Hello there! I'm back to post the first chapter of my fic. Chan appears in this episode, and maybe some other kids, so give this story a try 🤭 comments always appreciated!
---------------------------------------------
''That thou canst not stir a flower without troubling of a star'' Francis Thompson.
Everything in the universe as we know it, is somehow connected. One way or another, things are meant to happen. After finishing a regular work day, a somewhat small event drifts you away from your routine, making you meet a man that ignites the fire of doubt in you.
And without even knowing, you are lucky he has the same need to find you.
Hours felt never ending, and so did the crops. Undoubtedly, working under the almost ever lasting sun felt draining, however, being next to friends and family made the burden feel much easier. Soft yet tired laughs filled the air, one or two jokes, maybe even a deep thought that would come out randomly in the middle of that working session made the day reach its end faster than the usual. There was some sort of pride in being a serf, despite not having the commodities the elite had, she decided to take her life with a different approach, a stronger and more prideful look. Who else were going to feed not only the royalty, but the entire village if not the serfs? After having packed her tools and washed her hands with the last remains of clean water just to get rid of the dirt, you stood up.
—Ah, another day done. I would love to stay here for a bit more, but I promised I would help Haneul with… I can’t even recall. I just know she asked for my help— you said letting out a small giggle.
—Don’t you want me to walk you home? It’s getting late, what if there’s an attack or something similar?
Jae-Sung raised his eyebrows at you full of concern, then taking quick looks around his perimeter as if the enemy troops were right behind the two of you. It was no secret for anyone in the village that the young man had profound feelings for you since you both were kids, however, despite his never-ending attempts to win your heart were no more than just another reason to consider him your best friend. Another laugh escaped your lips as you tilted your head to the side giving him a kind look, the one that made him weak to his knees.
—I’ll be fine. One, the village is not that far away. Two, the sun is still up. Three, we haven’t had any attacks in the last few years, I don’t think my luck is so bad as for one of them happens now, right?
He let out a sight accepting his defeat, using his right hand to scratch his nape in an attempt of showing not much interest in not walk you back home, however, you knew he was a bit disappointed.
—Alright, go. But I will still stop by later just to check if you arrived safe, deal?
—And straight home. Don’t take the long route, I know you.
—Are you my father or something, Jae-Sung?
Arching an eyebrow, you pushed him in a playful and innocent way before giving him a short hug. He denied with his head, still not getting over that stubbornness.
Don’t take the long route, he said. Yet you did, of course. The long way home was by far prettier, the mix of trees with the tone of the sun gave a completely different vibe. Besides, by taking the long route there was the chance to walk nearby the king’s lands, and if you were lucky enough, you could see the horses walking freely on their terrains.
Even if you took that route at least twice a week and knew the path almost by heart, there was something that felt off. Not in a negative way, but there was a new and unknown feeling that didn’t allow you to enjoy the way back home as you used to. You reached to that point where the path got divided, your mother’s words echoed in your head remembering you not to go that way, same your father and grandparents had warned you several times. During your entire life, you follow those instructions carefully and that path even looked a bit scary.
Your thoughts were consuming you, and you didn’t hear the galloping horses until it was too late, as you looked back, at least fifteen horses were approaching to your direction, soldiers on top looking brave and confident, not even noticing your presence. However, and in order not to get hurt you started walking backwards, still mesmerized by the strength the soldier’s king could show just by galloping by. The steps of the horses started to fade out slowly, you fell right back into your present, noticing a different shade of green; a darker one, realizing that there were scenarios around you that were not known. Furrowing your eyebrows, you finally understood, the amount of soldiers passing by you made you take distance, not knowing how or when you ended up in the path you were always warned off.
It was far from looking dangerous, though. That darker green reminded you of the summer, there where some flowers you had never seen before, and you could even tell the air felt different, too. Too focused on those new and beautiful surroundings, you kept your footsteps straight, noticing a different detail by each meter walked. However, despite that lovely scenery, that odd feeling was still there. If you could describe it, was if as you were looking for something, or someone.
