CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Baek-Hyun was shocked when she saw Aya dressed in common clothes and being put in the dungeon that she was. The dungeon was locked and immediately the guards left, Aya turned to Baek-Hyun and smiled. "I told you I'll come back for you". Aya said with a smirk. "or maybe you just earned yourself the same place as me". Baek-Hyun said and Aya's face turned sour. "it doesn't matter to me now because I can have my revenge on you for making me come here". She yelled. "I can't believe it Aya, but I know what you did, you were trying to make my situation worse weren't you? and now you are here". Baek-Hyun mocked and Aya charged at her. "I'm still your Princess you bastard". That statement came with a thundering slap on Baek-Hyun's face and she bit her lips. Blood oozed out of her mouth and she spat them out and she kept laughing and that was what annoyed Aya the most. "What is so funny?". She yelled. "how quick I always get to you. But look at me, I haven't reacted, do you know why?". Baek-Hyun asked and Aya remained quiet obviously waiting for the reason. "because you are not worth it". Baek-Hyun said and Aya gave her a jaw breaking punch. Baek-Hyun spat out more blood. "once I get out of here, I'll take your head". Aya yelled. "Well, sadly, I'll be leaving before you so guess who takes whose head now". Baek-Hyun said with a smile and Aya rushed to her but she stopped half way. "What? Are you tired of hitting me?". Baek-Hyun asked. "You are not worth it". Aya replied and Baek-Hyun laughed heartily. "Someone is skilled at repeating what others say". Baek-Hyun muttered. Aya groaned in frustration as she stared at Baek-Hyun. "You should have seen what Chi-Mae looked like today, he looked like a ghost and I hate it that you are the one behind that". Aya said and Baek-Hyun's smile faded. She stared at Aya with guilt. Then she looked down and she crawled to corner in the dungeon and curled up.

Chi-Mae went into his study. He hadn't been there for a while and books were nearly scattered everywhere. He arranged them himself, sat and set to work but there came a knock on the door. It was Lady Bong Cha and she was there to talk to him. "Chi-Mae". She called but he didn't look up. "How did you find me?". He asked her and she smiled lightly. "of course I know where to find you". she replied and they both fell quiet. "How can I help you?". he asked her and looked up to her finally. "You don't look very good; could Baek-Hyun be the reason?". The woman asked and Chi-Mae raised his head looking alerted. "If you are here to talk about her, you should leave right now". He said and walked to his mini library. "You can't deny you want to talk about her, someone has to". Lady Bong Cha said and Chi-Mae clicked his tongue in annoyance and turned to the woman sharply. "She can rot in there for all I care and you don't have to intercede for her, is she ever leaves that place, then her head is going back to Gi, where she belongs". Chi-Mae said with a flare. He was getting furious and he tried to control it. "But she is so worried about you and…" "Lady Bong Cha". Chi-Mae yelled. "I respect you and I wouldn't want to do the opposite, you have to leave now or you stay and forget about her". Chi-Mae yelled and Lady Bong Cha stared at him in shock. She turned around and walked out. Chi-Mae ran his hand through his hair and he hit the table hard. He sat briskly on the chair and leaned deeply into it.

