Min-ho was thinking about Si-ri’s advice. He screeched to halt in a nearby tea shop for a while. After some time he noticed the damnatory gazes of people around him. Some of them were so startled with his presence that they started to leave the shop.
Min-ho couldn’t help but scoff at himself.
“Some people are scared of me because of my arrogant demeanour and others look down on me scornfully because of my work and idleness. What kind of life am I living?”
“I never got affected by these people but on the contrary I never wanted to see disgust and fear in their eyes for me but this is what I have earned in all these years, I only realised it now when someone poked me. It’s like I have been lost and stuck in a wasteland where there was direction where I could run but not sure in which direction, lots of faces under the blue sky but no familiar sight and defeaning silence even amongst the notice of chaosin the noise of chaos. I was just another soul roaming in the wrong world.”
“But now I’ll start looking for directions to reach somewhere. This is the first time when someone has coerced me to look at the brighter side of life and I won’t let this little brightness evanesce from my life.”
After much rumination, Min-ho headed to the gambling house. He was welcomed with a usual malodorous aroma the moment he entered there. In no time, he became astray in the crowd. The sound of whirring cards, laughing of men in disgusted manner, swinging strobing lights over every table and a faint sobbing of unfortunate people who lost everything in the game was enough to depict the hell and heaven for people who chose to try their luck in the gambling house.
However, Min-ho’s eyes were in search of something else. He found a table were the game was about to start and approached the men sitting there. After some time, the game started and in a few rounds, Min-ho won the game and a good amount of money.
With the handful of money won in the game, he proceeded towards Kwan and said with a blank expression, “Master, I won’t work here anymore. Thank you so much for your kindness all this time. Here is the debt I’m paying you on behalf of that poor man.” Handing over the money, he turned towards the entrance. Kwan’s eyes opened wide in the shock he could, he kept calling Min-ho, as he couldn’t get swasher like him. However, Min-ho didn’t pay heed to any of his calls. Coming out of the house, he turned around last time and said goodbye.
The next morning onwards Min-ho entrusts himself in searching for work. He had already made up his mind to serve his nation but unfortunately, the palace hiring committee was closed after the first term of hiring. Now he needrd to wait for the next term but until then he had to find some sort of job to earn his living.
Because of his previous reputation, people of the town didn’t want to employ him for any work. After lots of efforts, he finally bagged a job in a shop. He started doing his job with honesty and hard work to earn money. Looking at his first earned money, he could feel the satisfaction and happiness that he never felt before.
Meanwhile, Si-ri was lost in thoughts if she hurt Min-ho by suggesting him to set a goal.
“It’s been a week and I don’t know why I’m missing him. Maybe because he is the first person whom I met after living alone for years. But it's not good to think about a man every time. The worst thing is I really want to meet him…again.”
Si-ri turned around making a tensed face only to see Min-ho standing in front of her flaunting his smile.
“Arrhhh…not again, I even started hallucinating him, '' said Si-ri, making an indrawn face and walking away.
Before she could take another step a hand pulled her closer leaving her in utter shock. Si-ri felt herself clutched in a muscular arm, she looked up in fear to see the man and it turned out to be Min-ho.
They both looked at each other with happiness. Si-ri froze in nervousness the moment she saw Min-ho coming closer to her. Her breath shallow, her eyes averted to the ground in shyness.
“Did you miss me?” asked Min-ho, whispering in her ear.
Si-ri nodded her head in denial without looking at him.
“You’re lying. Well, I really love the shade of your cheeks as they’re telling a different story.”
Si-ri was blushing with the thought of Min-ho being close to her. She struggled to free herself from his arms but all in vain.
“Just leave me.” Si-ri shouted at him
Finally, Min-ho spared her with a faint smile.
“What…what are you doing here?” Si-ri asked.
“Your words deeply influenced my conscience that night. I realised that I was on the wrong track. So, I left the gambling house and started a new job.”
“Oh! That’s wonderful.”
“This is the first time I have felt happiness in a very long time. All thanks to you. You introduced me to a new world, where I can see light. Up until then, I was roaming in the darkness where there was no direction. You came into my life like a guiding light.”
He took out an elegant ring from his pocket and handed it to Si-ri. “This is for you, Si-ri.”
“It’s so beautiful,” said Si-ri with a sweet smile.
Standing on the rooftop, Si-ri was busy adoring the ring and Min-ho filled his eyes with the mesmerising smile of Si-ri.
A flourish of cherry blossom’s petals came fluttering down with the blowing wind, Si-ri started twirling in joy and Min-ho enjoyed the sight of her.
“You’re special to me, Si-ri. I’ll always protect you. I’ll stay with you to the very end.” Min-ho said in a low tone with his gaze fixed on her.
The Sun was about to fade away, as it decorated the sky, scattering the hues of red and orange. A cold wind was blowing teasing Si-ri’s long tresses.
“I never bothered about the seasons prevailing in this outer world but right now I’m experiencing a sudden change in the season of my heart. Amidst this autumn, there is a spring taking place in my heart, I feel the blossoming of happiness, light and hope after surviving a drought. And now, I want this spring season to last forever in my heart.”
