The days following the time flew by but it took a turn for better. Hoseok still behaved impeccably but his answers got more honest, he stopped pretending to be someone he wasn't.

The day following the one when Aaya had discovered the bodies, little Tang had complained about Hoseok going out for hours in the night, and then coming back with a lot of his stiches ripped open. Hoseok had instructed Tang to obediently sit inside.

When Aaya had asked about it after seeing the blood, the warrior had given her a wry smile and had answered, "If its within my power to ease your discomfort, then there will be no limit that I will cross for it."

Puzzled a little at first, she had had a hunch which she had excused herself to follow. She had been correct. Hoseok had buried all the bodies which had been the root of the teasing complain of the foul odour she had presented him with.

The injured man, had dug up the ground to make a mass grave, dragging those bodies and then covering it with soil. All alone.

She had returned to ask him, "And if what I want is beyond your power?"

With an enigmatic look in his eyes, he had replied, "That situation, will never arise in this life Aaya."

"Aaya? Lord General calls me by my name?" she had teased him.

Hoseok had not answered, but his expression had seemed to convey 'he was the only one who could'.

More days had passed with her spending her time with him, helping him gain his strength. She talked with him during the day, leaving him to face the nights with Tang. No guards came.

One day the General finally asked her, "When were you promised to another?"

She had been making an ointment, "Usually people ask to whom or why they are promised."

"You are not in love with him. Whoever he is. Why would I ask an unnecessary question?"

Startled, Aaya had stopped, but she dared not look at him. She was surprised that he voiced it so openly, not because he knew.

"Half a year ago. I helped him recover in the hospital we have. The Physicians encouraged our bond when they understood that he had become enamored. For me, he helped the village at the time of the famine. He is a good person, someone who claims to love me. For me, he has helped all those I care about. I did not refuse when he asked."

"If he is as good as you claim him to be, if he purely loves you, break it off with him." Hoseok calmly said.

"Sorry?" Aaya shifted her gaze on him.

"Once he knows your heart desires another, this paragon of goodness should let you have your happiness, no?"

Such was the way they had connected, they didn't even have to say what they felt for the other.

"Should you be this derisive of a person you have not met yet?" Aaya stood up to walk to wards the door. She reclined on the frame, gazing at the beautiful scenery outside.

"I am waiting for your answer."

Aaya shook her head, "There is a lot you still do not know about me."

"And he does?" Hoseok's voice took on a rare aggressiveness, "Has he seen you?"

The air pulsed with a charge. "He has."

Aaya could feel the oppressive jealousy and rising anger from him. After some time, he asked again, "Who is he?" his voice was controlled but he could still not disguise the burning anger in it.

Aaya shook her head, her smile turning bitter, "Does it matter? What is relevant is that I promised him." Partially turning her head, she gazed at the warrior, "Do you understand the importance of a promise General? It is an integrity of your soul that binds you to the action you have pledged to another. My word is my honour General. Without my honor, what kind of human will I be?"

Hoseok's voice mocked her, "If a promise is defined in these terms, how is it different from chains that can hold someone captive? A promise should not suffocate."

Nodding her head Aaya answered, "True. I rarely do give my word." Turning back to the trees, "However, he helped a lot. My Nana, who is the head physician and Tang would have died if not for him. The village would have perished under the heavy taxes while the famine raged on. It was he, who gave the recognition to our hospital so that I may not be taken advantage while treating men. He is gentle and thoughtful to me, honors me, showers me with respect and love. Understands me and wants to spend his life growing old together, sharing each other's sorrows and joys. Tell me, on what grounds could I refuse?"

Hoseok had walked towards her while she spoke. He stood right behind her, his powerful frame dwarfing her, his heat warming her deep within. But he still did not touch her.

"Break that Promise Aaya." His husky whisper stirred the air near her ear, "You were born to be mine."

"Don't." She had breathed in deeper, trying to calm the churning regret, "Don't make me change who I am. If you persist, I will break. But I will regret it for all my life. I never asked you to change, don't do the same to me."

