Chapter 6

In just a week, an uproar rise in the whole kingdom when the Queen had sent away wedding invitations, even to rulers from other kingdoms regarding the marriage of Crown Prince Stefan and Lady Jiu. Countless of gifts were sent to the Winston's property as a form of congratulations but Minji merely sat down, watching her maids opened the gifts one by one as her heart was filled with mixed feelings. The marriage was Jiu's, not hers.

Minji sighed deeply.

Four days.

She had four days left to find out more about the real Jiu Winston, the person behind the kingdom's coming downfall, and her most recent problem which was the confusing things she had been seeing. Whether they were memories of the past or a glimpse of the future, Minji had no idea. In fact, she believed it could've just been fragments of her imagination.

It seemed to happen more often as the marriage approaches.

That morning, Minji was indulging herself in a pleasant breakfast with the duke when it happened. The duke, who was eagerly talking about a certain topic started morphing into a different person entirely. His light brown hair with streaks of white turned darker and his voice faded away. To Minji, it was terrifying. The person she was having breakfast with was no longer Jiu's father, but instead the Crown Prince. Despite still in shock, Minji took note of his attire that resembled the King though his demeanour was not as warm. No words were exchanged between them as they eat.

In all of those moments, she had no control over her body. Almost as if she was dreaming. And there was something else Minji realised too.

Aside from their looks, Minji and Jiu had no similarities. Jiu was an unwavering woman. Heartless, Minji would say.

The choices made and words spoken during those moments would never come out of Minji's mouth either so it made sense that those would be Jiu's. After all, not everyone could watch innocent people lost their lives without any type of emotion. Minji didn't have the heart to call her a monster because despite being such a person, Jiu wasn't the cause behind those people's sufferings. She had simply watched and did nothing.

***

"I don't understand why you would do such thing,"

"And I don't understand why you out of all people would kill my husband," Jiu retorted and just like deep lake, you never know what's under her calm demeanour. "Tell me Rachel, just how much do you care for the people of Dulryn?" She asked.

"Enough to kill him," Rachel snarled at the Queen.

"Nonsense," Jiu mocked the fallen princess, knowing full well how much hatred she bore against her and Stefan. "You killed him out of pure hatred," She continued.

"And I will do the same to you," Rachel spat, her eyes glared through the other.

"You may try."

***

"What are you still here? Go back home," Dami stood in front of Monica, who was lounging on the sofa. Specifically, on the spot Dami claimed as hers. The assassin had her arms crossed and a frown on her face. It was supposed to look scary, but Monica seemed indifferent.

"But I would get lost in the forest,"

"Then just get lost," Dami sneered. "Go away,"

"Why do you hate me so much, dear Dami?" Monica was pouting. It was her attempt in easing the tensed assassin but Dami kept her cool, unaffected by the rather... weak attempt. She noted in her mind that Monica's not the best at coaxing people- at least not her.

"Glad to know you're aware," Dami stated with a small voice but was loud enough for Monica to hear.

From the other side of the room, three kids were sitting in a circle on the floor, drawing with Sua by their side. Though one of them no longer had her attention on the paper but rather, the two bickering ladies.

"Mommy, why are they acting like babies?" She asked, pointing at the unaware duo. Sua held the little girl's hand before reminding her that it's rude.

"But they're not babies," Another retorted, his eyes still on the masterpiece he was working on but soon lifted his head as he look at Sua. "Did they drink the potions you made and became huge?"

"Th-" Sua was about to answer when loud yells emerged.

"Mommy, she said a no no word! She said wench!"

"You said it too!" The little boy yelled back but before the children started fighting, Sua managed to calm them down.

"That's so low of you, Dami." Monica snickered.

"Shut up,"

"No,"

Sua sighed as she stood up. "If you want to fight, do it outside." She grabbed the two by the collars of their shirt before dragging them outside. Out of fear, none of them tried to fight back.

***

"This is all your fault,"

"Well, I'm not the one who said the 'no no word'," The baroness laughed at a scowling Dami. "Are you always that bad around children?"

"No, but you just-" Dami groans. "You pissed me off."

"Sorry then," The baroness replied nonchalantly.

They sat outside in silence but not for long before Monica urging Dami to join her on a walk around the forest. Surprisingly, Dami followed without a single word.

"Will you really kill the prince?" Monica kicked a rock as they stroll slowly.

"I don't remember telling you that,"

"Sua told me,"

"Why would she trust an outsider like you?"

"I thought everyone wanted to kill him and you're an assassin,"

"I don't kill for fun,"

Monica nods. "I saw him a couple of times. He had ferocious shadows lingering around him. He would've died from pressure alone if it weren't for his royal blood," Dami couldn't quite grasp what the other meant but she figured that it's something only someone like Monica would understand. "Even if the living don't wish him dead, the dead surely do."

"You sure know a lot," Dami said but almost quickly regretted it when she was met with an excited look from the baroness. "What?" She asked with a frown.

"That was a compliment, right?" Dami just huffed at her.

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