Chapter 14: Misunderstandings

August, 12, 1898

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Soobin's POV

It's kind of weird for somebody to suddenly shout at me. For somebody whose, a low rank she sure has some guts to do that and that's why, I asked my personal aid, to know their past and background.

I was waiting for it, since it has been 3 days, ever since I ordered him to do that. And I haven't gotten anything yet.

'Is he even doing his work, or is he slacking off once again?' I thought as I clenched my fist.

I was thinking of ways to torture the guy, when somebody knocked on my door. So, naturally me, being me, I quickly fixed my clothes and signaled the person to enter, and when the person did, I suddenly I wanted to throw my files right on his face.

"Okay, before you even start throwing your files at my face, blame the girl, and not me it was literally hard to look for information about her." He said, while raising his hands up sign of surrender.

He quickly tossed me the files, and left probably to drink. I looked at the file, and what he said, kind of bothered me, how can a villager have such power. Unless, my theories about her is right, then. I don't even know what I will do.

I shook all those thoughts off, and opened the file. When I saw, the first paper it was about "Lee Chaeryeong". I wasn't really interested in her, so I decided to skip her file, but then, I thought why not read hers as well?

So, I read her file and it was true she really is from Clarines and just went to Roselia because of her older sister. And just left after four years of staying there, she also studied medicinal there, and her older sister is also Court Herbalist in Roselia, but is only on assistant court herbalist two years ago, but then she was promoted to Court Herbalist, and she became the personal court herbalist of the Second Princess of Roselia, which is still a bit odd, because her name wasn't mentioned there.

Once, I was officially done checking her file I quickly stood up and stretched my body and quickly went back to reading the files and looked for "Shin Ryujin" when I saw it already, eyes went wide. It doesn't have much in it but, it does have the information I really needed.

I was busy reading it when I suddenly got in the good part. It's confirmed that she is the Run Away princess of Roselia. Meaning, I offended somebody that has scary parents, and want to know why I said scary?

I met them, once but not their daughter and the King's glare could kill me. He has such a cold aura around him, but the Queen doesn't really mind it. She was really smiling type of person, much like Beomgyu; unlike her husband she was all friendly and nice. Her husband is the literal the opposite of it.

Father said, that he couldn't even kill a fly, but when I saw him was the opposite way around, he can kill!

'Maybe, the King that father was talking about was another King, right?' I thought, and slightly shivered at the thought of it.

He can't have just said that to me so I can be okay, with travelling there! Now, I know why she got those glares from. And why she looks so familiar, I saw her from their family portrait in the middle of their ballroom.

***

August, 14, 1898

Beomgyu's POV

Today is the day. Ryujin and Chaeryeong, is going to leave to get some herbs in the mountain, which I don't really get why would they have to leave just for some herbs?

Plus, I'm genuinely worried for Ryujin, because we haven't even talked after the incident, where my brother told her to stay away from me.

'Just, because she isn't royalty, it doesn't mean I couldn't be with her.' I thought, and then it hit me.

'Why, did I even think about that?!' I thought, mentally slapping myself. Because I can't do it in real life, because I might cause a scene here in the docks.

'Am, I in love? That's impossible! I promised myself that I won't fall in love with her!!' I thought mentally scolding myself.

I was busy scolding myself, when somebody punched me, in my stomach. I was left lying on the ground, clenching my stomach.

"Who the he-." I said, and got cut off, by Yeonjun hyung.

"Dude! We've been calling your attention for minutes already, the girls are leaving soon, and you haven't said your goodbyes to them!" He said, scolding me.

I quickly looked at the others and I saw a shocked looking Taehyun, which made his eyes look bigger than his normal ones. A bored looking Yeji noona, which kind of hurt I know; she knows this is normal for me and Yeonjun hyung. An angry looking Yeonjun hyung, which now I know why he punched me but was it really necessary? A worried looking Chaeryeong, which is really normal see because she's always worried for us. And mixed expressions looking girl, with pink hair.

'I couldn't even say her name...' I thought and mentally sighed.

I quickly stood up and walked away. Knowing, that she doesn't even want to see me. Heck, she doesn't even want to look at me straight in the eyes, so what's the point of saying goodbye to her?