You didn’t know for how long you’ve been walking, but after a while it was possible to notice that the straight path was opening at the end, what the distance allowed you to notice, was a wider piece of land looking like a circle, with two more paths parting on the opposite extreme, and you immediately recognized that one of those was the one that you were supposed to take in the first place. Suddenly, the image became less interesting for you could hear some giggles and footsteps and the end of the road you were walking on.
It wasn’t a duo, much less a group. The giggles had the same tone, footsteps the same rhythm. Jae-Sung’s voice appeared in your head, telling you that it might be a trap, an enemy, perhaps. But it made no sense at all, it sounded innocent, maybe even somewhat childish. The curiosity made you keep walking, and the image you witnessed made you open your eyes in surprise.
It was a he, a man who didn’t look older than twenty-five, he had no scars, so you assumed for some reason he had not participated in any battles, his clothing looked perfectly clean, not a speck of dust in them. The man was standing over a tree stem, using one foot to keep balance, then using the opposite one. There were the giggles again, as if they were a sign of victory for taking another step using just his equilibrium. He intrigued you, so far, the only things you could see where the ones previously described, plus his dark and kind of curly hair. Your body stiffened when his left foot slipped off the stem, making his body fall on the ground. He let out a frustrated growl, and you couldn’t help but walk fast towards him. Maybe it was a trap, maybe it was a thief, maybe it was going to be the lass face you’d see. Maybe, it was none of that.
—Oh lord, are you ok? It looked like an ugly fall, are you hurt?
You said with honest concern, using your arms as to try to lift him a bit. Your body stopped reacting when your eyes met his, dark brown, a something that looked like a mole right under one of his eyebrows was. You were right when you were seeing him from his back, his jaw was well defined, and when he gave you a shy and ashamed look, you noticed his eyes getting tinier, and those dimples made you forget about the entire world just for a small fraction of second.
The village wasn’t huge, you knew pretty much everyone who lived there, but that man was someone you had never seen before, because you would have absolutely remembered all those facial traits. But they were new to your eyes.
—I’m ok, I’m ok. Ugh, were you watching? Did you see me fall? Oh my god, so embarrassing.
He giggled again, this time covering his eyes, his ears turning slightly red. When he uncovered his eyes, both of you looked at each other with curiosity, as if both had something to say that have been keeping for so long, however, no words left your mouth, or his. Time felt solid during those small seconds, and drifting out of your thoughts you offered him a hand to help him stand back up again.
—I saw you, yes. But don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.
—Ah, thank you. Is it a promise?
—You have my absolute word.
You smiled at him and vowed slightly as a gesture of respect towards your new promise, putting your index finger on top of your lips showing your words were absolutely sealed. The man smiled back at you, using both hands to get rid of some dust that was now on his clean clothes.
—I’m curious, though. What were you even doing there?
—I just… I don’t know. I wanted to see how long I could last keeping my balance. Oh, and there is a flower over here, somewhere… That I haven’t been able to find.
—Sounded like a very interesting competition with yourself—You said in between giggles—A flower? What kind of flower?
—It was indeed very interesting until I fell—the man laughed together with you, and at your second question he looked around, as if he was looking what he mentioned— It’s a purple flower, one of my friends needed the pigment to… To make paint, I guess? But I couldn’t find it. And, I have to admit I really love this place. I wanted some time alone just to clear my head.
—I see, well… I saw some flowers while I was walking, but none of them was purple—you furrowed your lips in disappointment— Oh, so did I interrupt you?
—Not at all! I like seeing new people, I don’t get to see new faces quite often. Which makes me wonder, have we met before?
You were about to answer, when once again you could distinguish the sound of the horses and the soldiers. The only difference was that this time you could hear them louder and louder and turning your head to black haired man you saw him sigh in defeat. In no time, horses were now entering that so peaceful space that was only his and yours for some minutes. This time, two soldiers stood next to you and held you by the arms, and the young man just gave them a look to let you go, and they did.
