Hyewon found herself enjoying her time in the kitchen more than she expected.
She rolled the dough on the table, watching Ayeong as an example.
"Now you sprinkle a bit of flour," Ayeong demonstrates, taking a pinch of flour before powdering the dough, "This will make the dough less sticky and more malleable."
She nods her head. Hyewon never really got the chance to cook or bake anything. Her days were busy with training and studying, she didn't have time for anything else.
Hyewon hated to admit it, but maybe Yeonjun was right. Maybe she was making new friends.
Some people gave her nervous looks at her robes and her sword at her waist (not that she was going to use it, but it's better to stay safe than sorry), but other than that, they gave her a warm welcome. Seriously, it wasn't like she was going to chop their heads off, that privilege was strictly reserved for the prince. And her enemies on the battlefield, of course.
A woman, which Hyewon recognized as the head of the kitchen, Mrs. An, bursted into the kitchen, looking frantic. "Everyone!" she barks. "Places, the prince is here!"
Everyone scrambled into their designated areas, all chatter lost. The kitchen became silent, only the simmering of soup was heard.
Scowling, Hyewon rolled her eyes. The authority that was exerted just by his name disgusted her. Was everyone scared of him or something? Really, someone should put Nishimura in his place.
And how the hell did he find where she was? Did he put a tracker charm on her?
She was really pissed off now. All she wanted was a day of peace.
Hyewon gave a hard punch to the dough. Ah, it felt nice to unleash her irritation and fury, although she felt a tad bad for the innocent dough that did nothing to deserve her rage.
Nishimura entered the kitchen. He looked at his surroundings in distaste. Behind him was Yeonjun, who had immediately seen her, smiling sheepishly and giving her a small wave.
She poked the inside of her cheek with her tongue in annoyance at the sight of Prince Riki. Had this bratty prince never seen a kitchen? Or was he too 'important' to behold the sight of a humble roof and labor? He was disrupting the work that was going on and clearly, the workers seemed uncomfortable and anxious.
His eyes flash when they land on her. He claps his hands. "Everyone, you are excused," he orders, keeping his eyes on Hyewon. "I need to have a private conversation with Miss Cho, who seems incapable of following orders."
She bit back a retort. He was definitely trying to make a spectacle out of her. But no one said anything. Ayeong squeezed her hand reassuringly before backing out of the kitchen with the other helpers.
Now alone with only two people, Hyewon spoke. "Jun," she says evenly, "How was accompanying Prince Riki for a while?"
He scratches his nape. "It was fine," he replies hesitantly. His eyes read a different story. Don't make the prince angrier, they read.
The prince smiles icily. "Look what we have here. Decided to abandon your job on your first day, hm?"
His tone was filled with hostility. "I won't hesitate to report to your general about your doings. But if you come along now, you won't face any punishment," he says smoothly.
She growls. "You aren't the boss of me, Nishimura, as important as you are to the kingdom," she snaps, "I'm not going anywhere with you."
He smirks. "Who said I was asking?"
Prince Riki snapped his fingers. Tongues of fire climb her wrist before binding her hands into what seemed like handcuffs. Their touch was hot and wild, but not to the degree where her skin was burned.
"Don't even bother straining against them," he warns. "If you do, you may get a nasty burn."
Hyewon was tempted to douse it in water, it was easily in her capability to do so. However, General Kang had warned her not to, traitors could be lurking in every corner. Besides, the pleading look on Yeonjun's face made her relent and let go of her pride.
She lifts her head high. "Right. Okay, Your Majesty." She made sure to say it in a scathing, sarcastic tone.
He inclines his head at Yeonjun, "You may leave now."
Her friend hesitates before nodding. As he brushes past her, he whispers, "Be polite. I'll see you soon."
Then he walked out of the kitchen, leaving her with Riki.
"Not so proud are we now?" he asks smugly, gloating.
Hyewon bares her teeth. "Did you enjoy the cut I gave you yesterday? I can easily give you another one, if you want." She lifts her wrists, where the flames were licking her skin. "Are you so scared of me that you had to use handcuffs to restrain me?" she taunts.
He snorts. "Afraid of what? You?" he laughs.
"You have no idea what I'm capable of."
"Bluffing does not suit you, Cho."
