Aaya entered the forest in a hurry, trying to walk a little faster. She was out of breath as she started the climb over the small hillock to reach the passageway to the clearing of the river.

She looked above to see the sun shining directly overhead. A curious sense of urgency gripped her as she sped up again, still trying to navigate through the terrain without twisting her ankles on the treacherous ground.

For the past week, she had been coming to this place before the sun rose in the horizon, with all that was needed, packed in her basket. This was an activity that no one really opposed to.

The Priests and the Physicians were only interested in the herbs she brought and to see its miraculous effect. As long as she could brew the medicines and ointments, they did not complain about how long it took or how much of an endeavor it was to collect them.

None of them could stay for long in the forest. And the ones who could, were selfish enough to rest their bodies and push her up to complete the job.

They wanted their luxury of being the most renowned physicians of the kingdom, the most praised and sought after healers, with even the Imperial Family bowing down to their whims but they did not want to exert the hard work of collecting the herbs.

Why would they, when she was present to carry it out perfectly?

It wasn't as if they would ever let the outsiders know that it was her who created the incredible medicines.

In spite of knowing their mentality and motives, Aaya never really thought poorly of them. She had never entertained the ambition of being recognized.

It was the opposite for her, she wanted to remain obscure. She just wanted to help the people who needed her abilities, without the fame. The greed of the Physicians helped her with her wish.

Except the Head Physician. Aaya smiled as she pushed against the stone boulder she had placed in front of the passage to go down.

Carefully, she made the trek to the bottom of the clearing without covering the entrance.

She did not pause in her steps to take in the beauty of the dazzling and fresh clearing of the sparkling streams over the scenic tranquility of the vivid trees and plants, but hurried past it to a deeper way.

"Sister! You are late!"

A youthful bright voice greeted her as soon as she entered the dense forest. Lips automatically curving up on hearing his voice, Aaya looked in the direction to a beautiful boy running to her.

"Did your evil mother keep you to serve her again?? Why don't you leave the family?? I told you I shall travel with you too!" the youth scolded her as he came to stand before her.

Her eyes softened in a helpless indulgence, Aaya lifted her hands to rub the head of the 11 year old boy angrily bellowing his hatred while hiding the concern and pain he felt for her.

"Tang, don't say that. How many times have I told you to not speak ill about other people?" she scolded him gently.

"Hmph! I am not speaking ill! I am just stating the truth! That woman IS evil!"

Aaya patiently bent down, "Did she ever hit me?"

With a stubborn glint in his eyes, Tang refused to answer.

Hiding her smile, Aaya asked again, "Did she ever starve me? Scream at me? Humiliate me?"

Tang folded his hands over his chest and huffed angrily at the barrage of question, not wanting to admit defeat.

Aaya further gentled her voice, and placed a kiss on the boy's head, "No, right? So is it right for you to speak of her in this manner? She is not my biological mother, but she has always clothed me, fed me, and let me stay in her house as if I was her own. When I insisted in bringing you to stay with me, she never refused. Its due to her kindness that we both are living a better life than being orphans on the streets. Don't insult her that way, okay?"

Little Tang's eyebrows still furrowed as his scowl deepened. Even though he loved her, he did not agree with what she said or taught him in this matter. And he never would.

With a small voice and a lowered head, he said, "Cruelty does not limit itself to outwardly seen physical traits. Evil does not stop its limitation to physical and verbal abuse. Similarly, kindness is not a light brightening the actions of someone who helps another for their own selfish motives."

Tang took a step back from Aaya and picked up his basket he had discarded. Solemnly putting it on his back, he straightened and said, "Your mother is both cruel and evil. More so because she make sure no eyes can blame her for the ways she uses to break you down on the inside. The whole world may turn a blind eye to her, including you, But I never will."

He nodded towards the hut right behind him, "His ointments need to be changed, I have already given him the medicine to drink and made dakjuk for him in the morning from the ingredients left over of the night. So, you don't have to rush to cook."

Aaya smiled in her heart, but kept a serious expression on her face as she bowed her head, "Many thanks Sir Tang. I would never be able to work this easily if I did not have your assistance."

This made the little boy smile widely, "I know! I am indispensable for your life! You cannot live without me and Nana!"

At last the smile spilled over her pink lips as Aaya pulled the boy in her arms, enfolding him in her embrace while noisily raining kisses down his head.

The boy, whose height reached her chest, squirmed from the affection, protesting against it while secretly being pleased, finally parted himself from her.

Laughing Aaya affectionately messed his hair, "That's right. I will never be able to live without you or Nana. Now run along. I haven't closed the entrance, so make sure you push the boulder closed, okay? By the way, no troubles in the night, right?"

By then Tang had already reached the edge of the clearing, only the bright yellow colour of his hanbok could be glimpsed between the lush greenery of the trees, "No! Everything was good! No fever either! He and I had a restful sleep! See you in the evening!" and then he was off.

Bidding him farewell, Aaya turned towards the hut. Through it was small and simple, it was surrounded by the shade of the tall foliage, little plants lining the outside path, flowers in full bloom giving a delicate fragrance to it.