I was sad, because of the fact that she hates me. I was sad, because of the fact that she's ignoring me. I was sad, because of the fact that she doesn't to be related to me. I was sad, because she doesn't even look at me. I was sad, because she doesn't need me anymore.

I was continuing to walk away from them, but then, I heard somebody shout my name. Of course, since it's in the nature of people to turn around once somebody called your name, I did the same thing.

But, once I did, I saw somebody in front of me, but, it wasn't somebody I knew because the person was covered head to toe with so many things, but guessing from the person's figure it's a girl, I looked at her in confusion.

"Beomgyu. Don't you remember me?" She asked, tilting her head. I must admit her voice kind of sounds familiar, but then, it hit me.

"Minju?" I asked her, which she just nod at.

"Yep. Did you miss me?" She asked me, while twirling around.

"Is that really you Minju?! You look so different from before." I said, looking shocked.

"Really?!" She said, but then suddenly the wind got stronger meaning her hood was taken down because of that revealing herself, and then somebody bumped into her, making her fall onto my arms, and me having such reflexes, caught her.

Once, she was realizing the situation that we are in, she quickly stood up and fixed her. Once she was done fixing herself.

"Hey is it okay, if I hug you?" She asked me.

"Of course! Why wouldn't I be? You're one of my best friends ever since we were kids!" I said, and hugged her, she then hugged me back.

"Wow. This feels nice..." I said, and continued to hug her.

But, the feeling wasn't the same as before. But, I had a feeling somebody was watching us, so I had to break the hug. I saw Minju pouted, because I broke the hug, but, it was for our own good.

"Minju, I'm sorry... it's just that..." I said, and lost in my own sentence.

"You feel like you're being... watched?" She asked, as if reading my mind, I quickly nod at it.

"Well, you're not dreaming. I just saw a short haired girl, over there." She said, and pointed at an area near the docks.

'She isn't telling me it's Ryujin, right?' I mentally asked myself.

"What's the hair color of the person?" I asked her, which she literally looked confused at.

"It was pink, why do you know her?" She asked, while tilting her head to the side.

'Shoot! It must've been Ryujin!' I thought.

She quickly gasped, and that made me look at her. "Is she your girlfriend?! Beom! Why didn't you tell me?!" She said, but I quickly left her there hoping to see Ryujin. I was running towards the direction where she most likely will be in.

Ryujin's POV

After Yeonjun oppa, punched Beomgyu he only looked at us and left. I quickly followed him so I could talk to him, before we leave. But, I lost track of him, I was going to give up, when suddenly one of the letters that was sent to me by Chaeyeon eonni flew out of my grasp.

I quickly followed it, and it led me somewhere. Once, I got it I saw him, I was really glad. But, then I saw that he was hugging a girl, who's prettier than me.

I don't know why but, my mind is telling me run but my heart keeps on telling me to stay. But, since I don't actually really listen to my heart, I quickly ran towards the others and quickly dried up my tears. When I saw them, I quickly fixed myself and put on a fake smile. I approached them, as if everything's fine, but in reality, it's not.

"Did you say goodbye to him yet?" Yeji eonni asked, which I only nod at. Liar.

'You said it yourself you hate liars, and yet you're one of them.' I thought.

"Chae, come on. We have to go now... Or else the ship will be leaving us." I said, and went towards the ship, with Chaeryeong behind me. Once we got on, we quickly waved our hands to our friends.

While, waving our hands I saw a face, I don't want to see, for quite some time for now. I quickly left to go and fix the place where we will be sleeping.

Beomgyu's POV

I reached the docks, but I was too late, the ship they were in was already sailing, but I could still see them waving at us, but, when she saw me, she quickly left.

'What have you done, Beomgyu?' I asked myself.

***

August, 14, 1898

Beomgyu's POV

After that really awkward sending off, party for both Ryujin and Chaeryeong. My brother quickly called for me, without Yeonjun hyung and Yeji noona. Which is kind of weird, because he always expects me to be with them, but now? Although he is my brother, I'll admit I don't really actually get him, anymore.

'Just, what did his traveling do to his mind?' I asked myself.

