୨⎯ Sat by the river and it made my complete ⎯୧

"DO I REALLY NEED TO DO THIS AGAIN?" Heo Ari asked, as she allowed Kim Do joo to fix her white and pink hanbok. The older woman pated down the silky material making sure there weren't any wrinkles or lints on the delicate fabric. Heo Ari scrunched her nose, lifting one of her hands to touch her hair which was currently braided in a tight weird hairstyle that felt odd in comparison to the hairstyles she was accustom to wearing.

"You have asked the same thing each time and each time my response stays the same." Kim Do joo slapped Heo Ari's hand away from her hair. "Stop that! You're going to ruin my work."

A groan left Heo Ari's mouth as she stretch her neck. "It's too tight! I can already feel a headache coming." Her whining fell on deaf ears as Kim Do joo rolled her eyes, not giving in to the girls antics.

"You're starting to sound like Jang Uk. Always complaining instead of being thankful."

"I would act thankful when I have something to actually be thankful for. My grandfather should give up. This is never going to work." She sighed, watching Kim Do joo grab one of the most elegant hair pins she owned before starting to put it in her hair. "Whose the lucky guy, anyways?"

Kim Do joo gave her a sympathetic smile. "I'm afraid your suitor does not want to reveal that information. Only master Heo knows."

Heo Ari raised her brows, folding her arms over her chest. "He wants to be dramatic I see. It's okay. I can give him dramatic if that's what he wants."

Hearing the tone in Ari's voice, the older woman stopped what she was doing to give the girl, who she considered as her own daughter, a pointed look. "Dramatic?! No uh. You've got to stop that. You will end up alone if you keep scaring away every man that crosses your path."

The scolding words went through one ear and left through the other as Heo Ari washed the words away with a laugh. "Oh come on, It's too fun. What do you think I should be today? A clingy obsessed girl? The depressed one who won't stop crying because she doesn't want to die? The one who won't stop eating? Or just act like I'm out of my mind?"

"Heo Ari!" Kim Do joo hit her shoulder.

"Depressed one it is."

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"I need you to be on your best behavior Ari. This suitor is well known and with a very high reputation. Higher than the others. It's important for you to leave a good impression." Master Heo explained sternly while walking beside the girl. The man was confused as to why the crown Prince decided to keep his identity a secret but he wouldn't question it. He could only hope his granddaughter wouldn't blow away her opportunity of becoming the Crown Prince's wife.

Heo Ari looked at her grandfather curiously. First, the guy wants to keep his identity a secret and now her grandfather is saying he's of high reputation?

Who was this man?

"Can't you just tell me who it is?" The question left her lips before she could stop herself. She wasn't expecting an answer but maybe if she tried hard enough her grandfather would pity her and end up spilling the beans. She though the situation was ridiculous. To go to the extent of being blindfolded so she wouldn't recognize where she was, was something dramatic if you asked her.

"No! And it does not matter." Master Heo waved his hand dismissively almost slapping Heo Ari in the process making the girl give him an incredulous look which he ignored.

"Why?!"

The older man ignored her question once again something he liked to frequently do when it benefited him. "We're here." He turned to her placing his hands on her shoulder. "Behave and make me proud." With swift kiss to her forehead he left, leaving Heo Ari to stare after him. A sigh left her lips before turning back around and starting to walk through a small bridge which led to a small terrace above the water. The closer she got she could see a table with variety of foods and a man sitting in front of it.

Once Go Won noticed her presence he stood up and bowed making Heo Ari return the gesture. The man walked towards her and pushed the chair for Ari to sit. Deciding to begin with a good impression, she smiled at him before proceeding to accept his offer and sit down. Heo Ari wasn't the type to beat around the bush so she opted on breaking the silence before it grew awkward. Plus she wanted to hear his response and have a little insight of his personality before deciding wether to push with her plan.

Every single one of her past dates with her suitors were ruined by her. And she was proud of it. Heo Ari was not fond of the idea of having to marry someone she didn't know or liked and she would do everything and anything in her power to prevent herself from ending in a ceremonial dress with people who she had never seen in her life congratulating her for her marriage. Just the thought alone made shivers run down her spine.

"My grandfather said you wanted to keep your identity a secret. May I know why?" The man didn't look phased by the question in fact he looked like he had been expecting it.

"I don't want to be treated differently because of my high reputation. It's quite common for people to act differently once they know who I am. Not that I blame them. I'm excellent in everything I do and I never lose. A man like me deserves a lot of respect but in this case a little of normality wouldn't be so bad." He poured himself a cup of tea before offering some to Ari which she accepted. From the few words he spoke, Heo Ari could tell he had a big ego.

A lot higher than the bun his hair was in at the moment.

The only man she could tolerate with a high ego was Jang Wook and even then she always used every chance to humble him. High ego or not. Heo Ari knew she needed to end this date as fast as she could. A long date had a bigger chance of becoming a second date and she wouldn't risk that.

Let's get this party started.

Heo Ari coughed, clearing her throat before taking a sip of her tea. Sniffing a bit she cleared her throat once again. "I know better than anyone what it feels to be treated differently. I hate it. They treat me like I'm some fragile thing that's going to break." She sniffed pushing fake tears to fall from her eyes. "All because I'm sick! Because my stupid heart doesn't work correctly! I-I hate it so much! Every living day-it-it's a struggle for me to get up and live my day as if nothing is wrong!"

At this point, tears were streaming down her face with a few fake hiccups here and there to make her act more realistic.

The uglier I cry, the better.

