even waiting to bid anyone goodbye and made us all suffer through the grueling torture of riding through the night without stopping to reach here!!"

Amused by his anger, Aaya had teased, "Big Brother?"

Like the child he was, his mood had changed abruptly. Nodding his head like a little puppy, he replied, "The General asked me to call him that! Since I am like your little brother, and you are his, then I should also address him properly!"

"He said this after you talked to him about me waiting here?"

"Yes!!"

Aaya had said nothing and had simply hugged little Tang, not wanting him to know the reason of why Hoseok had given him the privilege. It had nothing to do with fondness, but an attempt to establish their connection.

Understanding what had transpired, Aaya had given him time to come out of the seclusion by himself. During that time, he trained with his sword without a stop, exhausting his black anger in violence against no one.

Though it took him five more days to calm himself enough to finally leave the training section, the letters to her had not stopped.

Along with the letters, each day a gift was delivered to her. Sometimes by Hoon Chul or Ha-Ru, sometimes by Tang.

Beautiful jewelry, herbs or fabric. Each piece of jewellery was magnificent, every given herb rare, all the fabric the very best these times could offer.

But the most treasured gift which gave Aaya joy had been the deadly daggers.

Hoseok had asked them to be forged personally for her, the hilt carved into a Phoenix with a ruby as its eye. The craftsmanship was excellent, a match for the sword Hoseok used. It was a gift which touched her, because it spoke of the freedom he had promised, the trust he placed in her.

And the simple letter that accompanied it.

More than any other jewels gracing your beauty, I hope that his dagger will be favoured. I have promised you if my death is your pleasure, then I will grant it. in return, I ask, should such a day arrive, I would be the happiest soul greeting death as an old friend, should it come from you.

Even if not for the day that might never happen, even though I will always remain by your side, my mind would be at ease if I were to know that you have the ability to protect yourself. Even though I feel proud to have taken the responsibility of being your shield, I would love it even more should you have no use for my protection.

I ask, for you to allow me, to teach you.

Aaya looked at racks filled with letters, the only times that Hoseok had interacted with her since coming back. Every day since dawn till the late hours of the night, he would be gallop out on his horse.

During the month she had stayed, she had been the most happiest. The house was hers to do with however she wanted it to be managed, the servants were all good people with no hidden agenda, the outside world never intruded in even as many villagers came inside to seek treatment from her and Nana. The villagers protected her secret, not a whisper of it leaving the town.

Nana opened a small healer's chamber just outside the house while little Tang trained directly under Hoseok.

Being the cold hearted person he was labelled to be, surprisingly, he had given her a lot of time to adjust, during which he made sure his presence would not confuse or suffocate her.

He let her understand through his actions, what freedom meant even while being his. That she could pursue all that she wanted, that she should never fear being tied down.

Aaya smiled.

She was comfortable enough to come out of her shell again.

Calling for her maid, she spoke, "Can you deliver a message to the General?"

Bowing low, her maid replied, "I will pass on the message to my best My Lady, though the response might be delayed by hours as the Lord is not home yet."

Aaya smiled brightened, "I think the response will not be delayed. Have it conveyed to your Lord that I wish to have dinner with him."

The maid glanced up at her, surprised. Then she too smiled widely, "At once My Lady!" she all but ran. But then stopped at the threshold of the door, "I'll have it delivered personally, so that not everyone may know. Our Lord is very protective of your privacy, until you ask otherwise, we will always endeavor to maintain it!"

Aaya did not understand what she meant but put it out of her mind for now.

Getting up, she started getting ready.

In but the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Hoseok's reply came back to her.

"His Lord says, he will be waiting my Lady."

She knew he would be.

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

If you are enjoying the story please do comment and Vote. . . . .