24. Surrounded by Cherry Blossoms

24. Surrounded by Cherry Blossoms
There was the sound of water trickling, telling me the stream was nearby. I continued on my path until it became a point where I had to climb and maneuver around the rocks carefully, but the scent was only getting stronger.

Finally, I found a smoother foot ground that allowed me to walk safely near the back of the building. The high walls were shrouded in ivy vines and years of decay. Walking around the large structure the blooming flowers of cherry blossoms became heavier, releasing the pink little petals into the wind covering the ground as I go.

As soon as I turn around the corner, I come to a stop to see that part of the wall was torn down as if the weather damage had finally caved in. The surrounding area was a bit damp causing moss and weeds to grow everywhere. The ivy vines also reached this area, but it only added to its beauty of the place.

I peer inside to find a single building that had a wrap around porch the walls just basic shudders. Some of the panels were ripped open while some were whole in its place. There were wind chimes that blew gently in the breeze creating a harmonious sound in the air. Inside the structure more cherry blossom trees grew alongside a few birch trees, creating nothing but shade in the yard.

The place wasn’t as big as I first thought it was, the wall making it seem that way. There wasn’t anything really special other than the beauty it created in its abandonment. I step inside and continue my exploration of the place, completely fascinated that this was here the entire time without me knowing about it.

Why was it here and why had it been abandoned? There had to be a reason for this to be unusable. The sound of my feet was muffled by the many petals on the ground, like a blanket was laid out for the earth. The strong smell of Persimmons was getting stronger, but I didn’t see any trees of the fruit nearby. Maybe they were on the other side?

I start heading that way, curious of the place when I come to a dead stop. The gates in the front were gone, along with half of the wall that should be surrounding it. The flow of the stream was louder on this side but that wasn’t what caught my attention.

No. It was the young woman that was swaying to the sound of the chimes, her back facing me as she hummed along with it all while bellowing out the thin white sheets to hang on the makeshift rope that was tied from one end of a tree to another.

She was definitely a maid with the garments that she was wearing. Soft colors of white and a light blue. Simple yet elegant too. She wasn’t just any normal maid. She had to belong to the castle. But what was she doing way out here? Her hair was in a thick braid that graced down to the middle of her back, a few tresses loose from the wind. She was a bit petite and delicate from where I could see her, but there was also something about her that seemed quite familiar.

Suddenly the wind picked up, blasting blossom petals from the trees and the ground to flow into the air all around us, almost like mother nature wanted to showcase her earthly beauty for anyone who could see. And it made the girl standing there laugh as her dress slightly flew up, the white sheets dancing in the breeze.

I was so entranced that I just stood there like a dumb idiot with my mouth slightly open. And when she turned slightly in my direction to obscure the wind to hit her dead in the face, she spots me and freezes in place.

And the desperate need to walk right up to her, embrace her in my arms, and kissing those soft plush lips overwhelmed me to nearly doing just that. But we were both caught in surprise. Her because there was a stranger just staring at her, and me because she just so happens to be the young girl who had haunted my dreams day and night.

What were the odds that I would be faced with her as soon as I got back? That she was the first person I would see before anyone else? It was almost like fate.

She was beautiful.

More than beautiful, she was enchanting. Like time stood still and graced her with all the light and beauty the heavens had to offer. My chest felt constricted with longing, my heart thundering against my ribcage. My mind went completely blank as we just stared at one another and a part of me wished that this trance would never cease.

Her eyes were the color of dark chocolate and gazing into them I soon realized that there wasn’t any fear in them, just curiosity and wonder. Was it wishful thinking that she too was just as entranced as I was? She doesn’t move, her skirt flowing back and forth in the wind, her strands of loose hair swaying in the breeze, hitting in the face but she doesn’t seem bothered by it.

Swallowing hard, I gain the courage to take a step closer, only for her to stiffen a bit. I stop and swallow again.

