Where flowers wither {Completed}

Chapter thirty five(b)

The King's POV.
I was in my meeting room when the Queen mother asked for an audience.
"Please enter" i said.

"I have been busy preparing for the wedding and wasn't able to visit" she said after settling down.

"I understand"

"I keep feeling uneasy because we are going against the General's will"

"He would be fine after some time"

"I am worried for her too because i don't want her to have a loveless marriage and for the General since he lost his parents at a young age, he should have a family he cherishes"

"Are you going to do something about it?"

"I don't have a plan yet but i am searching"
"Your Majesty" she said.
"After what happened yesterday do you still trust Consort Yoo hwa?"

"It wasn't what you are thinking"

"She is someone you can't trust your Majesty"
"During her stay in the palace prison we found something in her chamber"
"Here" she said opening the small kit she brought with her, revealing a silk garment.
I picked it up and unfolded it.

"A man's upper garment" she said.
This is what i wore during my visit to the iron ore mine, i tied Chae min's wound with it.

"What makes Queen mother think this isn't mine"

"Is it?"

"I wear casual clothes sometimes"
"Yesterday too, it was her brother, so Queen mother should stop suspecting her"

"I must have gotten it wrong"
"Consort Yeon woo needs a lot of attention so do visit her more often" she said and left.

Yoo hwa! Did i get it wrong from the start? The wound i saw on her hand at the water fall, the reason why it looked familiar is because i did tie it myself.

'We are so close that it is like we share the same soul'

But it still couldn't be, could it?

"Is anyone out there?"

"Yes, your Majesty" he said walking in.

"Hurry and call the commander"
I don't even know why he isn't here.

"I am here" he said coming in.

"Were you standing outside?"

"I thought you would need some space"

"Space?"
What is wrong with him today.

"I need to ask you something, just one thing"
"Is Chae min a woman?"
He kept quiet.

"Answer me"

"Yes" he said in a low tone.
I stood up fast and walked out.

"Your Majesty you shouldn't try to find out more" he said hurrying after me.
But i ignored him.

"Where is he?" I asked slowing down.

"I don't know"

"Then i will look for him"

I walked to the outer palace, through the walk way i saw someone of his physique walking very slowly towards us.

"Your Majesty" he said keeping his head down when we met midway.

"This" i said extending the upper garment.
"Did you give it to Yoo hwa?" Her eyes widened but she still didn't look up.
"Let me see your forearm"

"Your Majesty I...I.."
'She is going to refuse' i concluded.

"You shouldn't move an inch from here, the commander too"
"It is an order" i said turning and heading to her chamber.

"Your Majesty, her highness is asleep" Doha said making me remember her absence back at the temple and her appearance the same day with the Ambassador.
I went in to find an empty room again.
I turned to see her standing on the door way, it is the same way the General walks, without the sound of his footsteps approaching.
We stared at each other for what might have seem like forever.
Then i blinked and went to sit on the side of her bed.
She walked in to her drawer,removed the beard and put it in a small case and wiped the dark line on her face with a towel without turning.
She cautiously covered her face with a veil.
'What is she doing?'
She carried her clothes and went behind the changing barrier.
As i watched her movements, thoughts of realisation kept running through my mind.

I stoop up and walked with long strides, the breeze blew the candles on my way.
Behind the barrier she was wearing the uniform's white inner wear.
"Your Majesty" she said startled.

I moved close to draw her hair band letting her hair fall.
I stared straight into her eyes and loosed the veil that covered her face, letting it fall to the ground.
The candle beside her made her birth mark very visible and it was even smaller than i thought.
Looking at her now makes me want to ask, is she wearing the veil to cover the mark or this enchanting beauty?and i have concluded it has to be the latter.

Her grey eyes which illuminated in the dark became unsteady.
'I must have made her feel uncomfortable'
So i went ahead to wrap my arms around her.
"I am so sorry your Majesty"she said.

"My lady"
"I am really angry"
"Angry that you have been by my side all along"
"Angry for realising it now that we have come a long way"

"Your Majesty" she said,reciprocating with her small arms.

I placed my hand above the last candle.
"What ar..." She started saying.

"Shhhh" i whispered blowing the candle off completely.

*********
Dear readers i will really be angry if you don't comment on this chapter.
Love you all lots *muah*