unfortunate. | 연준 √

thirteen

"I will endure tomorrow for you only."
- TWICE, "BEHIND THE MASK"

"Wasn't he forbidden to leave the palace!?"

"He went to look for me. I'm afraid he's gotten ambushed," I respond to the three princes and Seungwan- so we all pick up our pace. "Let's just split up. We're all great at sword fighting-"

"But you're injured," Chanyeol stresses, stopping all of us as we just about enter the outskirts of Joseon. "You can't just fight on your own. If you find Yeonjun, you both could get into some serious trouble-"

Seungcheol hits Chanyeol's chest to stop him from talking, his eyes dragging to Seungcheol's. "Don't worry about her, hyung. She fought with me before and took most of them down." He explains, looking at me with a smile on his face. "Don't stress. Yeonjun will be fine. Let's all split up as Youra suggested."

I nod, Chanyeol finally sighing to agree. We all split up, and as if it was god's luck, Yeonjun is wandering, hearing him call out to me. "Youra?! Where are you!?" I chuckle at his words and his stupidity. He went out of the palace just to find me... that's kind of him. As I watch him walk around from afar, I know he's safe under my guard. So, I follow him behind slowly. 

"They'd use me and ask me everyday to bestow more of the clouds' tears on their land and townspeople. They don't use you like that, do they?"

No, they don't. I wish I could be more sincere about their actions, but when I feel like I'm being used, it's a feeling so confusing. Having my fate entangled with Yeonjun meant there was more to this "deity" scam I was playing off with them. Let's gather all the information about me and start from there. What have I heard since the time I got here and up until now?

Well, Ho Seok and Seungwan have called me a princess. Sana is envious of my efforts that never seem wasted. However, what efforts have I made? This could lead to something even bigger. Ah, the Daegun and Wangseja switch up as well. That one... well, I don't have enough proof to make enough assumptions. That problem will be on-hold.

So, it seems like Sana, Ho Seok, and Seungwan know something. The princes seem to know nothing about me, which means Sana- who seems to know nothing about my present "2020" self- has gathered intel about me. Ho Seok and Seungwan are practically historians, must I mention quest-givers too, which I understand concludes that they know my past before my present and future.

And me?

I know nothing. 

Absolutely nothing.

Finally, Yeonjun makes a u-turn at a dead end, pouting as he swivels around. However, it immediately fades when he matches gazes with me, beaming into a grin before he runs over. "You were following me? You were so silent!"

"Well, I just wanted you to worry just a bit more," I joke, making him roll his eyes. "I'm glad you're safe. However-"

I hit him on the side of his head- immediately regretting it after he hisses and holds the spot with a pout. Nevertheless, I will stay strong. "You're not supposed to be leaving the palace, remember? Why don't you ever listen?"

"I just wanted you to be safe," He frowns, whispering his words. "I was worried you'd get ambushed like before, and I didn't want you to get hurt."

"Why?"

"What do you mean, why!?" He gasps, shaking his head. "Because I'm afraid you'll get shot again and you won't be safe-"

"Why don't you want me to get hurt?" I ask, concerned. 

"I- I don't want anyone to get hurt! Especially you. You're still a traveler and I don't want them to find you if you ever go abroad Joseon-"

"Or is it because I blessed your land with rain, supposedly," I breathe out, my eyes flickering from him to the floor. "And you want me to live so I can keep blessing your people."

"W-What gave you that assumption...?" His stammer surprises both of us, and I see the fear in his eyes when I notice it. Whether it is a misunderstanding or not, I was not in the mood for it. Call me foolish, but I'm sick of it. I turn around and walk away from him, hearing him calling out to me. I ignore it, but his hand reaches mine, swiveling me around to face his frantic expression. "Y-Youra, please, believe me, I didn't mean it that way. I appreciate you not only as a deity but-"

"You could've cut out the deity part, Yeonjun," I utter, sarcastically chuckling as I pull my hand away. "Please... just go back to the palace. Don't worry about me."

"Youra-"

"Leave her alone, Yeonjun," Seungwan has found her way to us, crossing her arms. "It's okay. Just go back to the palace, you'll find your brothers on the way." Yeonjun sighs, gazing at me once more in the eyes before he frowns, his words coming out in a soft blur:

"You were more than just a deity to me."

Then he's walking past Seungwan and me in a slump, gripping his sword as he trudges away. Seung-wan's eyes finally reach mine, strolling over to me. "What happened?"

"I just don't think... that he's treating me like his friend, you know?" I sigh, leaning back on the rocks behind me. "He was too kind to me... like he was trying to coax me into giving him things or-"

"Can't people show off their kindness nowadays?" Seungwan whispers, shaking her head. "I know you come from a time that probably doesn't have respect as we do, but I can assure you here, we will let you know if we feel a certain way- and I can assure you as someone who's served for the Choi's for a long time- he doesn't fool with feelings. Yeonjun is very lovely and loves people with so much care."

"So please, don't break his heart like this." She utters, smiling before bowing, strolling away from me. However, she stops short, turning back around to me. "I know you don't mean to Youra, but sometimes, we must endure life... for the people who need it most." Then, she leaves. So, I look around to admire the beautiful scenery that defines me. I take a seat on the rock that I was once leaning on, seeing the beautiful waterfalls and the fish that swim in it.

"Oh, you're here?" Eunwoo speaks, grabbing my attention as I turn to him. I nod, sighing. I gaze away from him- and back at the fish that swim freely in the water. Eunwoo takes a seat next to me, finding my gaze. "I heard what you and Yeonjun were talking about."

"So what, are you going to scold me?"

"What? Of course not," Eunwoo chuckles, giving me the chance to look over at him, we meet eyes, and I simply roll mine. "I think it's okay to have a few misunderstandings. Trust is not always the most loyal word in the book."

"It's extremely hard to trust someone, and because you were given some type of "power" or whatnot, you believe that everyone's kindness towards you is not because they like you, but because they want you to give them rain, right?"

I nod, making him smile. "Well, as a prince myself, I can reassure you we are nothing like you perceive us to be," He responds kindly, standing up. "So please, trust a bit more."

I look up at him, and I see the beautiful glimmer in his sincere eyes. So I nod a bit, looking back down at the water. "Would you like to head back to the palace together?"

"I'll head back in a bit, I just need some time to myself," I explain, making him smile before he greets me goodbye, and strolls off by himself. Finally, I'm alone-

and the thoughts start to pile in.