—How many times have we told you, you can’t disappear just like that!
—It’s my life, you know? I can do what I want.
—Yes, but there are regulations and a protocol to follow. We’re leaving, now.
You had absolutely no time to say goodbye, nor ask his name. The soldiers moved away from you as you saw them getting up their horses once again, and the man you just met imitating their actions. Just before they started galloping away from you, he turned his head to you, furrowing his eyebrows down, uttering a ‘sorry’ with his lips. You just nod your head in sign of comprehension, yet you were absolutely confused. Who was that man, and why were the king’s soldiers after him with such concern?
Finally, when night arrived, you were home. And as he had promised, Jae-Sung was sitting next to your father talking about the next job for upcoming days. Your mind was still stuck on those earlier events, feeling way too curious about him. His face was imprinted in your mind, and you could still remember each facial feature, the way he laughed, or how he looked at you.
—Did you hear the news? —your mother said.
—What news? Oh, the soldiers being here today? Yes, yes. I saw them and I was hoping they were here for me. I know one day he is going to propose— Ji-Hon, your younger sister stated.
—He doesn’t even know you.
—He will. And he will love me, hug me in those big arms of his, and we will have three children.
—Can someone tell her to stop daydreaming and tell me what happened today?
You said laughing at your younger’s sister delusion, ever since she saw that soldier she had been in love. Your attention went back to Jae-Sung, who apparently was the only one interested in telling you the news.
—The king’s soldiers were here today; they said the heir got away from the palace again. One witness said they saw him near the village, and they came looking for him. But of course, he wasn’t here, and they just left, didn’t even say thank you. I heard that he was near the tree that fell last winter, apparently he was looking for a flower.
—Are you really going to believe that old lady? She’s the gossip queen, she can’t be trusted. — your sister added in return.
—Yeah, but… She looks wise. Sometimes.
Right before your sister started speaking, your attention went away again. They found him where the tree stem was? Looking for a flower? The heir? If you were curious before, you were even more curious now. Certainly, you were not a fan of the elite, so you had no idea who were the ones that composed the palace, just the king. That very same night, when your body laid to rest, it did all the opposite. Your mind was still running in circles, maybe, him being such an important person would explain the soldier’s concern.
The night at the palace was bright, full of light and in the center the table was full of freshly made food. The heir had already been scolded by almost everyone, but he was finally able to sit down and relax his meal, even though it was a bit hard due the different voices around him, much more because his mind was still thinking about that girl whose name remained unknown.
—Hey, you still here with us, Chan? — one of the young men moved his hand across the black-haired man. —
—Apparently, he isn’t. Jisung, if he isn’t here give me the peaches he is clearly neglecting.
—Hey, no! I’m here, I’m here. Just tired. — He said giving a tiny slap to the hand that was approaching to his fruit, the man just let himself fall on the ground accepting defeat, stretching his body and letting out a throaty noise, he looked pretty much like a cat.
—You don’t look just tired. We know you don’t sleep, but now you look… off. Your mind is definitely somewhere else.
—I agree with Yongbok, your mind is not with us—the youngest of them said.
—Is just…I want to be outside; I don’t want to be hiding here forever, there’s a lot I want to do. And… I might need your help.
—No—the man with cat attitude said, but sitting immediately, paying attention to the leader’s words.
—Don’t even think about it.
Chan just chuckled at those reactions, he knew them very well, and he knew that they were just being annoying as usual. He looked down for a second, fidgeting with his fingers. Other than go out and enjoy every single day as a regular human being, he felt curious about you. There was something that was calling him, something telling him to go and find you. And the only people who could help them, where the four men in the room, plus the other three who at the moment, were fulfilling other duties.
—I need you to help me sneak out tomorrow. —Chan said, absolutely determined.
