Yunho PoV

«Do you want me to bring you something?»

«No, only... Come back soon...»

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"Sarangheo!"

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Those words often came back in my mind, by now I was only four days from my trip and I could return home from my Changmin.
From that boy I wanted, not only in my bed, but also in my heart and soul too.

In the end I was able to do it and those words are confirmed it.

"Are you studying? Are you thinking of me, Minnie?" I thought in on the bank of a small stream to let the horses rest and eat something.
He didn't want anything, but I couldn't resist getting him a bracelet of precious pearls that I saw in a well know stall and now I was watching it next to me, well package as a gift from a loved one to his beloved.

Because I want to announce to my mother on my return, that I wanted to make Changmin totally mine and not just a mere slave. I wanted him as a companion and not as an object, that boy with fawn eyes and also bring his family home.

I thought about how I had observed that bracelet and how the merchant called me, making me smile at the memory only, at the slow flow of that little stream of water.

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«Sir, we finished with our negotiations. We can go back to the village now.»

«Nae, but I'd like to take a look around here first. Don't you want to bring something for your wife?»

«Something? No, Sir, but thank you...»

«Take it and don't worry. It is a gift.»

I stretched out a bag of coins for him. It was little for that trip we made, but I knew he wanted to bring a thought to his family, to the woman he had taken with him for life. He took it, thanking me with eyes full of gratitude.

«You are indeed your father's son. Thank you, Sir.»

I hadn't gotten to know my father, because he died when I was still a child, no more than six years old.
By now I no longer knew what his face looked like, except through those paintings that time never caressed. But her warm smile stuck in my mind every time we were together when I came back from my long travels. Smile that I inherited, according to my mother.

I let him go and, once only, I began to walk and immerse myself in the streets of that country. It was the day of the market, where every cultured person put up for sale their own merchandise and not only them.

I loved to walk through those streets and meet the various villages that gathered in one place to offer others something produced by their kingdom.

«Love bracelet won't let you down! Hurry and buy the Pearls of the sea and you will see how your Lady will love you!» I was attracted by those words, while Changmin's words "No... Only come back soon..." But I couldn't and wouldn't come back with nothing for him and I approached the man, observing what he had to offer. I knew that the Legends were just legends, but those bracelets were really well made and were of quality, which I could see not only with my eyes, but also with the touch of my fingers: they were smooth and bright and, one in particular, attracted my attention: a bracelet with red beads like sapphire and small, like the wrist of my Changmin.

«Are you interested in the mermaid's blood?» The old merchant turned to me and brought me to observe his face adorned with a white beard and his little cheerful eyes. There were few rich merchants with that light in their eyes, a light that my father also had now that I think about it.

«It is fine and very... Bright.»

«It has a good story behind, do you know? It is said that these pearls were born from the blood of an ancient mermaid who always waited on a cliff for the man she loved, a human of our kingdom. Some says he is a fisherman, other say he is our ancient Lord. But still those pearls were from the continuous wounds that the young mermaid got every time she left the rock. The drop of her blood fell into the sea and the foam made them so, these beads that came to the mermaid with the hope that her lover can recognize them as her own and return to her. A sad, but good story, isn't it?»

«I would say... It is a pretty sad story.» I put down the bracelet. They really had a sad story. I didn't like it so much about and I would always go back to my Min.

«But you shouldn't think about the story behind it, but about its meaning and the power it has.» continued the merchant taking the bracelet.

«Whoever wears it will always be found and bound to the person who give it to him. A kind of pledge of love and a promise of marriage.»

«Marriage...?» I said, looking at that bracelet now in his hands.
During the trip I had through of it, thinking of Min.

«Oh, yes, dear. To a promise of marriage. If you have someone so close to your heart or who has kidnapped it, you could give it to them. Maybe he knows about the legend, too. Who knows?» He winked, his eyes barely marked by fine wrinkles and had even put it in a small packaging bag, handing it over to me.
At this point I could not refuse and I took it with a small bow of the head, taking a bag of coins from the bag to give to the merchant, but he stopped me.

«My salary will be to see your wife at the next market here. You don't owe me anything, take it as a gift of good luck to your life.» It was also the first time that someone had shown kindness away from money and at the mere thought of the good of others. It was strange to explain those various feelings that invaded my heart, while I was thanking Changmin again and I put the small bag embroidered with the bracelet, inside my bag, with only that promise that I would take Changmin to the next market to show the merchant, to let him know the person who had kidnapped my heart.

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I took the bag, getting up from the ground where I had sat after thinking about that episode and it was time to travel that short distance that separated me from my country and my Changmin.

I took back my steed and called back my traveling companion, getting us both back on the road. It was after a few hours that we arrived at the kingdom, so calm and silent in view of the clouds full of rain that threatened the sky. A divine fortune that has managed to enter the village, galloping perhaps too fast, unable to wait again to see his face.

The horse continued to run, like my heart just past the gates of my home that were opened after some lookouts noticed me.

«Min! Changmin, I'm here!» I began to shout, continuing to advance to the doors of the house, but not seeing anyone leave. It was unlikely that they had gone out or perhaps he was sleeping or studying and I gave a few moments, getting off the horse and holding that bag with his gift in my hand, waiting to see that door open and hear his voice.

But the seconds passed and so did the two minutes, I did not lead any response, so much so that I felt a strange feeling inside me, reaching the door to open it, but being anticipated by my mother's slave, Khyhyhyun.

His face was not at all reassuring, his eyes clear and empty, raised to my face, until he fell to the ground, prostrating himself at my feet.

«I ask your forgiveness, master! I have... I tried everything I could to stop them, but... But the lady, your mother... »

I travelled by hearing his words. My mother didn't go out to meet me either, as she used to do, and I didn't know what had happened to her.

No one warned me.

«Khyuhyun, get up. What happened? Where's my mother?» I was thinking that maybe she had been sick, there was no sign of robbers or maybe she had an accident in a carriage.

«Khyuhyun!»

He continued to soak and tremble, standing on the ground, so much so that I had to lift him by force, to know what had happened.

«Forgive me... Forgive me for not being able to stop them. Changmin... Changmin was taken away three days ago at the behest of the lady and her family from Jaejoong. I tried to stop them, but... But...» He cried again, begging for my forgiveness and trembling all the time.

I realized then that my mother was fine and that the cause was something else.
I dropped the little bag to run to my mother.

She couldn't have done this to me, she couldn't have given Changmin back to Jaejoong.

She couldn't have sent away the man I loved in my absence.