Chapter 288 - Ripple Of Rain-I

Days passed wind finally the hunting game would come. Haneul spent her night before the game bytossing and turning on her bed, she was too excited as tomorrow was finally the day for the hunting game to start. Being inside Haneul, Seoyeon felt strange as her body and emotions adhered to Haneul's but she still has her own self that felt strange. She wondered how long she had been sleeping and if Jung Hwa knew she was in her lucid dream.

Unable to sleep in the middle of the night, Haneul pushed herself from the bed which was placed flat on the ground. The bed she used was one that was thick without legs, instead it was a simple cushioned mattress placed on the wooden floor like how most bed in her house and land was.

She stepped out from her room, feeling the need to walk so she would fall asleep faster to prepare for tomorrow. Everyone in the family had retired back to their room, giving access for Haneul to walk expressively without being seen by anyone or scolded by her mother.

The night was bright with large moon. While making her way to the garden, Haneul can't help but raised her hand to feel the cold wind.

"You will catch a cold," came the voice from above her that surprised Haneul. With her eyes wide, she looked at the man who was sitting on top of the walls that was built around her house. The wall wasn't short but it wasn't too tall either.

"Min Hyuk!" Haneul called his name in surprise. She looked around checking if there were anyone and once she saw no one, Haneul finally advanced forward, "What are you doing here, late at night? Tasting the wind?"

"I was going to watch the stars," said Haneul, not wanting to expose her excitement that would be known to Min Hyuk. "What about you? Staying here at night. We're you waiting for me?"

"I am," Min Hyuk answered, unaware of how his words drove Haneul's heart to a drum loudly as she thought she had been caught red-handed. "I was thinking that you might be too excited for the hunting game that you won't be able to sleep. Even before, I can still recollect how you slept during the ride back home, sleeping on my shoulders because the other night you were too excited about your visit to the banquet held in my house."

Haneul exhaled in relief, she had thought her true intention of being excited to enter the hunting game with him had been noticed. It felt strange, Haneul wished Min Hyuk would notice it but at the same time, she felt embarrassed if he did and scared as she didn't know whether Min Hyuk liked her. But with him being here, Haneul keep her hope alight.

In the past too, she was too excited not because of the banquet but because she would meet him, but Min Hyuk was unaware. "Would there be a lot of people there?" questioned Haneul which Min Hyuk replied with a nod.

"There are also some important people who you would never be able to see if you never entered the palace, I will introduce you to some," Min Hyuk offered and Haneul's smile blossomed, "There's something I want to show you," and Haneul who wondered what it was saw him pulling two dandelion flowers, passing one to her hand, "Blow on it."

"Blow?" Haneul didn't know what flower it was. From the look of it, the flower was round a very minute petals that reminded her of cottons. It was a small but expressive flower to her eyes. Curious, Haneul did what Min Hyuk said, she puffed air to her cheeks about to blow when Min Hyuk stopped her by placing his palm over her lips.

The little action had Haneul to be spellbound. Surprised, her eyes darted to find Min Hyuk chuckled, "I forgot to tell you to say your wish before blowing it."

Haneul nodded, her cheeks felt so hot that she could tell it must have steamed when Min Hyuk's fingertips softly pressed against her lips. 

Min Hyuk turned around, seeming not bothered after touching her lips and Haneul felt a little disappointed. Without her knowing, Min Hyuk who had turned his face away, pulled his smile wider, trying to press the corner of his lips form going any wider. He stared at his palm that has touched Haneul's lips and clenched it tighter.

Doing what Min Hyuk said, Haneul twirled the flower on her hands, she closed her eyes, stealing a small glance at Min Hyuk whose eyes were also closed and after making a wish, she blew the dandelion flower, watching it scatters away at the same time Min Hyuk's flower danced with the wind.

"What was that?" Haneul questioned him.

"It's a tradition in the eastern town to hope something good would happen," Min Hyuk said, "I found it out this evening and thought you would like it..." he drawled and turned to show her his boyish smile. It had been years since Min Hyuk grew up to a dashing man who work under the Queen. They spent less time together, but Haneul could only find herself thinking about him during his absence. 

"What did you wish for?" She asked him, watching him smile.

"I wish that you will fall asleep soon and that I would win in the hunting game," Min Hyuk replied with a wink.

"Such a tease, I know you are lying with me. If the flower could make our wish true, why don't you wish for something greater?" Haneul inquired, watching the moon with her smile wide without knowing how her feature was caressed by Min Hyuk's gaze that had settled on her without blinking.

"Because there is a greater wish that I want to achieve without anyone's help but myself," he whispered under his breaths.

Haneul felt Min Hyuk whispered. Pushing the strands of her hair behind her ears, she turned her head, "Did you speak?"

