4. The Cursed Spirit
4. The Cursed Spirit
Later that night as she was preparing my bed for sleep, I asked her why he seemed to be so displeased as well as where Seong-Yu Hyung has gone off too. She didn’t seem to want to answer at first, but she sat me down and gently asked me who I was talking about.
I just stared at her and it had confirmed something in my mind that I have been suspicious about for some time. I just simply replied to forget about it and went to sleep. Only that night I couldn’t. And needing the night air I snuck out to sit at the pond only to find Seong-Yu already sitting there.
I cautiously walk up and just stood there. He was staring up at the bright stars in the night sky and quietly asked,
“Are you afraid?”
When I don’t answer right away, he turns to look at me.
“Who are you?” I ask instead.
He gives a small sad smile. “I was once a prince like you long ago. And this place…” He gazes around the courtyard with a hint of bitterness. “Is my prison.” He finishes.
“You’re the banished Prince Lee Seongyeon-Nam, the prince that was accused of murdering his older brother, the crown prince.” I say softly, watching his features that soon became a mask of indifference.
“You’re my ancestor.”
He looks over to me once again as if he was gauging my intentions. “I was cursed to live alone for the rest of my days here, neglected and abandoned. My father believed those rumors and forced me to be isolated from the rest of the world.”
“But you died barely past your twentieth year from hongyeok (smallpox) disease. Instead of treating you, they left you to die here and all alone.” I say gently watching as his expression turn soft and sad.
“Were you cursed, or did you curse yourself when you lied there in pain and heartbroken?” I ask.
“For a young one you’re very observant and catch on rather quickly.” He muses.
“I found a scroll in the abandoned library. In the restricted section. Not much to do here.” I state with a shrug.
“Astonishing they even had a scroll about me.” He seemed genuinely surprised.
“Historians must always record the state of affairs, including its habitants. Whether abandoned, banished, or isolated or not. Hye-Se Young writes one everyday about me, even though she thinks I’m not aware that she does.” I shrug nonchalantly.
He gives me a tiny smile. “So, what now, young prince?”
I give him a smile in return. “Nothing. I continue my lessons. You’re the only one who is not afraid of me.” I mumble the last part of my sentence.
“Your caretaker doesn’t seem to be afraid of you.” He frowns.
“She tolerates me and cares for my wellbeing but there is always a line of fear in her eyes. Especially when I turn up with a new special ability.”
“Like seeing the dead?” He quips.
“Exactly. I was catching on that you might not be real every time she seemed confused or concerned when we are together.”
“And what about me? Are you afraid now that you confirmed I’m dead?” He raises a single eyebrow in question.
“Even learning who you were in life I wasn’t afraid. Being afraid of people, whether living or deceased, is too tiring and burdensome.”
“But you are afraid of someone, are you not?”
It was like he was piercing through my soul his eyes were so bright. I couldn’t help to stiffen at his question. Then I release that pent-up tension and sit in the chair opposite him.
“I don’t understand this fear, for I have never met the person I am most afraid of.” I say honestly.
He nods his head as if understanding perfectly. “That person sired you then left you since the day you were born and controls every aspect of your life. That’s a fear I understand all too well.”
After that we became closer over the years until I was finally summoned to train. I still wasn’t allowed in the inner palace and only permitted to accompany the imperial guards to their quarters. And I was only allowed at the training grounds where the trainees were placed through the years until they graduated.
And it was brutal.