He had reached for her hand and taken it in his palms. Her white delicate hand rested on the palms of his strong, large and tanned grip. The contrast was stimulating. Hoseok had gently closed their fists together, making it seem like the masculine hand was protecting the feminine small palm as its treasure.

"Will you not accept a lifetime of regret with me? Rather than a guiltless life being someone else's? Tell me Aaya, will you let him touch you?"

Aaya had not wanted evaluate those words coming from a person her soul cried out for. She could never begin to make him understand that far more than it being the matter of her promise, it was the mountain of debt that she was under that made her choose it. The debt of saving her loved ones, of caring for them. Those kind gestures which made a life not end, was something she could repay by promising herself.

How could she break away? Even though she wanted too.

Then came the face of that person. He had kind eyes and a beguiling smile, transparent of any filter. He truly did love her. he did try his best to make her happy.

"I don't want any person to look down upon you. So please wait for just 2 months for me. I will obtain my father's permission and take you to my place with all the blessings and respect you deserve. Please don't run away, I love you too much to bear that. Will you wait?"

That was what he had told her with a yearning smile.

Aaya walked out of the hut, not being able to answer Hoseok.

It had been sometime before she had come back again. But by then, Hoseok too had behaved in manner where he hinted that the topic was closed. As it had seemed to rain again, he had invited her to sit beside him and play the flute.

That afternoon had passed with a bittersweet intimacy.

More such days had passed with her trying not to fall deeper for him but unable to stop. Each time she felt that way, the General would say, "This is the time for me to know you."

She had always felt that his statement was incomplete.

She wanted the days to continue as it was forever . . .

But never could she hold time.

Weeks later, Hoseok was finally better. She knew that. She also was aware of the uproar caused not just in her village, but also the kingdom, about the missing General.

The western Province wanted to take advantage of the situation, moving in a manner which signified its desire to attack. Many vassals started an uprising, thinking of quelling the rule of the empire. The Military that the King commanded, itself was not efficient, because they were men who were loyal to Hoseok. Half of their time was spent to find their General.

Even though she was not in the Capital, an unrest in the Palace caused ripples of rumors to spread till the borders. All was not well.

At least not until the body was found. Without it, the fear of revenge would surely be boiling the King over in his sleep, giving him nightmares.

It wasn't just in the front of the missing General, but Aaya herself was caught in a situation she was a bit helpless against.

Her foster mother's younger brother had a liking to her. In a way which was not decent. Her roles and excuses with being involved in medicine along with her Nana finding her chores to do, kept her away from the lecherous person whenever he had come to pay them a visit.

Knowing the identity of the person whom she promised herself to, her Foster mother had remained bitter. She hated it. Before that time, her foster mother had still reluctantly cautioned her brother against making a move on Aaya, but ever since her betrothal, she had actively tried to smear her reputation.

Her Foster mother had called her brother and invited him to stay with the family, turning a blind eye whenever her brother talked lewdly to her. This encouragement was slowly making him bolder as he started touching Aaya casually more and more. When she had complained about it, her foster mother had caused a ruckus of her being an ungrateful person who baselessly slandered her family just to look for attention. She had accused Aaya of having big airs just on the basis of her future husband.

With such big spectacle, many of the neighbors had believed her, causing that uncle of her to get more bold.

Getting away from him, not being embittered by his vulgar words, guarding herself to never remain alone with him, was starting to take a toll on Aaya.

This was partly the reason why on the seventeenth day, she was late to begin her trek to the woods.

As she was hurrying, a small boy, smartly dressed but joyful in his countenance, had run up to her and stuffed her hand with a Letter. His task complete, he had run away.

The cloth of the letter was luxurious but the outer cloth was unmarked.

Thinking it to be a simple missive, Aaya had rolled it open while walking, only to note the seal at the bottom and stop. She had closed the letter and waited till she reached the forest. Even then, it was only when she had walked to the river clearing that she opened it again to read.