Back in Gi Kingdom, there were great debates whether Baek-Hyun had failed or not. "It's been two months and she isn't here, no corpse, no living, no news of Chi-Mae's death, perhaps she has eloped My King and the soldiers we sent in search of her hasn't returned till date". Bayan said and the rest of the Lieutenants agreed. "she did tell me to wait for her, and I am willing to. She must be through and may be on her way back, we have to wait a little longer". Emperor Woong said and Bayan got fade up. "I say we start thinking of the best possible way of killing her and her family because obviously, she has failed". One of the Council members said and the Emperor asked "Really?". The man confirmed and Bayan disagreed. "No my King, Baek-Hyun's brother is very useful to us, he very skilled at making our weapons, not just him but the entire Ji-Seok captives, they are skilful at everything". Bayan argued. "But the rest of the girls' family were killed, why should Baek-Hyun's own live? They have to die, beside there are only few Ji-Seok left, what is the worth of keeping them?". the man argued again "Bayan, keep silence. Wang-Yo, tell me what best way to kill Baek-Hyun and her family when she returns obviously unsuccessful". The Emperor said and the man smiled. "they should be hanged my King; we can start preparing their gallows". The Wang-Yo said and the Emperor laughed. "That is very thoughtful of you Wang-Yo". Then to Bayan he said. "Prepare that same gallows for Wang-Yo and his entire family, I believe it must be ready by tomorrow". The Emperor said and the whole room was intensified. "My King no, Baek-Hyun can live, I'm so sorry for talking about her death please my King". The old man begged desperately but if fell on deaf ears.

The next morning in Hak-Kun, Chi-Mae sat at a corner and watched his soldiers train. It was a horse fight and U-Jin was handling the practice and everyone put in so much effort to impress their General, but sadly, he was lost in a deep to thought. He was thinking about Baek-Hyun. He wondered if he was right to put her in there when she meant no harm at all. He remembered her voice echo "I'm sorry … no Chi-Mae, I didn't do that, I can't do it that is why I am telling you now". He felt his heart burn with hurt as he thought about her.

"General". U-Jin's voice woke Chi-Mae from his slumber. "U-Jin, are you done for the day?". Chi-Mae asked startled. "No, I just want to engage you in a little fight, maybe I can help with your mood". U-Jin said and Chi-Mae smiled. "I'm not ready for it". Chi-Mae said flatly but U-Jin stocked. "come on, there is no harm in trying". U-Jin kept trying until he bought Chi-Mae over. All the soldiers made way for them and created a large space for them. the soldiers cheered and hailed. U-Jin picked two swords and tossed one at Chi-Mae. They fought for a long while and U-Jin beat Chi-Mae nearly to stupor. He beat the living day light out of him and the soldiers dismissed after the fight. They were disappointed about their General's massive failure. U-Jin and Chi-Mae stayed behind in the field and U-Jin helped Chi-Mae stop his wounds from bleeding. "You don't have to, I'll just got to the healer". Chi-Mae said but U-Jin insisted. "You were terrible". U-Jin said to Chi-Mae and he smiled even if he didn't want to. "I told you I wasn't ready".

"You were born ready, you were only distracted and I am thinking about what or who is capable of distracting the god of Seriousness and Hard work himself". U-Jin teased.

"Nothing, I'm just not in the spirit". "We both know that's a lie". U-Jin stopped what he was doing and stared at Chi-Mae but he refused to talk. "Come on, spill it out". U-Jin urged but Chi-Mae was quiet. "It's Baek-Hyun isn't it?". U-Jin asked and Chi-Mae threw him a dead stare. "Don't talk about her ever again". He warned but U-Jin wasn't the type that just backed off, he always got sticky. "You can never relieve it if you don't talk about it". U-Jin said and Chi-Mae frowned seriously. "Don't bring that up". He warned again. "You can always send her away, far away so you don't have to think about her". U-Jin said and Chi-Mae gave him a jaw breaking punch. "Do not talk about her". He yelled and U-Jin fell quiet. Then he stood up and walked away. U-Jin was puzzled. He had never seen his General that way before and he didn't know a girl could summon that part of him so easily.

