A Feeble Light, A Cherish (1/1)

A knock on the door was heard once again before they were able to proceed with their conversation. Geum Hwa hid behind the closet and had told her one thing before opening the door. “Chaerin, whatever happens, you must not tell anybody of our meeting. I am telling you that the gravity of what you are about to know is way beyond what you can ever even expect. There are people out there who would do everything and anything to keep the truth hidden from anybody that they consider as a possible threat, and seeing as how you are the only one the King truly cares for, you are that one thing that could possibly stand in their way. However I am determined to let you know about this so that you can sort out where you’re loyalty lies, and possibly what your decision towards the King may be in the end.” She told me as quick and clear as she possibly could as she held my hands tight in hers. “Answer the door and leave me here, I will be able to escape by myself. What I want you to do is meet me in the old servants’ chamber at the very top of this palace’s tower at 12 midnight. The King will not be able to come back to his room for the night and will return tomorrow in the afternoon because of official trading reasons with the east. He may need you for the day but I am sure he will avoid bringing you anywhere out of the Kingdom to see rough business. Keep your movements discrete and never let anyone see you wandering around the palace at night. Be careful my child, till then, we shall meet, may the heavens guide your way.” She finally uttered as she hid herself and signalled for me to open the door. As I did, it happened to be one of the King’s advisor’s, “My lady, the King has instructed me to check on you and if you have already prepared. If you are done, he has also instructed me to lead you to his office immediately.” “Y-yes, I am done. We shall go.” She quickly stated not wanting anyone else to stay longer in the room. Advisors were very keen and observant in every way possible. She would not want the only key to uncover what is needed to be uncovered, be found out by anyone. Though she had always detested the King, a part of her was sick and tired of being kept in the dark. Now that she knows that there really is something behind this, she wanted to know that exact truth. Her attention was caught by the woman’s words; if she indeed is not lying then she wanted to know why, why it had all come to this. What might be the King’s grave secret? She wanted to know him, inside out, the same manner he knows her very being –every strand of her hair, every slight twitch of her body, everything. As she reached the King’s office she saw him handling piles and piles of papers. His forehead was creased and his eyes seemed so worn out even though it was still very early in the morning. She feebly knocked but that was enough to get his attention as he lifted his gaze up to meet hers. If one was observant enough they could have noticed the change in his eyes that seemingly softened at the sight of her, but as quick as it had come, it faded as he shifted his gaze back to the papers and nodded once, signalling her to come in. A seat was already prepared for her at his side as she proceeded there without another word and sat beside him. Like how her everyday has been, she just sat there waiting for any orders or possible things he might need while he continued with his papers. However, like what happened this morning, the feeling of slowly about to uncover something that has been kept from her and something she wasn’t supposed to know, took over her. Though his office was quite dark, the sun’s light that passed through the windows seemed to be just enough to illuminate half of the room. She took a moment to close her eyes, release a quiet sigh, and bask in that light before opening her eyes to see the side of his face. Only one thought had crossed her mind. He truly is beautiful. The way his blond hair straightened up in a seemingly messy and yet clean manner, the way the sun’s light rested on his unblemished skin, his deep eyes that seemed to tell a thousand of stories and yet none of them was actually told, every part and contour of his face screamed of beauty and masculinity combined. All this added to the fact that his eyes showed that he was really immersed with the palace’s affairs, considered every matter critically, and had taken his job seriously made him the exact definition of what something close to perfection might have physically looked like. As she continued to stare at him, a hint of longing slowly became evident in her eyes. He used to be kind and loving to her before, she used to bask in his caring affection and genuinely smile at him whenever he was around. What could have possibly triggered him to be vigilant and somehow distant to her in terms of his true feelings? What was the story behind this seemingly perfect and yet troubled face? What was his secret? It was as if he carried a burden he refused to share with anybody or perhaps a memory that made him completely lock his world towards others. She wanted to know him, she wanted to know everything about him and what could have troubled him. What could have led him to be this way? Maybe she did something wrong, maybe it was something she did that reopened an unwanted memory in him or maybe awakened some kind of fear in his heart. She wanted to figure all of this out and maybe... just maybe, if she discovers this, she could find a way to have the old him back or at least get the man he truly is to emerge and open up to her. People who had served in the palace for a long time had been aware that the King was never that emotional, kind, gracious, and giving, which was why they were all in a shock when they found the young King smile at the very sight of her. She seemed to be able to bring out the humanity in him. He was cold, ruthless, and had always been serious and stoic with everything, which had changed once she came but then it didn’t last long as he came back to who he was before he met her all of a sudden. After that one night he just went back to how he usually was but it seemed worse whenever he was around her. His possessiveness could literally engulf the soul in her body. He just seemed different. Maybe he has always been different. Maybe the kindness was just a facade but still she wanted to know why, why would he do that to her of all people, why her? What was really wrong with him? She wanted to know the real him. She wanted to know who Kwon Jiyong really is and not him as a King but him as a man. She wanted to know a lot of things about him. She wanted to know what he truly felt about her and what she was to him, if ever she meant anything to him at all. He always seemed so close to her and yet so far at the same time and she hated that feeling. In all honesty though she loathed him, he was all she ever had. She had no family left, no one else in her life but him and him alone. As she was deep in her thought she couldn’t help but get a very sad and solemn feeling from the reflection of his eyes. She had seen this countless of times and had always wondered why they looked so distant and distressed.  