Her feelings complicated after reading the loving words from her betrothed, Aaya had decisively put it away in her basket, determined to not let the outer world and the worries touch her time with Hoseok.

Because she knew, it would be soon coming to an end.

When she reached the hut, Tang was sitting inside, rubbing his eyes while yawning widely. A fond smile on her lips, Aaya rubbed the little boy's head, "Did not sleep last night?"

"Want more sleep." He pouted.

Aaya hugged the boy and whispered, "Then when you go back, head for Nana's back room. Sleep there, no one will disturb you."

At once, Tang brightened. Kissing her cheeks over the veil, he shot off after a hasty goodbye.

"You looked a little distressed. Mind sharing what weighs on you?"

Hoseok's voice swept through all her worries. Just his voice, made her feel like she had reached her safe haven, the place where she wanted to be.

The place, that would no longer be present except in her dreams.

"Your injuries have recovered." She said instead, "And the Kingdom is missing you."

With his black hair tied back, the robe over his tall frame, Hoseok's cold elegance shone in the poor small hut. His temperament was calm, but his eyes held a mysterious emotion.

"I heard. Tang has been helpful with a lot of inquiries I had. Why are you rubbing your hand that way?" he asked abruptly.

Aaya had been unconsciously massaging her wrists, where her Foster Uncle had gripped her hard wanting to pull her in a secluded place. The skirmish had resulted in her successful avoidance but had gifted her with a sore bruised wrist.

She let go, "Nothing." She answered, a smile in her voice, "When will General be going back?"

Aaya had wanted to ask this with a steady tone, she wanted to create an illusion not just for Hoseok but for herself too. An illusion where her heart was not breaking, a fantasy where this separation was something normal, not soul crushing.

But her voice horribly shook, breaking at the last part of her question. She bit her lip hard as she watched Hoseok sharply looking at her and tried again, "Will it be tomorrow?"

It came out hollow.

The only reason why she was not embarrassed was because she knew her warrior felt it too. The fearsome General lauded and revered by many, the General the Royals feared, was hers.

Hoseok did not reply but he prowled closer to her. Without any pause, he reached for her hand and lifted it up. Carefully, he tucked the sleeve up to expose her wrists. When the badly bruised skin came into view, his expression did not change.

He gently rubbed the area with his thumb, appearing to be entranced by it. Back and forth, his feather light touch soothed her injury, his actions comforting her from the remembered trauma.

The intention was innocent, his sentiments respectful, but for Aaya, it elicited a different response.

The pit of her stomach clenched at such an unhesitating touch. The simple action invoking a carnal intimacy in her. A need, an urgency, forming in her veins which she had never experienced before.

"Today." Hoseok spoke. He lifted the wrist as he himself bent down. His lips touched her bruised flesh as he spoke against it, "I will go back today."

So lost was she in the fiery pools of desire that his lips wreaked in her that it took some time to understand what he said.

Aaya stiffened abruptly.

He wanted to leave that early? Why?

She tugged at her wrists but Hoseok held firm. His lips placed small kisses on her wrists, moving down her palms. He flicked his tongue at her center, placing a wet kiss on it, making her hands curl.

She forcefully tried to move away, but her warrior straightened himself. With insulting ease, he resisted her pathetic attempts and pulled her closer to him with one tug.

Aaya crashed on his body, her soft figure mashed up to his hard frame. For a moment, she went blank, the physical sensation of coming in contact with a man's body overwhelming her.

"The only mark you will wear will always be mine." He whispered.

The contradiction was too great. Aaya struggled against him harder and he let her go.

"You want to leave today and in the next breath you claim something as outrageous as that?" She angrily asked.

A rare smile graced his lips, "You want to be marked by me tonight?"

Aaya opened her mouth in shock then closed it again. Sputtering about she said, "Wh-what a-are you even saying?"

Hoseok walked closer, "I told you before, these past days was the time for me to know you." Aaya backed away but the walls of the pitifully small hut came up against her. Hoseok shamelessly pressed forward, leaving just a few inches between them, "Now it is the time for you to know me."

