Her Poison His cure: Behind The Mask

After a hectic and memorable day with mother, I retired to my chamber.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I reminisce on how my day went and smile happily. Today I fulfilled my mother ‘s wish by spending the whole day with her making embroidery and talking about random things. I haven’t done that before and at that moment I realized the feeling I have been depriving myself.

It was fun.

I tucked my blanket over my body and rested my head on the pillow. I don’t enjoy my sleep when I have less than three bedding but today even with the one bedding that I am sleeping on I feel relaxed.

Not long after God of sleep came knocking and I drifted to the dreamland. I found myself in the same place I was yesterday night. I looked around until I spotted a familiar figure sitting on one of the tree boughs__ Samsin.

Her back was facing me with her hand crossed behind her back and beside her is her usual bowl.

I walked slowly toward her. She turned back when she noticed my presence and smiled.

“I have been expecting you” she stood up and moved closer to me, her warm breath on my face.

“You again” I looked at her stupefied.

“Why are you surprised? It not like this is the first time we are meeting”

I rubbed my forehead frustrated and sighed. I moved back to create some space between us.

“What brings you here”

“I think I should be the one asking that question” her voice became firm.

What the hell is she talking about? I always found myself in this godforsaken place without knowing how I got here and I am sure it was her doing.

She leaned in closer to me and I almost gasped. “Your highness. I mean no harm.”

She raises her hand up in surrender.

“I am truly here to protect you and I will do everything in my best to make sure I fulfilled my duty”

“Your duty” I mutter wondering what she meant by her duty.

She looked at me for a long time and I felt her gaze bore Into my soul and finally she spoke. This time her voice was gentler and there was a welcoming expression in her eyes.

“Yes. Which is protecting and looking out for you”

Hearing that I breathe out in relief. I don’t know but I kind of believe her words and suddenly felt drawn toward her for comfort.

“Please take a seat” she shifted and made way for me, pointing to where she stood up from.

I sat down obediently as my eyes wandered around. Surprisingly this wasn’t as hard as I imagined.

Samsin sat next to me and stretched out her bowl to me offering me the danguik (Chicken leg) that was inside the bowl.

I looked at her face and she gave me an encouraging smile. As though she had cast a bewitching spell on me, I obeyed and dipped my hand inside the bowl and picked one of the chicken legs, throwing it into my mouth.

Good heavens, how did this young lady always have her way with food? This is so delicious that I feel like asking for more but I won’t want to stain my dignity because of the food. Even though this isn’t as delicious as the bulgogi I had before, it still takes away my soul.

“How is it”

“It’s manageable” I said less concerned.

I don’t want to give her the impression that it was more than I’d imagined.

“I am happy it satisfied you” she seemed pleased and put away the bowl from my sight.

I have so many questions running through my mind like a cloud drifting aimlessly but I just feel myself becoming a little like a zombie. I looked at her curiously, wondering if I should ask her the question that was bothering my mind and entire body.

I heard a loud sighed beside me and looked up at samsin. She smiles and gives me a knowing look which lights out to me that she knows I want to ask questions.

“About the person you talked about the other day,” I quirked my mouth. “How can I help this person”

“You don’t have to help him for now when it is the right time, you will render help to him without even knowing but right now all he needs from you is to save him”

I move my hair back. “Then how can I save him when I do not even know who he is”

“Let me tell you a very short love story between two close friends,” samsin said.

I stared at her meticulously awaiting her to start her story.

She releases a huge sigh and clears her throat.

“There lives a young lad who is the crown prince of his kingdom. He was always alone, trapped in the big palace with no one to share his happiness, pain and burden with, not even his parents. So he was more like an outsider, an introvert more accurate. One day a young man from a noble family came to him and asked to be his friend but he rejected and embarrassed the boy. Notwithstanding the lad continued showing up even with every second of disgrace the crown prince gave him. After several days the crown prince has no choice but to befriend him since he won’t leave him alone…”

“I understand the crown prince situation very well because I am also in that position” I chimed in, cutting her off.

Samsin looked at me eagerly, waiting for me to elaborate on what I just said.

“Being part of a royal family. You will not enjoy the privilege of being given attention by your parents and if you decide to leave your family out and get close with your servant they will still not treat you like you are one of them but with some annoying utmost respect” my face crumbles in anger.

Samsin chuckled lightly.

“Then is your highness one of these people ” I raise my gaze at her.