She continued to gaze at the man before her until he suddenly spoke which caught her by surprise. “May I know why you have been staring at me for the past hour now?” “H-h-huh?” she replied back in a daze. He dropped the papers and the pen he was holding and removed his reading glasses. He shifted to her direction, moved his chair to lean near the wall dividing the window, and looked back at her with questioning eyes. “Why are you looking at me that way? Is there something you would like to say?” He asked her once again. She fidgeted in her seat and looked everywhere else aside from him and thought hard of what to reason out. “N-no-nothing.” She meekly replied as she looked down at her hands that were uncomfortably lying on her lap, brushing her clothes nervously. She was embarrassed because of the fact that she was obviously caught staring at him for a long period of time. The embarrassment brought heat to the sides of her face as she knew he was still looking at her intently. “Come here.” He suddenly said out of the blue. It was one simple statement, not a request more like a subtle command, but it stated what he had wanted as of the moment, and so all she could do was comply. She hesitantly walked over to where he was seated and once she was close enough to him, he yanked her arm to bring her closer making her sit on his lap. She was straddling his waist as both her legs rested on both sides of his hips. He pulled her down to completely sit on him as his next words took her by surprise. “Kiss me.” He once again stated in a plain manner that told her that he was far from playing with her. He never did anyway and his eyes were serious. “I’m tired, kiss me.” He repeated his previous words and had somehow added a reason though she never really did ask. She always did as she was told, not wanting to make him wait further and make him angry at her. It was the first time she ever initiated the kiss; it was the first time he ever told her to be the one to kiss his lips. It had always been him who made the first move; it was never her to begin with. Not knowing what to do, as it was the very first time she was going to do such a thing, she brought her slightly trembling fingers up towards the lower part of his face, just below his cheeks, enough for her to hold on to him as she brought her face closer, gradually closing her eyes, and ever so slowly laying her lips on his, as she indeed kissed him. As their lips parted, it was as if they were both in a trance as the light that shined through the window, was only able to illumine both sides of the room except where they were as a huge pillar-like wall that separated the two large windows prevented the light from directly hitting them. But though that was the case, it seemed as if, though they were in the darkness or hidden in a dark spot of the room, there was still light that had surrounded them and it was enough for them to see each other clearly. As she looked at his eyes she unintentionally uttered words that seemed to somehow come from a deep part of her heart that was hidden and unknown to even her own self, “Why are you so sad? What’s wrong? What went wrong? Tell me, I’m here. I won’t leave you.” His eyes blinked a few times as he was taken aback by her words. She felt weird; she didn’t know why she felt like saying those words. She had always hated him, often times she thought that if she was given a chance she'd leave him without a second thought but what was happening now was beyond her control, her actions, her words, she didn't know what went over her to suddenly make her say these things. Her eyes felt tired that a strong urge flowed within her to rest her forehead against his, and as if it was on cue, she really did. She didn’t know what took over her body, she didn’t know why she was being like this, all she knew was that his eyes seemed to be screaming out to her, showing her a pain more excruciating than she could ever imagine and pleading for her to get him out of it. She bit her bottom lip, scared of what he would say or do to her because of her impulsive words but to her surprise, as she looked back at his eyes once again; she saw something glistening. What looked like tears seemed to have formed at the supposedly cold and ruthless ruler’s eyes. He looked straight at her and those very eyes that seemed as if it was pleading and begging for her to save him showed an unexplainable fear, he was scared, scared of something she didn’t know about. His lips quivered as he brought one hand up to cover her eyes and as he did, he leaned in once again to kiss her slowly with so much passion that she felt hazy and lightheaded. She didn’t know why he covered her eyes but she felt too lost in his kiss to care, though a part of her still felt anxious and worried. It was the very first time she had ever felt this way towards the King, the very first time she had ever felt this way towards anyone. The feeling was foreign to her and she didn't know why but for the first time her heart shook for him. She felt his pain. Whatever was the cause, she had no idea but she was determined to find out. As he tightened his hold on her waist, leaving no space in between their bodies and pressing his own against hers, she found herself holding on to him tightly as well as she hugged him back. She felt his heart beating from their close encounter and it seemed to have synchronized with hers. However what she didn’t see was that the moment he brought up his hand to cover her eyes and closed his own, passionately kissing her afterwards, tears fell down the ruler’s face. Tears that he didn't want her to see. That morning she saw a different person, she saw a feeble light, she saw another side of him, she was able to witness for the first time the vulnerable man that he was. She saw a part of him, she never thought he had. And this had strengthened her resolve; she was going to figure out what was behind all this. She was going to know the truth and nothing but the truth. She was going to find out not who the King is, but who Kwon Jiyong truly is. She knew that he'd change afterwards. That he'd go back to his usual self again and be the cold person that he usually is. And so for now, she had willed herself to throw all thoughts and savor this one moment, this new sensation he made her feel, this unexaplainable emotion that he filled her up with. All with just one special moment, a different kind of bond she was sure... she will never forget.  _____________________ This isn't the part two from the 4th chapter which is entitled The Key to Pandora's Box pt. 1. Well part two will come next chapter after this but I just want to let you see a glimpse of something different I guess. I just felt like writing this one before opening up a few secrets in the story so what do you think? Btw sorry for the long time I haven't updated I'm qutie busy but everyone is so I guess unless this is the only thing I have to do in life then only then will I be able to update every single day or maybe even thrice or four times a day haha>< anyway if there are things you don't understand feel free to ask thank you again for those who commented I gave replies to a few but I couldn't give replies to all. I will try but I don't promise anything. And so chow for now:)