"How will I know you if you-" Aaya had unconsciously responded with the thing that was piercing her the most, but she stopped just in time.

Hoseok raised a brow, "Leave?"

Aaya refused to answer.

His hands slowly touched the veil, not parting it. He played with it. His voice deep and husky, he said, "The day you turned back instead of leaving, the day you asked me my name, was the day you sealed your fate Aaya." With a soft indulgent expression, he continued, "And I will tear apart the world and bathe it with blood than be parted from the one I know is mine."

Instinctively, Aaya lifted her hands to place it on his lips.

They were breathing the same air, their bodies straining against each other. Aaya hesitantly spoke, "I was thinking of using him. The one who caused my bruise."

The slouch of his posture disappeared. With wrinkled brows a tight word shot out, "Explain."

Swallowing a little to hide the satisfaction of diverting him from the bloody path Aaya told him, "If I let him get a few more marks on me, then with a guilt free conscious I can say a white lie to my betrothed that I am not fit to be his bride. That it is my wish to withdraw. I will make sure that my Foster Uncle does not actually harm me, but this reason will be a legitimate cause."

"Your reputation?"

Aaya smiled, "Do you care about it? When you know the truth? And anyways, no one is harmed this way."

Hoseok remained silently watchful for some time, then he bent forward. He rested his forehead against her veiled one and whispered, "You have a lot to know about me yet, Gazelle."

His hands held her thin shoulders as he backed away to look at her again, "Just make me a simple promise. Do not see your betrothed before you see me again."

This statement made one thing clear to her. Rapidly blinking her tears which threatened to fall, in a imperceptible small voice she asked, "You will leave today?"

"To meet you again, I need to."

Not able to have any control over her tears at the end, it spilled over steadily. In a wobbly tone, Aaya asked, "What if you can't? What if this is the last time?"

The warrior gathered the girl in his arms, hugging her close to him. He relished the feel of her body, the easy trust where she yielded herself to him.

Cherry blossoms . . . She smelled like those delicately beautiful flowers.

This was the only treasure precious to him. The only bright spot in his life dominated by shadows.

Being in his embrace, the crying girl could not see the dark eyes shrouded with a malicious cruelty.

Little did she know that the General had restrained himself all these years.

To stand against him meant death.

May it be the King or any God.

And she, was his life. He would turn the oceans to crimson to obtain the right to call her his, no matter what.

Hoseok closed his eyes as he felt the true rays of happiness weakly bursting through his life as he embraced the girl who completed him. He was greedy for that happiness. His love for her had crossed the boundary of normal, his thirst for her becoming his insanity. The soft feminine curves resting against him incited his madness to keep her chained to him.

The only thing that mattered was to take her.

He would not care about the method. Even if it included a massacre of all the people she knew. As it was, they did not deserve her

"Will you get me some medicine for sleep? For the coming days I will need it." He whispered to her. his gentle tone in contrast to his cunning scheming mind.

Aaya backed away after hearing it, grateful to have a chance to manage her emotions and readily agreed. Holding her emotions firmly under control, she rushed out.

Hoseok stood where he was for a while, his eyes tracking her figure. When she disappeared from his sight, the General calmly went to the basket she had left behind and crouched down.

As was usual, he went through it, like he always had in the past days.

This time, he pulled a letter out of it. Eyes detached, he opened it, his eyes scanning the contents and reaching the seal at the end.

He had already guessed who her betrothed was, based on the gossip he had heard from his soldiers, so all the letter did was just confirm his suspicions.

His eyes glanced over the loving words once again, a dangerous smile twisting the lips of a face having a coldly savage aura.

It seemed the 4th Prince was under the illusion that he could dare to dream of a life with Aaya. If that was how much he loved, then that was just the amount of despair Hoseok would burn him with.

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

A/N : 😉

What do you think of our General till now? Provided, a lot of his character is yet to be understood, but what impressions do you have of him?

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