[Arthdal Chronicles] Fight for freedom

CHAPTER 24: The rise of Asa Sin's descendant begins.

Tanya had woken up early, in fact, she had not really slept, she had thought a lot about what she was going to do that day. After her maids had come to prepare her, she went out. She was supposed to meet MuMyungjin for the usual lessons she gave her about the Gods and customs of Arthdal but she found herself being distracted during her lesson, she had only one thing in her mind: her plan to sooth Saya. She couldn't let him think she wasn't on her side anymore, he would be more dangerous if he was on his guard, that was why she needed to make him lower his guard, completely. He wanted her to be his but he would become hers.

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At lunch time, she went back to her office. The table was set as she had asked, now, she only had to wait for her guest to come. 

While waiting for him, she passed nervously back and forth in the room until a knock was finally heard. 

With a head sign, she gave Yangcha the order to open the door and so he let the Prince enter.

"Niruha," Saya respectfully greeted her.

She was about to say something but he didn't give her the time to recite what she had practiced.

"Why is he here?" he asked as he looked at Yangcha who, after having closed the door behind him, had resumed his place, guarding the Priestess from inside the room, "you don't trust me enough to stay alone with me?"

"No, Saya," Tanya said with a calm voice, "it's not like that at all," she continued before she ordered Yangcha to wait outside and so the warrior left. She needed Saya to think she truly trusted him, that wasn't the case though, she had ordered her bodyguard to be attentive and to let the door slightly open in case something was to happen, he had to intervene only if she asked for it or if he felt like her life was threatened. "I know you will never hurt me," Tanya added.

"Do you?" he asked with a smirk, it didn't seem like it was the case the day before.

"Yes, we are on the same side, aren't we?" 

"Of course," he said before he approached her, "as long as you don't keep secrets from me anymore. Don't ever lie to me again, Tanya," he continued as he stroked her cheek with his thumb.

To his surprise, she didn't step back and accepted his touch, he felt his heart beating faster when she smiled at him and put her hand on his cheek as she nodded in understanding.

She had slapped that cheek the day before, she didn't regret it but she had thought a lot about it and she didn't think being angry at Saya was the best way to handle him, she needed to do the exact opposite, she needed to sooth him, completely, and to do so she would give him what he desperately wanted: the affection he had been deprived of for so many years. She was already in his heart, everyone around her had told her that, but she would entirely own his heart and so his loyalty. She wasn't like Tagon, she didn't want to make people stay by her side because of the fear he inspired them, she would make them stay because of the love they would feel for her and she would use that love to protect those she cared about. 

"I am sorry about yesterday," she said with a soft voice, "will you forgive me?"

The way she was looking at him confused him, and he took a step back before he went to the table that had been set, "I told you I already forgave you, about that, and the lies too," he replied in a low voice.