"Nothing, I was just replying to you that my wish is perfect."

Haneul watched him with a confused expression, "How could it be perfect if you wish for my sleep?"

"Because I can have you sleeping when I am in action, could I?" Min Hyuk raised his hand and Haneul's eyes widened as his face leaned forward. She felt warmth spreading when his thumb brushing her cheeks. The wind felt cold and nice and so was his touches that was light as feathers. The budding emotion blew inside Haneul upon the distance they shared and she could feel her toes curled from where she was standing at.

Min Hyuk who had brushed her cheeks also stopped his thumb for a few good seconds. His eyes were in a daze as he looked back at the girl who stared back at his eyes without letting the air on her lungs exit or enter.

It took him a while to pull himself from being too enchanted by Haneul which was hard. He managed only when he had schooled himself, "There was an eyelashes," said Min Hyuk and when he smiled, Haneul caught his fangs that were sharp and her heart felt hurt.

It wasn't that Haneul feared Min Hyuk who was a vampire. To her statuses didn't matter and neither was his bloodline. He could be vampire, peasant, or witches, but Haneul could care less about it. She loved him for who he was. But marriage between humans and vampires are condemned through the whole land. 

When Haneul think of how her love had broken before it started, it pained her.

"I heard about your mother," said Min Hyuk suddenly, gaining her attention away from her daze. "That she is searching for eligible man for you."

Haneul had been anxious about her mother's eager intention to marry her off because she has him who she loves. To hear the words directly from Min Hyuk's mouth hurt Haneul's heart. "I am not ready for marriage," replied Haneul directly and Min Hyuk looked at her, he knows why she didn't for they both shared the same emotions to each other. But the world won't let them to be together. "Do you think I should get married?" Questioned Haneul, her eyes intently stared at him.

Min Hyuk find the gaze to be courageous but also fearful. He smiled, "You should," and his answer only rubbed her wound, "But if you do not want to, you can take your time. I don't want you to make the wrong choice for your future." Min Hyuk replied, having Haneul to stare at him and she was quick to pull her smile. "I think I should go now. It would be terrible if anyone saw you with a vampire."

Haneul felt sad that Min Hyuk was about to leave but she nodded, "I will see you tomorrow."

"I will be waiting, good night," Min Hyuk answered, he raised his hand only to stop in midair. With a tall jump, like a cat he nimbly cross over the tall wall which was too tall for Haneul. She wondered if one day she could go over the wall just like Min Hyuk and become a free person of her own who could choose him regardless of the oppositions her family and others would show.

After the visit to the garden, Haneul made her way to her room when she noticed a light was turned on the left side of the corridor. Being curious, Haneul went toward the corridor only stopping when she realized the corridor was where her parents slept at.

"I have been thinking about it. The sooner the better," said her mother. Only her voice could be heard but Haneul who had always been beside her mother could tell that it was her voice. 

"What did Haneul said?" came her father's question. Haneul pressed her right side of her ear to the sliding door.

"She is excited about it," her mother lied. Haneul wondered what they were talking of and her heart sunk when her mother continued, "On the end of this week, I will bring her to meet the suitors. Haneul had been taught by her teachers about the etiquette and praised for her beauty, I am sure many have kept eyes on her."

Marriage? Haneul asked in surprise. Her brows furrowed tighter. She placed her hand on the side of the wall and continue to press her ears so she would be able to hear them. 

"If you say so," her father said. Unable to hear their discussion, Haneul made her leave from the room with her heart filled by disappointment and sadness.

"What did the vampire came to speak to you? Surely it's not about Haneul, is it?" Mrs. Sol asked with her eyes narrowed. She knew how close the son of Min Family with her daughter, and she would have been happy as Min Hyuk was a man with a high status, but he failed as he was a vampire.

"He came on behalf of the Queen, she is searching for someone. I think she would be making her appearance here in our town," answered Mr. Sol to his wife's question.

"What? The Queen?" Mrs. Sol wasn't comfortable to hear the Queen would come. It had been a well-known news about the Queen's cold-blooded attitude and most of the story comes with the Queen has always been the type people didn't want to hear twice due to her cruelty.

"It's alright, she would only come for visit," Mr. Sol replied, coming to the bed, "The Queen seemed to be excited about it, I am sure the person she searched for is for a good reason and nothing bad would happen to us or this town."

"I hope," Mrs. Sol replied, slightly unconvinced as she believed the high rumors about the Queen that she had constantly heard. "But strange, she would usually have her retainer to go and fetch the person she wants to meet."

"Maybe it's her close friend, we don't know," Mr. Sol dismissed his wife's nosy question but the woman can't convince herself by the reason. Something was odd, thought Mrs.. Sol.