"But being arrogant and spoiled suits you."
The prince glowers . "I could have your head on a stake," he muses. "Or perhaps flogged by a thousand whips."
She arches her eyebrow. "Try me, Nishimura. Try me. I'm not afraid of you."
"Then you're sorely a fool. A egomaniacal, prideful fool."
"I know you are, but what am I?"
His hand twitches. "You're lucky that the general chose you. Otherwise, I would've killed you by now."
Hyewon smiles sweetly. "Don't worry, the feeling's mutual." she replies, "Now are we going to get going or continue trading insults with each other? Your choice, Your Highness."
"Fine. Let's get going."
-
It was so boring.
The instructor, Teacher Hwan, seemed intent on making the lesson as least interesting as possible. He droned for what seemed like years on history, myths, and the deities. And to think she would have to endure this for another 30 minutes was starting to look like torture.
Hyewon leaned against the wall, playing with her now transformed knife. Holding it up, she briefly wondered if she could get away with murder but then quickly dismissed the thought.
She focuses on the prince, who had a smile and attentive look on his face. She rolls her eyes. How fake of him, to pretend to be polite when inside he was conceited, rude, proud, arrogant- she could go on forever, rattling all of the words that described him.
But a small part of Hyewon pitied him. Maybe he wasn't always like this. Pressure, stress, those kinds of things could do something to people, and to be the Crown Prince, he must've been under constant surveillance, for any weaknesses or mistakes. He was made to be perfect, no, he had to be perfect. She knew how it felt to an extent, to be pressured, criticized, berated on every mistake, but it could not compare to what he had experienced.
Look at you, thinking about your worst enemy as if he were actually a good person, her mind scoffs at her thoughts. Remember what he's done. Even if he was a 'good' person, that does not excuse his actions, Cho.
Sometimes, she hated how she could outreason herself. It made things a lot more complicated.
Hyewon shrugs. She could figure it out sometime later. Her views would be determined, one way or another, eventually, depending on Prince Riki's actions.
She sighs, strapping her weapon back to her waist. Her eyes roamed around the room, looking for something to do. She finds a lone sheet of paper and picks it up before ripping it into a square.
She folds it multiple times with careful precision. Hyewon had done this quite often. It was one of her fondest memories with her mother before everything had fallen apart.
At last, she holds it up to the air, examining her creation. It was a paper crane.
Its wings were outstretched as if in mid flight. It had no legs, only a pair of wings, a body, a neck, and a head.
Knowing that there were to be consequences if she was to be found out, Hyewon couldn't help herself and held the piece of origami in her palm. She whispers. "Fly."
The crane, as if it had come to life, shook its neck. It flapped its wings, first hesitantly before it grew to a rapid crescendo. She watches as the bird leaves her palm, gliding in the air. It remained airborne and disappeared when it swooped out of the room through an open window.
Hopefully, it would escape the guards' view.
She sighs. What else could she do to relieve herself of her boredom?
Just as she was contemplating, a rustle was heard from the window. Hyewon frowns before making her way to the window. She peers down, expecting it to be some stray animal.
To her surprise, a small, white fox with familiar red markings on its body appeared, pawing at the wall. It was no ordinary fox. It was a kitsune. A type of yokai. Her eyes widen in surprise. Hyewon had seen this particular fox before, she was sure of it.
It lifted its head, tilting its head to the royal garden. It barked before bolting.
She did whatever anyone would do in her place. She jumped through the window and chased it.
She could hear a yell fading into the background, but she didn't care. Her eyes stayed solely on the fox's figure.
Hyewon chased after it to the heart of the garden, where the empress's favorite flowers, the peony, were. Only then did the fox cease the pursuit.
Its beady, black eyes bore into her soul. Now with a clearer view of the creature, she takes note of a scar on one of its legs.
"Hello, Ryuto."
A cloud of mist covered her view of the fox before it dissolved in the air, revealing a tall boy around her age.
He grins mischievously. "Haven't changed at all, have you, Hyewon?"
He wore a simple white tunic and had shaggy, white hair streaked with red. Fox ears poked through his hair, twitching. Other than that, he could pass off for a human if not for a red marking on his forehead. Oh, and the fluffy, red tipped tail from... you know.