“I’m sorry for intruding. I didn’t know this place was here. I was just traveling home when a strong scent guided me to this place.” I quickly say, hoping my soothing voice would ease her uneasiness of me.

She continues to just stand there and stare. I wasn’t sure on what to do. I didn’t just want to walk away so I carefully look around again, not taking another step incase she was a little scared of me standing there.

Looking back over to her, I look at her clothing closely. “Do you…work in the palace?” I ask gently.

“Your eyes are violet.” She suddenly states.

The sound of her tender voice washes over me like a cooling balm to my soul. She didn’t sound condescending, nor did she sound prejudice either, just curious or more like stating a fact. I didn’t know what to say honestly. I’ve never had anyone so blatantly voice out the color of my eyes.

“They say the hidden prince has violet eyes. Are you the prince?” She asks, the sheet in her hands clutched to her chest as she continues to stand there and stare at me.

Then it was like her words finally sunk in and her eyes went large in her face. “Oh! Please forgive me your highness!” She suddenly bows down to her knees, her hands placed above her head respectfully as she leans over and places her forehead against the ground.

I immediately went to her and kneeled myself, frantic that she was panicking over something she didn’t need to panic over. I go to touch her arms to help her stand and ask her not to worry about formalities but as soon as I place my hands on her a strong overbearing sense of possession overwhelms me and all I could think was one word.

Mine.

I was so taken aback by how massive the urge to haul her up against me and simply claiming her to take her as my own that I stagger back with wide eyes, my breathing hitching for a few moments wondering what the hell this was all about.

I have never reacted to anyone as strongly as I was reacting to her. I knew I had been slightly fascinated by her over the years but to actually want to possess her was something quite different. So, I couldn’t help but just stare down at her as she still bowed lowly to me.

“Please, don’t. You don’t need to bow.” I nearly choke out, my body shaking from the urge that was still roaming crazily inside of me.

She hesitantly lifts her head, cautiously looking up at me, but not meeting my eyes as she did. She was now nervous and more reserved learning on who I was. We were both still crouched on the ground facing one another, the petals still dancing around in the wind as it slightly picks up. The chimes became a bit more upbeat as it did.

“What’s your name?” I ask her, watching as she fidgets with the sheet that was still clutched to her in her lap.

She slightly bows as she says, “It’s Hae-Won, your highness.”

Hae-Won.

I couldn’t help but smile at finally being able to learn her name. She finally looks over to me and stares almost as if she was in wonder. Clearing my throat I say,

“Azure.”   

I watch her blink for a few seconds in confusion.

“You can call me Azure, not your highness, just Azure.”

She starts shaking her head as her eyes widen in dread. “I couldn’t possibly do that, your highness! To call you by your given name when I’m just a lowly commoner, its unheard of.” She starts to bow down again when I quickly stop her.

She stiffens but only for a slight moment before looking back up at me.

“Who would find out? It’s just the two of us here and I’m asking you to call me by my given name, so please…” I was desperate for her to see me as something other than a prince and a monster, especially when the entire kingdom sees me that way.

I see her swallow nervously, but I could tell she wanted to follow my wishes, but with the embedded teachings taught by the head maid of the palace, if that was where she was staying, just ran too deep. But I didn’t want to see her that way and I didn’t want her to see me that way either. Royalty be damned.

“Will you please, call me by name?” I finish carefully, not wanting to scare her any further.

We sat there without saying anything. I really thought she wasn’t going to say it, but after long periods of time she finally looks me straight in the eyes with a small smile and says,

“Please, let me not be allowed to call you by your first name, your highness.”

She seemed a bit stressed. So, I relent and give her a smile of my own. “Then please, for the time being, at least call me something other than royal honorifics.”

She shyly smiles again and nods. “Since you’re asking so relentlessly…seonbae.”

The sudden casual honorific sent pleasure throughout my body that I smiled hugely. It may not be my name, but it was definitely something that no one has ever called me before. It was just one step closer in getting her to be comfortable around me.

Seonbae: honorific meaning somebody older or more senior