Back in the dungeon, Aya didn't stop bullying Baek-Hyun until hunger dealt severely with her. "You won't die just yet; food is on the way". Baek-Hyun who had gotten used to the situation said to Aya who couldn't move a finger. But Aya didn't care about what Baek-Hyun had to say. "It might take a while Aya but I hope they didn't bring you here to die". Baek-Hyun said getting worried. She knew Aya might die for real because she was a princess and she didn't know what it meant to starve. "Let go of me you bastard". Aya yelled with her last strength and Baek-Hyun spaced. She sat a few feet away and stared at Aya barely breathing. She was really going to faint and Baek-Hyun was feeling guilty as if she was the cause. She ran to the dungeon gates and she shook it loud and she screamed. "Somebody help, is anyone there? Help me…". She kept screaming loud till the guards heard her from the main gate of the dungeon where they stood. "Shut up traitor". A guard yelled at her and they walked in. "The Princess, she's dying can you get her some food please". Baek-Hyun pleaded. "Why should we believe you? It's just a trick for you to escape isn't it?". The guard yelled and hit Baek-Hyun with his spear. She fell to the ground then she stood up and charged at the soldier. She pulled the spear to herself and she the soldier hit his face on the metal bars of the gate. Then she turned his over and she strangled him from behind and inside the gaol. The soldier struggled and struggled all to no avail. The only thing that saved him was the other soldier who hit Baek-Hyun on the same spot the first soldier had hit her. Baek-Hyun groaned in pains as she spat out blood. The soldier that was strangled unlocked the dungeon and pulled Baek-Hyun by the hair and hit her face hard on the ground. Aya was shocked. She didn't know Baek-Hyun would fight a soldier for her. "Get your hands off her". Aya yelled but the soldier paid deaf ears to her. Baek-Hyun tried to crawl away but the soldier kicked her ribs. "Ajax stop, you're going to kill her". The second soldier yelled but the so called Ajax wouldn't stop. Aya was too weak to get herself involved. She kept yelling weakly at the soldier but he only continued hitting Baek-Hyun. Just then, Lady Bong Cha walked into the dungeon and yelled "Stop". The soldier stopped instantly and they bowed to her. "How dare you touch her?". Lady bong Cha yelled while rushing to Baek-Hyun. "You two get out before I change my mind". The woman yelled again and the soldiers left immediately. "Baek-Hyun". The woman called and Baek-Hyun started crying out in pains. Aya felt sorry for her but she couldn't help and she felt guilty because Baek-Hyun was fighting for her. "I'm so sorry". The woman said with pity. "I'm fine". Baek-Hyun said suddenly and she carried herself up and spat out bulky amount of blood from her mouth. "What about Chi-Mae, any word from him?". She asked with pity and the woman heaved a heavy sigh. "Baek-Hyun, you have to worry about yourself first, you look terrible, Maybe I can help you go to the healer". The woman said and Baek-Hyun shook her head negatively. "No, how can I even worry about myself? What about Chi-Mae? I need to know, please tell me how he is faring". Lady Bong Cha stared at Baek-Hyun with pity. "Chi-Mae is fine but he is terrible all the same. He is cold and hateful towards everyone just like before but he will be fine". "Tell me why I shouldn't worry about him? Tell me. Terrible, that is a horrible state for anyone to be and you tell me not to worry". Tears had made her face a river and her eyes were swollen and blood shot. "Because you are starving and he isn't. because you are sick and bloody but he isn't. because he has moved on and you haven't". Aya's voice rang in the air. The last part got Baek-Hyun so well. For a while the dungeon was quiet and tense. But then three maids walked in with trays. Two with trays of food and water and the last one with a tray of concoctions. "you should eat and rest then you can drink these potions you both. You will need it to stay strong especially you Baek-Hyun, everything will be alright as long as you are still alive and you need food to stay alive". Then to the maids, the woman said "Come on, let's go". But before she left, Baek-Hyun said "Can you ask Moon to come to me tomorrow and also tell Chi-Mae that I'm sorry and I wish to speak to him". Baek-Hyun asked and the woman turned and smiled mildly. "I wish he will talk to anyone". She said and walked out. The soldiers returned and locked the dungeon. Aya was already stuffing her face with the food and Baek-Hyun just crawled to a corner and she hugged her knees. For the next half an hour, she was in the same position and tears no longer flowed but she was still crying and Aya didn't know what to do.