"As cocky as ever, Ryuto," she retorts. She glances around their surroundings. "How did you get past the gates?"
He winks. "I have my ways, beautiful."
Hyewon scowls. "Seriously, if the guards find you here, you'll be killed. No yokai is supposed to be on royal grounds."
Ryuto flirtily bats his eyes. "Aww, is the new tough guard of the prince concerned about an unimportant fox like me? I'm flattered! What happened to the cold Hyewon I knew?" He pokes her arm.
Cue an eye roll. She grunts. "Well after all the trouble I had to go through saving you and healing your leg, I wouldn't want my efforts to go to waste, obviously."
Hyewon had first met the kitsune 3 years ago before she moved to the palace. Behind her home was the woods and she had once ventured in it with Yeonjun. They had stumbled upon the fox, who had bathed in his own blood, shot in the leg by a hunter. Hyewon had brought him home and taken care of him, only to find out that he was a kitsune, a creature many had warned were tricksters. He had appeared a few times over the years but the last time she had seen him was 7 months ago.
"Wow, you actually care whether or not I die!" Ryuto claps his hands, delighted, "Character development, indeed!"
"Quit the talk. Why are you here?" She demands, knowing fully well that his kind always had a motive behind their actions. Kitsunes, after all, were known to be sly, cunning creatures.
All silliness disappeared. He takes a step closer. "I am forever in your debt after that day..." he trails off, "I owe you one, Hyewon. If you hadn't come, I would've been dead by now."
She pauses thoughtfully. "It's fine." Hyewon waves her hand. "I release you from your debt or whatever. Blah blah blah. Boom. Okay, you're free to go now."
Ryuto shakes his head. "In the woods near the border," he starts, "I found soldiers from the West. I believe they are scouting the area before launching an attack on the palace."
"The West?" she scoffs. "The audacity."
His tail swishes. "I overheard their conversation. Sensitive ears, I suppose. At any rate, expect an attack soon. They talked about kidnapping the prince as hostage so that the emperor would exchange the kingdom for his son. I don't think it has reached their ears that you're his personal guard, but I'd strongly advise you to keep alert and stay with him at all times. Moreover, don't reveal your abilities, it could serve as a secret weapon."
"Alright," Hyewon breathes. So the West was planning something after all. She glances skeptically at the fox boy. "How do I know that the soldiers didn't plant the information to trick us into increasing security for the prince and lowering defenses for the kingdom? You could also be lying to me."
Ryuto gives her a look. "Firstly, what is there for me to gain by lying? Secondly, I am honor-bound to fulfill my debt. My kind is known for causing mischief and trouble, but we are not without a sense of justice. Besides, the soldiers were quite hush-hush on the topic, I don't think they deliberately said it so that more people will defend the palace." he logically points out. "You can trust me, Hyewon," he says softly. "I'm a friend."
The ravenette sighs. "Very well, I will report it to the general tomorrow morning."
He nods. "I'll keep a lookout for anything else."
She hesitates. "Thank you, Ryuto."
The kitsune smiles. "No problem. I'll see you very soon." he promises. His ears twitch again. Ryuto looks at her smugly. "Seems like your prince is here."
And with a puff of smoke, he morphs back into his fox form and scampers away.
Whirling around, Hyewon finds herself face to face with Prince Riki.
"Found a yokai, didn't you?" he asks, tilting his head slightly. "What were you doing talking with a fox?"
"Mind your own business," she snaps. "You have no right to interfere with mine."
He smirks, his hand on his sword. "I believe you forgot that no yokai is allowed on royal territory. I could kill your kitsune friend. Or you," he muses. "How would you like that?"
"I would like to see you try, Nishimura." she challenges. "I'm not afraid of death. Are you?"
With one hand, he lifts her chin, caressing it. His touch may have been gentle, but it was cold with a hint of malice. Hyewon stares at him with defiant eyes, slapping his hand away. She hisses. "Don't touch me."
He leans closer, whispering in her ear, "Mark my words, Cho. I'll find out your dirty secret one day and that day will be your downfall."
A/N: hope this chapter was worth it, i wrote part of it on the car and rn im in a korean bbq place C: and oh, happy fourth of july to those who live in the US!