Lord Yong and his disciples finally reached Noam. Lord Yong was happy that finally, he had the book to save Si-ri but at the same time he was agitated with the remedy that leads to break the curse. Lord Yong and the others placed the book in the shrine located at Lord Yong's house. Lord Yong opened the book and started looking for the antidote to break the curse. He continued to turn page after page with a menacing taste of what's to come. The front page of the book was dark and coarse, the pages had turned yellowish. Spells and amendments were written on each page of the book. The pages of the book are said to be made of vellum of animals. Sentenced to death for breaking his monastic vows, the monk offered a proposal to the King that he would create a book with the world's knowledge in return for his life. The King accepted the propo
As the sky turned dark and an inky black sky appeared, the furrows between his brows grew deeper, as he sat with anxiety written all over Lord Yong's face.Lord Yong had decided to disclose the complete truth to Si-ri before it was too late. He bought some gifts for Si-ri and stepped towards the dense forest with a torch.Standing in front of the mansion Lord Yong knocks on the door. Si-ri rushed towards the door, sensing it must be her father and hastily opened the door. Si-ri was grinning from ear to ear and hugged her father."I missed you a lot, didn't you miss me?" asked Si-ri, making a puppy face."Do you really think your father could forget you? I missed you so much and prayed for your well-being," Lord Yong cupped her face an
"A few months later, as predicted by the girl, the Queen gave birth to a pair of twins, a boy and a girl. In fear for her children and of the throne becoming heirless again, the Queen asked the shaman for a solution. The wicked shaman convinced the Queen to sacrifice the princess for the well-being of the prince and for the future of the Kingdom of Noam. The King hearing this furiously declined, refusing to sacrifice his daughter. But going against the King's decision the Queen handed the Princess over to Mi-sook for her to be sacrificed. Mi-sook transferred the Prince's curse also over to the Princess and told the Queen that the girl had to be burnt for the ritual to be complete. The Queen summoned me for this heinous act as it could only be done through pious spells. I assured them that I killed the Princess and the Queen ordered me to leave the Palace forever."Lord Yong slowly turned
Sleep eluded Si-ri's eyes last night. She spent night by spinning here and there on the bed sometimes and staring at the darkness other times. Maybe, she was looking for the answers that no one could answer. However, she had complete faith in her father and she was certain that everything will be alright soon. Even after knowing Lord Yong was not her biological father, Si-ri's love for him didn't flutter even a bit. Her immense love for Lord Yong was intact. On the other hand, she was feeling pity for her own father who had to hand over his new born to someone. Still she decided to not go to the palace after breaking of her curse. She would rather live with the man who adored her like her own daughter than to be with someone who she barely knows. Early in the morning, Si-ri stood on her balcony filling her eyes with the soothing sight of the rising sun. She still had many unanswered questions and th
Moving forward in the dense forest, they came across the tree titled as the Treeof Empyrean.It was the same as mentioned in the book. Standing in the middle of the forest, illuminated in silver rays of the moon, it was covered with beautiful blue flowers with a hint of purple in them. The tree was not as tall as others of the forest; it was average in size but there was something truly majestic about it, it was a feast for the eyes. Bathing in the angelic moonlight the scene felt like it was from a fairy-tale. All of them were in awe of its beauty. Lord Yong, Si-ri and Nyang stood there for a moment astonished by the charm of the Treeof Empyrean. "My child! The commencement of breaking the curse begins with this tree. You should take your first step to break the curse," said Lord Yong to Si-ri, brea
Lord Yong and Nyang walked through the streets and noticed the decorations that were being put up. The streets were dancing in a variety of colours with smiles plastered on almost everyone's faces. It looked like the preparations for a grand celebration. Nyang asked one of the people about the decorations, then they got to know that the preparations were for the Prince's marriage. In the Palace Queen Iseul walked around the palace instructing everyone, from the maids to the cooks, she wanted everything to be perfect for her son's big day. Her face was glowing from joy as she made sure everything was to the Prince's liking. She couldn't wait to see her son getting wed, it was a dream come true. Her smile hadn't faded even for a moment through it all.
The sound of chirping birds fell onto Ruyi's ears. She moaned from the streaming sunlight against her face and wondered how long she had been asleep for. Suddenly, she felt a feathery sensation caressing her cheeks, it was so soft yet tickling. "You look even more gorgeous while sleeping, my Princess". Ruyi heard a familiar voice and came to her senses. With a mental sigh she allowed her brain to focus and cautiously open her eyes. She slowly opened her eyes, only to be met with a pair of glittery ones looking at her with much affection. While exchanging glances, Ruyi recalled their last night, a flush ran down her body and she quickly pulled the duvet over her head to hide her face. The Prince bursted out laughing looking at his wife's adorable act. "My dear, since you are shy, I w
At night, Ruyi was thinking about Jian’s birthday, she was excited to present him something precious and was smiling faintly being occupied in her thoughts that Jian will surely love her gift. Clouded with the happy thoughts of her husband, Ruyi fell asleep. There was a creepy silence in the room. A sudden sound fell into Ruyi’s ears. She kept ignoring those sounds but after some time those noises engulfed her, completely capturing her brain, unable to render any logical thought as she was half-asleep. Lastly, she turned towards Jian to tell him about the creepy sounds. The moment she looked at Jian a sharp scream escaped her mouth. To her horror Jian was lying on the bed, every veins of his body turned black and he was shivering in fear asking for help in sleep. Horrified, Ruyi rushed to the door and asked