“Did you also have difficulty communicating with people other than your family” she added

“No. I am a very simple person, I don’t expect any special attention from my parents because I know it won’t be easy for them to give me that. It is not like I am saying they didn’t love me. I am sure they love me more than they love each other”

“Of Course No parents in the world won’t love his/her child. You can’t trade parent love for anything” Samsim whispered as she gently tucked my hair that was flowing in the breeze behind the rest.

I yawn loudly and I rubbed my eyes to numb the fatigue and dizziness,

“They have a huge responsibility for the nation which is laid heavily on their shoulders and I can not put forward my whining or demand any special attention from them. So what I am trying to say is that the crown prince must not be a fan of big gestured and must be used to loneliness but seeing someone offering a friendship might seem suspicious to him”

Samsin nodded and smiled before continuing.

“Their friendship started randomly but in a short time it developed into a very strong bond. They were always at each other’s company and had taken confidence in sharing their worries and secrets with each other. The boy took the crown prince outside the palace one-day to see the world beyond the palace wall. The crown prince was surprised to know that there is another world beyond the palace, he believes only in the world he has always seen.”

“I have always been curious of how the wall beyond the palace also looked and I want to explore it one day”

An amused smile curve at the corner of samsin mouth after hearing me say that.

“And you will one day” she assured and proceeded with the story.

“After tasting the world beyond the palace the crown prince became so addicted to it that he always pleaded with his friend to take him outside the palace. So they both would sneak out every day and explore around the world. On one of these visits they met an orphan girl who has always fends for herself all her life.”

I can’t fight the dizziness again and I gently place my head on Samsin’s shoulders. She didn’t complain. She just smiled and took my hand into her own.

“It was love at first sight for both friends. One thing led to another and they became friends with the girl. They would explore the world and dine with each other, doing a lot of fun things together. They hide their identity from the girl telling her that they were just commoners. unknown to them, the girl also has a secret she is keeping from them.

I yawned loudly and squeezed my hand gently with Samsin’s hand.

“The both friend keep their love for the girl with themselves without telling each other about it, and on the other hand their love for her kept increasing every single day.“

I raise my head slightly to look at samsin face. “Wow the girl must be lucky to have two man of high nobility fall for her at the same time”

Samsin smiled and adjusted my head back on her shoulder. After making sure I am comfortable on her shoulder she continued.

“One day the crown prince took the courage to confess to the girl whereas the second boy was also planning to confess to her on that same day. The crown prince and the girl met and after a lot of hesitation the crown prince finally let out her feelings for her. however the second boy was also present at the scene and had witnessed the crown prince confessing his love to the girl.”

“Oops why did he have to witness that.” I grunted, which made samsin laugh lightly.

“It’s not the boy’s fault” she said and resumed her story.

“The boy left the scene heartbroken and he decides to leave the girl for the crown prince for the sake of friendship they share even when he knows it won’t be easy to forget her. He still wants to make that sacrifice for his friend but the heart chooses whom it wants. you cannot force it to make a decision against its desired ones. The girl declined the crown prince and told him the one her heart beat for is his friend. Both friends were down that day with a broken heart and they both stayed in their separate lanes without trespassing to each other’s boundaries.”

I don’t know but right now I feel like I will soon be engulfed in deep sleep as I feel my eyelids becoming heavy.

“Are you listening?” Samsin cooed as she pinched my palm lightly and I nodded my head to let her know I was with her, then she continued.

“As time went on the crown prince started distancing himself from his friend and was doing everything in his best to convince the girl to accept his feelings for her but his parents had another plan for him which shattered his chances with the one he loved. They announced marriage between him and another noble lady.

“Oh that’s bad for him. But on the other hand it just gives the second boy an opportunity to express his love for the girl.” I blurted and quickly used my hand to cover my mouth when I realized I must have said something not appropriate but samsin just chuckled and went on with the story.

“He was so aggravated but his parents already made the final decision. Fortunately for the girl and second boy, they both start their own love story and the crown prince also gets married to his chosen bride and ascends the throne. The other lover bird without wasting time also got married, living happily. One day the secret the orphan girl was trying to hide was exposed to her husband.

I yawn again and snuggle my head closely into samsin shoulder

Samsin smiled.” I think we will continue with our story another day, “she said.

I tried to keep my eyes open.”No, don’t worry. You can continue I am listening”

“You should sleep. you seemed tired.” With that being said. She took her palm to my face and used it to close my eyes and like that I felt sleepiness engulfed me.