Secrets Of The Heart

CHAPTER FIVE

                    (06/02/23)
A/N - ngl, the suspense was killing me too 😅, so I've produced what will satiate us 😇

When it was finally daytime, the King woke up to the sounds of people screaming, along with a pungent smell which invaded his nostrils

The Queen his wife, entered into his room with a troubled expression and breathlessly said,

"My King something absolutely disgusting had taken place when we were asleep!"

The King didn't respond and just went to where the repulsive odour was being emitted from

His eyes widened when he saw his 1000 soldiers lay lifelessly covered in their blood, emitting an odour similar to rotten food(?)

"Wh-who did this?"
The King choked out as he thought of suspects

"We don't know, but we are all investigating"
The Queen said as she avoided looking at the bloody mess in front of her

The King nodded and his mind continuously showed him different suspects, till it settled on one, causing his eyes to darken and grit his teeth. He suddenly looked at Jiho who got taken aback by his scary look and said,

"Go and find Han Aera now!"

Jiho nodded and sprinted daring not to ask any further questions which would for sure annoy the King.

......

Surin was worriedly pacing around in the front yard, wringing her fingers and occasionally biting her fingernails.

When Jiho reached there, he was a sweaty, breathless mess and knelt down to catch his breath. When Surin heard the thud, she excitedly looked around, but her expression worsened when she saw Jiho

"What business does the Crown Prince have over here?"
She asked with a frown as she was still impatiently waiting for someone

"Can you get some water for me?"
Jiho asked, completely ignoring Surin's question, which irritated her

"Go get it yourself!"
She said completely forgetting his title

"Fine, where's Aera"
Jiho said in a commanding way as he got up and composed himself

"I won't tell you! Now get lost, before I do something you won't like!"
Surin said in a threatening manner as she looked around her surroundings

"Oh please, what can a puny little girl like you, do to me-

Before he could complete his sentence, Surin delivered a resounding slap to his cocky face, which was sure to leave a mark

"Don't, try, me. Now get lost!"
She said threateningly as she ignored his existence and continued to wait for Aera to show up, but got irritated when she saw the Crown Prince still dramatically standing there holding his already swollen cheek

"Ugh, don't you have anywhere to be?!"
She pushed him, but was about to receive a slap from the Crown Prince, but his hand was suspended in the air

Surin sighed in relief, and stepped away from him. Jiho had a confused expression, as he couldn't feel his hand at all and glared at Surin

"Don't you dare glare at my sister"
Eunjeong said as he stood in front of the Crown Prince and pushed him backwards

"Who the hell are you to tell the Crown Prince what to do, huh?! And what did you do to my hand, I can't feel it!"
Jiho said brattily as he squeezed his right hand

"That's none of your business"

"Surin-ah, are you okay? Did he harm you?"
His expression softened as he checked his sister for any bruises

"No, but I harmed him, look at his face!"
Surin said as she pointed at the Crown Prince's red swollen cheek, which made Eunjeong laugh.

"Good job, where's Aera?"
He asked as he looked around the house

"She's, she's not here"
Surin said as she peeked at Jiho who was glaring at the both of them

"Is she at her tree? Then let's go"
Eunjeong said, but Surin gestured him to stop and said quietly, making sure Jiho heard nothing,

"No, we can't, she's thinking about her family, and you know how she is when she's sad"

Eunjeong frowned in thought, and left.

"Eunjeongie! Don't go!"
Surin said with an annoyed expression, because she knew her brother wouldn't turn back

"Where's he going to?"
Jiho asked, rubbing his painful cheek

"None of your business, now go back to where you came from!"
Surin said rudely as she entered her house

The Crown Prince glared and walked away

- AT THE TREE -
"Fancy seeing you here, Aera"
Eunjeong said with a smile as he looked at Aera who was sitting on a tree branch

"I should be saying that to you"
She said with a smile as she rested her head on the tree

"So, what happened?"
Eunjeong simply asked as he jumped and sat next to Aera

"Huh?"
She asked a bit confused

"I heard from Surin, you came here yesterday, and normally you don't do that. So what happened?"

"Uhm well, let's just say I did something stupid"

"Care to elaborate?"

"So, I apparently murdered 1000 Royal guards"

"YOU WHAT?!"

"Calm down, I didn't actually kill living people, I used dummies to take their places"

"Oh, oh thank goodness! So where are the living ones then?"

"At their houses. Taking loooong naps"

"Okay, uhm Aera, have you learnt how to open the box your dad gave you?"

"No, not yet"

"Oh okay, have you eaten anything?"

"No-

"Sorry to cut your conversation short, but Han Aera, the King summons you"
The Crown Prince butted in, folding both arms behind his back

"It's nice to look down on the Crown Prince, y'know?"
Aera said with a teasing smirk as she looked down to see the Crown Prince who frowned, deciphering the double meaning of her words

She jumped down and copied Jiho's position, facing him

"Don't be so arrogant"
Jiho said as he looked at Eunjeong who was glaring at him

"Jin Jiho, if there's any scratch on Aera, be prepared to pay with your life"
When Eunjeong said that, he disappeared, using a teleportation rune

"He's such an overprotective brother"
Aera said with an eye roll even though she had a big smile

Jiho raised and eyebrow and asked confusedly as he started walking,

"Brother?"

"Yeah, he's my cousin, but I consider him my big brother"
Aera said following Jiho, who for an unknown reason, let out a sigh of relief

A/N - Jiho's sigh be sus~
Anyways, no apologies if this chapter might be boring, (exposition makes stories more juicier😏)
So uhhh I've got nothing to say rn so uhm thanks for reading and see you in the next update!