Aera's pov

It was nighttime. I entered my bedroom followed by my maids. I sat down on my mattress and gave out a yawn. the maids were standing in a corner of the the room. removing my jewellery slowly and unbraiding my hair, I went to the closet. I took out a nightgown and changed into it with the help of my maids. 

lying down on my bed, I said, " I am tired. I wish to rest without any disturbance. you are dismissed for the night."

"Sorry princess, but Her Majesty has ordered us to be with you 24/7. we are not to leave the princess unattended." one of them said.

I sighed in frustration and pulled the blanket over my body. I needed the maids to leave because Jeon Hyungie had told hoseok to climb into the bedroom through the window at night. but he wouldn't be able to do that. I hope they go away. it will be wrong if Hoseok gets caught. I pretended to sleep when suddenly the door of my bedroom opened. 

I opened my eyes to see Hyungie at the door. I quickly got up and went to him. he gave me an understanding smile and came and sat with me.

" Aera, I wanted to talk to you about some confidential matter. Are you free right now?" hyungie asked.

"Well, I am tired but I can spare some time if it is important" I replied. 

"You may stand outside the room till we are done talking" hyungie ordered the maids.

the maids bowed to him and left the room. I did not think they would listen to him going against the order of mother. but after all, he is more respected than her even if she has more power. then, hyungie went to the window and released a rope after tying it to the window sill. I looked down to find hoseok climbing it. I didn't see him before. how long had he been standing there?

he climbed up and fell on the floor of the room panting. I helped him up and made him sit on the bed, making him drink some water. he looked at me with those loving eyes that made me want to melt into his embrace. he held my hand and smiled at me to which I smiled back.

"So, what's our plan? what are we going to do? I don't want to lose you" hoseok said looking at me with teary eyes.

hyungie stated, "Don't worry. I am going to help you. I am not going to let you both separate from each other's lives. I do have an Idea for it. I'll tell it later, for now, you can spend some time together." 

---

me and hoseok spent some time together and talked, after that, he had to leave through the window again. hyungie opened the door of the bedroom, told the maids, " The princess is sleeping" and closed the door again. 

then, he sat down on the bed and I lay my head on his lap, sleeping. he was playing with my hair while thinking of something. I interrupted his thoughts by saying, "You were going to tell me Lily's story" 

hyungie smiled and started the story,

 " Once upon a time, in the palace of Daegu... a cry was heard. a boy was born... the king and queen were overjoyed to have a son. not because their baby was born but because Daegu now had an heir. the baby was named Taehyung. Kim taehyung, which means that all wishes will come true. and that is what the kingdom hoped for.

the whole kingdom celebrated his birth, everyone hoping that an heir would bring more prosperity to the kingdom. the whole kingdom was decorated with flowers, fireworks were used. sweets were distributed. it was almost a festival. and more so because it was 30 December. 2 days from the new year. this meant that the new year would go happily and profitably.

just 4 years later, once more a cry was heard. Once again the whole kingdom celebrated. a girl named Kim Eun-jun was born. 2 year old Taehyung had no Idea why everyone was celebrating but he was happy to be in the festival mood. He was running around, eating sweets and troubling the servants of the palace. He was running around the palace with sweets in his hands when his grandmother stopped him. She picked him up and made him sit on her lap.

"Taehyung-ah... do you know why everyone is celebrating??" she asked him. he cutely looked at her with huge eyes and shook his head.

"You are a big brother now. It means now you have a small baby as your friend. She will play with you. you have another friend now. and she will live with you only..." 

taehyung thought for a few minutes and broke out giggling... he started jumping happily.  
" taetae has a friend now!!! taetae has a friend now!!! taetae is not alone..."

Taehyung and Eun-jun grew up being very close. they got along well and were always up to something mischievous. One day, they'd be climbing the trees, the other day they'd be pranking the servants. Taehyung was very curious. he always wanted to know the answers to everything. he would ask his grandmother, "Grandma, why is the tree so tall but we are so short? Why are you old but I am young?" No one had answers to his questions...

but the thing he was most curious about was the forbidden forest. there was a forest outside the palace. no human was allowed in the forest for the sake of their safety. It was said that there were many dark creatures in the forest. no one who went in ever came out. Taehyung was always intrigued by the forest. he wanted to go in and find out what was actually there. al he had heard was rumours about it. what was so dangerous? Was it also beautiful? 

he one day went to his father's room while he was working. He asked, "Father, what is in the forbidden forest? what is so forbidden? why can't we go in and find out?"

his father scolded him, "Can't you see I am busy??? why are you disturbing me? go and play or something. and don't you dare go to the forbidden forest?"

Taehyung looked down with tears in his eyes and went away from there. his parents never had time for him. he was brought up by the servants and maids only. he had never received his parent's affection. he went and sat down on one of the swings in the palace garden. he could see the forbidden forest from there. 

he was looking at the forest when he saw something that confused him. he saw a pair of eyes looking at him. just two eyes. he could not see a body attached to it. just two beautiful eyes. they were absolutely enchanting. they were golden in colour with dark black orbs. Taehyung blinked two times, looking at them... they blinked at him two times... 

" taehyung!!! where are you??" he heard his sister's voice and looked at her.

he looked back at the forest to see the eyes gone. there was nothing there. he could not understand if it was his imagination or if the eyes were really there."

hyungie stopped the story. " now sleep. I'll tell the rest of story tomorrow night."

" you know, this Taehyung sounds a lot like me." I remarked.

hyungie smiled and kissed my forehead, " I know... now good night. sleep well."

saying this, he left the room after covering me with my blanket. I slept with many thoughts roaming my head. hoseok and me, my parents, Taehyung, his life those eyes... everything going through my head.