Lady Bong Cha walked slowly in deep thought to Chi-Mae's chamber. There were no soldiers at the door which was quite strange. She called and knocked but there wasn't a reply. The only thing she got for being persistent was "Go away". "You can't keep hiding in there, you have to talk about it somehow". Lady Bong Cha said but Chi-Mae didn't say a word. After a while and the woman refused to go away he finally gave in. "Chi-Mae". Lady Bong Cha called with a frown when she saw him. She only called him by his name when they were going to have a sensitive conversation. "Chi-Mae, how can you do this to yourself?". She asked as she sat on the seat beside him. Chi-Mae tried to say something but he failed. He hated to reveal this part of him to anyone. But somehow, Lady Bong Cha always saw this part of him. "Chi-Mae, it couldn't have been this bad". Lady Bong Cha said again as she took a close look at Chi-Mae. "I've told you not to bring this up". Chi-Mae nearly yelled. "I was jilted, fooled by her, tell me why it shouldn't be this bad?". He asked the dumb folded woman. "why do you put her in the dungeon and you have told no one why? Everyone is talking". Lady Bong Cha said. "because Wang and Princess Aya were right about her and where else should she be?". Chi-Mae replied sounding insouciant. "today, she was attacked and beaten to stupor by the soldiers guarding the dungeon". Lady Bong Cha said and Chi-Mae raised his face. "on whose order?". He asked and Lady Bong Cha shrugged. "Baek-Hyun is really miserable; I don't think you would like to see her in that condition". Lady Bong Cha said again. "It's none of my business, she should expect worse". Chi-Mae said coldly. He didn't like the sound of it but why would he care. "Did she try to stab you?" Lady Bong Cha asked with a frown even before she heard the answer. "she told me". Chi-Mae reply and Lady Bong Cha widened her eyes in surprise. "She told you?". she asked again. "Yeah, she did. I don't know why she didn't strike, she had a million and one chance to but I don't care". Chi-Mae answered casually. "did you ever wonder why she didn't strike?". Lady Bong Cha asked after a moment of total silence. "why?". Chi-Mae asked her back. "because she trusts you and you threw her out. She trusted your judgement enough to tell you her secret, her pains and you ditched her when she needed you the most, you are the one who jilted her. You have acted foolishly Chi-Mae. She meant no harm". Lady Bong Cha raised her voice. And there she was getting mad at the poor girl. "no, Lady Bong Cha, she was sent here to kill me just like the rest and she played with my feelings. She has insulted my trust". Chi-Mae half yelled stubbornly. "Don't you see? She loves you. she came and she didn't try to kill you like the rest tried even when she had thousands of opportunities to, you said it yourself. She is a good person. She didn't play with your feelings or trust Chi-Mae; she did prove that she would do anything for you. I'm sure those other girls wouldn't harm a fly if they weren't threatened with something, you know how that Emperor can be". Lady Bong Cha said and the realization struck Chi-Mae like a thunder. "yes, she said things like that about how their families are killed once they failed to take back my head. I wasn't paying attention; I was too busy getting angry". Chi-Mae said again. Now he felt a deep rooted guilt in his heart. He felt sorry for Baek-Hyun. "Chi-Mae, Baek-Hyun would never hurt you. if truth be told then it's you who has messed up her feelings.". Lady Bong Cha said then she became suddenly emotional "Chi-Mae, ever since you met her, you have been back to who you were though not completely. and ever since in a whole year, it feels like I'm having you back, like this whole capital is having you back. You lose your family and there is nothing you could have done about that. But she's here and it seems she's the only one who can make you happy again, don't lose her. You have a chance to make things right again and she is your only opportunity, just don't lose her". Tears rolled down the woman's face as she spoke. She did love Chi-Mae and Young-Jae since from their birth and she had nursed them even when it wasn't her job to do. they were her sons and she couldn't bear to see them tear apart. Chi-Mae stared at woman and he struggled to hide away his tears but she saw them. "But…". He was about to say more but he woman stopped her. "there are no buts, she is right in front of you and you can make things right and take her". The woman said and he nodded even though he had a lot of objections to make. "she believes it is her fault and she kept asking of you and I think you should help her. Not only you but us". Lady Bong Cha said. "how do you intend to do that?". Chi-Mae asked again. they were now down for serious business. "Chi-Mae, we can't keep sitting back to watch Emperor Woong strive to destroy us from within. You know he won't stop. For a long time, he has tried this same stupidity over and over again and soon he might get us. He has demanded for war and we should give it to him". Lady Bong Cha said almost with a flare. "Lady Bong Cha, we don't just go to war without Young-Jae's order. I don't know why he has refused wars for a while now". Chi-Mae said. "General, leave Young-Jae to me and the council heads. We need to put a stop to this and at the same time, save Baek-Hyun". Lady Bong Cha said and Chi-Mae nodded. "but first, you will have to be confirmed fit enough for this. You have to take a better care of yourself. Baek-Hyun will not want to see you this way either". Lady Bong Cha said with a smile but Chi-Mae still looked serious. "then I will start strategizing our move immediately". Chi-Mae said all the while avoiding to speak directly about Baek-Hyun and Lady Bong Cha smiled and stood up. "Looks like my job here is done. I'll ask the guards to release Baek-Hyun immediately if it is fine by you". she said and Chi-Mae nodded. After Lady Bong Cha left, Chi-Mae sat on his bed then he fell back on it. "Don't lose her". The word kept ringing in his mind. He wasn't going to take her back, not when she would have killed him if he wasn't favoured by the heavens. He only pretended to appease Lady Bong Cha, he hated the tears in her eyes.