A wail left her lips which caused Go Won to stare at her wide eyed, clearly not expecting his words to lead into this outcome. He slightly flinched as another cry left her lips. Looking around awkwardly he grabbed a small towel that laid on the table and passed it to Ari who took it and wiped her nose as loud as she could before passing it back to Go Won who stared at the piece of fabric in disgust before throwing it on the spot beside him on the floor.

Go Won scanned his head for words to say which wouldn't trigger the girl more. "I'm-i'm sorry you feel that way. Truly. I see my problems do not even compare to yours. Just let it all out."

Heo Ari stopped her crying to look up at him in slight shock. This act was meant to scare him away. Instead he was having the opposite reaction of what she expected. Most men had told her to stop crying and that it wasn't that big of deal or even worse just straight up left. But here this mystery man was telling her to let it out.

Let's try something else then.

Wiping away her tears as if nothing had happened Heo Ari smiled, her grin widened more when she saw the look of confusing on his face before reaching for the bowl of fruit which was placed on the middle of the table. Grabbing a few grapes she threw a handful of them in her mouth making sure her mouth was full as she spoke. "I'm really hungry. Are you hungry? Do you want some?"

She pushed the bowl of fruit towards him but Go Won decline making the girl shrugged nonchalantly. "More for me then." She stuffed her mouth with more fruit enjoying the look of discomfort and slight disgust covering the man's features.

Go Won could only stare as she ate the whole bowl of fruit before moving on to the plate full of honey biscuits. She ate some of them before grabbing the plate and emptying the contents inside the pocket of her hanbok. Go Won leaned forward on the table his eyebrows furrowed as he watched her store away the honey biscuits. "What are you doing?"

Heo Ari looked up at him and smiled innocently. "Oh, it's just my best friend loves this honey biscuits."

Go Won slowly nodded, leaning back against his chair before taking a sip of his tea. His calculating eyes watching Ari's every move. He had to say he had never met anyone who acted the way she was doing at a date. Not only that but it was concerning the way she went from full on crying to eating everything in her path. It was strange but he had to say it was slightly amusing to witness. In all honesty, this was the most fun he had ever had on a date.

"So, what are some of your interests?" The question made Heo Ari momentarily pause. The unexpected question had catch her off guard but she recovered and returned to her munching before it became obvious. For a moment she thought about responding with a genuine answer but if she did that it would only prolong the so called date.

Last and final step.

"Not much. Most of my time I spend it alone. It can become quite boring." She shrugged before forcing a grin on her lips as she looked up from the cup of tea. "But lately, I haven't been alone. At least not mentally."

Go Won raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean."

Heo Ari laughed hysterically, leaning her body over the table as she whispered. "I've been hearing this voices in my head. They uh like to keep me company. They pretty much tell me what to do- what?!" She paused acting as if she was hearing something as she nodded to herself before laughing again. "Don't say that! It would hurt his ego!"

"Are you talking about me?" Go Won gulped, starting to feel weirded out by the situation. Maybe her behavior wasn't amusing after all.

"Yes."

The thought of voices in her head speaking about him made him shift in his seat uncomfortably. He looked around awkwardly before clearing his throat. "What did they say?"

"They're laughing at your hair. They think it's weird and that you're wearing too much make up." Heo Ari could almost laugh at the expression that took over the man's face once the words left her mouth. It was clear she was starting to get to him. She just needed a little push and she would be out of this date as fast as lightning.

Clenching his jaw, Go Won said, "Well, tell your stupid voices t-that at least.... at least I-" He scanned his mind trying to think of an insult but nothing really came to mind. "At least I have control of my actions and have a body to call my own!"

Heo Ari's mouth hanged open her expression dropping along with her voice. "I don't think you should've said that. They were laughing but now they aren't. That's not a good signal." She watched the man visibly gulp, a sign he was afraid by her words. It was perfect. She had him right where she wanted him.

Just one more step and we're done for today.

The Heo girl started murmuring incoherent stuff under her breath, shaking her head rapidly. "No! Don't make me do it!"

Go Won could hear his heart drop at her words. "Do what?!" The man would never admit it out loud but he was hella scared. He had fought with many men before, even soul shifters but never in his life had he been so shaken up about something. This was meant to be just another date not become a witness of a demon possession.

Heo Ari screamed, abruptly standing from her chair causing the wooden piece to fall to the floor with a loud thud. "I'm sorry! They're forcing me to do it!" Grabbing the tea cup that was still half way full she spilled the contents over the man's jeogori (jacket).

Immediately, Go won stood up wincing as he felt the hot liquid spread further on the delicate fabric of his clothes. He looked around for something to wipe himself and without thinking he grabbed the towel from the floor before starting to wipe his jeogori. Then he started gagging once he remembered Heo Ari had wiped her nose with that same towel that now he had spread all of its disgusting contents on his already dirty clothes.

"Guards! Get this woman out of here!" As fast as the words left his mouth, a group of guards came running towards the table. The group of men paused at the scene in front of them not knowing if they should follow along with the Prince's orders.

"What are you looking at?! I said take her out of here! I don't want to see this woman's face ever again!" Go Won yelled, causing the guards to jump into action and wrap their arms around Heo Ari's as they started dragging her away.

The Heo girl struggled against their hold deciding to put on a final show. "No! The date is still not over! This isn't my fault they made me do it!" Her words were ignored so she stopped trashing around and fell limp in the guards grasp. allowing them to take her away from the mysterious man with no identity.

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HII!!

It's been so long since I last updated this story I'm so sorry. I promise I would try to be more active now. This was a very chaotic chapter but very fun to write. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it and don't worry cause next chapter would have Jang Wook content.

Also how do you guys think Heo Ari's reaction would be once she finds out she just acted insane in front of the Crown Prince?