I am currently walking towards his office where he called me. Once, I reached it i walked to it and knocked three times, using our secret knock language. I then wait for him to let me know to come in or what not, but that didn't happen as he was the one who opened the door. I was actually surprised. He then, moved to side and pulled me inside.

"Beomgyu! Come on, hurry up!" He said, and went to his office balcony.

I then followed him, and then he started saying random things that I don't really get. But, after some of those random things he went inside, again.

'Look at him, he was the one who called me, and yet he's the one who left early.' I thought, and mentally face palmed.

He then came back after a few minutes. Holding two glasses and a wine bottle that looked like it was from another kingdom. I looked at him, as if he was a crazy guy, which he just answered it with his bunny smile.

'Okay, he literally is a Psycho Bunny...' I thought.

"Okay... let's get to the point here." I said, and looked at him seriously.

I saw him pouring wine into the glasses, and when he finished he gave me one of the glasses. "Here you go." He said, and was reaching out the glass. I looked at him hesitantly, because who knows what's inside this drink.

"If you're thinking that, it's poison, they I should've been dead already." He said, I quickly looked at him, in disbelief.

"No! It's just it's weird, for the past couple of years we haven't talked, or seen each other in such a long time and you're here, acting as if nothing happened." I said, looking down onto my glass.

"Actually, the last time that I was here, it was because of mother..." He said, and that grabbed my attention.

How? I didn't saw him that day, I was a literal mess back then, and he didn't even talk to me. I needed comfort back then, and it was Yeonjun hyung and Yeji noona who gave it to me, and not my older brother. Sure, I have a younger brother but at that time, he doesn't know those kind of stuff.

So, there was literally no use of having him to comfort me in my time of need. It was also the time, that I received the last letter from my Pen Pal. And I admit that literally crushed me, and all my hopes. I sent another letter to her, but, unlike what I was expecting, it didn't return to me, it had me hoping that maybe she was just joking, but, I was literally a kid back then.

I didn't knew much about the world, nor how evil and cold it can be and get. I was already in the abyss, when Yeonjun hyung and Yeji noona pulled me out of it, and snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Then, how come I didn't see you back then?" I asked him, looking at him.

"Father... forbade me to see you, he said you are doing fine, and if I came near you I may destroy your life." He said.

'What? Father said that?' I thought.

"Anyway, that's not the main reason we're here. It's because of that girl Ryujin." He started, which I looked at him.

"I'm allowing you to Court her, and I will not be in the way of your relationship." He said, and took a sip of his wine.

I was taken back because of what He said. And then, I began to blush, which is really weird, I quickly took a sip of the wine, and looked at him.

"I'm not done yet. So don't get yourself drunk, just yet." He said, and laughed.

I looked at him as if he was a crazy guy or maybe, I'm the crazy guy?

"I'm engage to somebody already Beom." He said, and that took me by surprise.

Somebody managed to get my brother's attention?! Who is it, I want to meet her! Nobody in every single kingdom got his attention, even I was starting to think he is interested in guys, but then, this girl got his attention. That's really amazing!

"Tell me who is it?! Come on, tell me!" I said, poking his sides.

"Fine fine... it's Choi Jisu, or in other words the First Princess of Asterin. She likes to be called Lia, because of English name, Julia." He said, and walked towards his office.

I just looked at him, while tilting my head. In, what's his doing? I saw him; he was putting down an empty glass on his table and turned around just to walk to me.

"Okay, let's go, you're a bit on the drunk side now..." He said, to which I quickly shook my head, meaning no.

"Whether you like it or not, I'll bring you to your bedroom." He said, and started to drag me away, from his office.

***

We already reached my bedroom. He quickly unlocked it, and went inside to lay me down on my bed. Once, I was tucked in my Bed, I quickly fell asleep, but I still heard something, come out from his mouth. But, I couldn't make it out.

Soobin's POV

Once, I completely tucked him in, his own bed. I quickly smiled, missing this kind of moments in my life. I was busy starring at his face.

'I really miss seeing him....' I thought.

"You really are stupid, huh? You make it look so obvious, you like the girl, Ryujin. Although you don't really know who she is, just yet. That is. I know there will be a time and place for that." I said to nobody in particular, and stood up and left the room.