"Baek-Hyun if I know better, then Chi-Mae will surely come around". Aya said to make her feel better because she had sobbed for hours. Though she hated to console Baek-Hyun over Chi-Mae, she had to because the sobs had to stop if she was going to survive in there. "You haven't touched your food". Aya said again when there was no reply. "I'm not hungry". Was what Aya got. She stared at Baek-Hyun with softness. She didn't know how to start or where it was all going to end, but she felt bad to see her that way. She shifted closer to Baek-Hyun and she touched her knee even though she despised herself for not looking away. That was one of the most awkward moments in Aya's life, having to comfort a person and no other, but her rival. "Baek-Hyun, what exactly are you crying about? Is it because you think Chi-Mae will never love you again or is it because he is going to order for your death?". Aya asked and Baek-Hyun raised her head. "Because he may never forgive me". Tears were now rolling down her bursting red face. "Forgive you for what? Did you wrong him?". Aya asked not expecting a reply and it never came. "You were sent on a mission and you did what you had to do. You are even lucky to still be alive till now. Chi-Mae always killed the others on the spot". Aya said. "I thought I will be able to accomplish my task and save my family. Whether Chi-Mae kills me or not, I will still end up dead with my brother and sister". The thought of it got her horrified. "Baek-Hyun, you know why I hate you?". Aya asked and Baek-Hyun shook her head negatively. "Because you are too brave. I hate you because your bravery is what makes Chi-Mae attracted to you and I cannot believe it's the same Baek-Hyun that is here right now. You are so different from who I am always jealous of and I'm beginning to wonder where Baek-Hyun went to". Aya said and Baek-Hyun smiled. "it's not a good time to joke about anything". Baek-Hyun said and Aya faked a smile as well. "we could be really good friends but that doesn't mean I will suddenly like you, you are my rival and I will always hate you". Aya said and Baek-Hyun smiled. "I hate you too". She replied and they laughed. Well, what Aya said was true because immediately, Lady Bong Cha came with some soldiers and Moon alongside to release Baek-Hyun from the dungeon. Aya was shocked and sour hatred filled her heart. Her eyes were watery but she refused to cry, she converted her pains to her strength immediately.