The harsh sun or the rain was shielded by the surrounding trees, making a bubble of cozy beauty where one could rest their soul.

The curtain of the window twitched a little.

Aaya attributed it to the wind, not thinking too much about it.

She walked the few steps forward towards the door, her nervous excitement increasing with each step. The pit of her stomach clenched steadily as she admitted to herself, the only reason for her punctuality was the person behind those doors.

Aaya took a deep breath in front of the door, then gently pushed it open, stepping inside the coolness of the sanctum. Eagerly, her eyes sought the magnetic pair of calm gaze, finding him reclining on the bed, wearing just a loose robe, hair unbound, looking at her steadily.

As was the usual, Aaya thanked her veil for hiding her reaction from him, giving her the precious few seconds to compose the fluttering heart which refused to settle.

Such was the vitality of those eyes, which clawed at her attention, viciously refusing to let go.

She saw him looking at her without speaking a word, then slowly, with deliberateness, he swung his legs over the bed, standing up, the powerful sleek torso giving a few glimpses as the robe became loose on him.

Aaya stood, rapt.

Still keeping his attention on her, Hoseok strode forward towards her, his aura unapologetically dominating the small interior, his presence overwhelming her.

The nearer he got, the fine tremors in her body increased. His masculine demeanor always made her aware of just how delicate and feminine she was. If he so wanted, Hoseok could easily break her. If he wanted, all he had to do was encircle her swan like neck and jerk. That would kill her in an instant.

Instead.

The heat of his body touched her as the warrior's shadow engulfed her when Hoseok came to stand right in front of her.

His eyes never lost its focus, he stood extremely close to her, invading her personal space.

With not a word spoken between them, Hoseok lifted his hands to reach for the straps of her heavy basket, carefully unloading it from her back.

"Rest for a while. My injuries can wait." His husky voice assaulted her ears as he took a step back and put the basket in the corner.

Then he held out his hand, patiently waiting.

This was exactly how he treated her. Gently, with respectful concern. But somehow, intimately possessive.

His statement made it crystal clear that he knew that her every action, efforts, toil, was just for him. He knew her being late but still persevering to come was for the sole purpose of meeting him.

And he liked it.

Aaya smiled a little and placed her small palm on his large hand watching him close his fingers around her.

He tugged her a little, and guided her to the bed. First making sure she was comfortable, before seating himself on the same narrow bed, resting only a few inches away from her.

With every passing day, Hoseok became bolder. The subtle way of always keeping her close, very close, to him became more daring.

"What kept you?" although his words were entitled, the genuine curiosity in his voice negated any perceivable rudeness.

"My mother wanted me to cook a few dishes." Aaya pulled up her legs to her chest and rested her chin on her knees, encircling herself with her arms, "A prominent suitor is coming to see my sister, she wanted to impress them with food."

Hoseok tilted his head to one side, "And?"

Aaya shrugged, "Why do you think there is an 'and' associated with it?"

For a few seconds, he remained quiet. Even though Aaya was shrouded in her veil, her white hanbok and long skirt with only her palms visible, Hoseok looked at her as if all she wore was a sheet around her body.

"You have arched your back 5 times since entering, your shoulders were shaking from the weight of the basket. You are in pain."

Dumbfounded, all Aaya could do was blink.

Then she shook her head, "It doesn't matter." Saying so, she got up from the bed again, and went towards the ointments she had stored in the cupboards.

Hoseok said nothing, but his eyes followed her.

Gathering the supplies, Aaya went back, "Let me change the gauze. I think today might be the last time these degree of medicine will be needed, you are recovering faster than I thought." Wanting to forget about the accurate guess he made because she herself wanted to keep remaining in denial, Aaya hurriedly reached for the robe on his shoulder, to slip it back.

However, before her hands could touch the cloth, Hoseok clasped her hand in his palms.

Aaya looked up at him. He held her hand firmly in his, yet gently stroked his thumb over hers. That small contact caused an avalanche of response in her heart, her breath stuttering. Abruptly, she tried to jerk her hands out only for him to tighten his fingers around her.

"Sit with me. Talk with me. Forget everything else. For just a few hours, can you do that?" the words were spoken so close to her, that her veil quivered with the air of his statement.

"This is a change from the man who refused to speak a single word for the duration of four hours it took me to cajole him to just get his name." Aaya teased back.

Hoseok's thumb started that infuriatingly gentle caress again while his lips curved upwards in a smile.

A smile, which made the rugged warrior appear even more dangerous. A sheen of seduction innately inviting her in.

"My trust is not easily given Aaya. That day, you were in acute danger." He tugged her to make her sit in front of him again, still not letting go of her hands.

"You don't talk to people you don't trust?" Aaya questioned back, blatantly ignoring the second part.

Also ignoring the intimate way Hoseok directly said her name, forgoing the polite form of address. Such familiarity was only permitted to family. But for some reason, Aaya loved the way he took that liberty.

But a sudden chill radiated from the dark eyes he focused on her.

Hoseok's smile deepened, becoming a little cold, "Aaya. . ." he bent a little forward, then lifted his other hand to caress her veil with the back of his fingers, "I kill the people I don't trust."

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