Chapter 338 - Know It Better-I

Lights passed by her shut eyes. Even though her eyes were shut close, she could see the movements of people by their shadows. She felt as though she been drowned under water and had been pulled to to the surface. Her body jumped from the bed and she threw the air that lunge on the back of her throat, trying to suck more air in haste as she felt her breathings passage was stuffed by something earlier.

An indescribable emotions she wasn't aware of fore the begin to slither under her skin. The emotion made her feel bad as if she had an upset stomach that pained her to her chest.

"Milady?!" Came the voice from her side, and the maid came in a hurry, holding to her hand. Seeing the cold sweats, the maid said, "It must be a nightmare. Please wait here milady as I bring you a new fresh water of jug."

Seoyeon didn't know who the woman was.she felt that her consciousness was floating and while she was awake it feel as if she was sleeping as well. She shook ear head to erase her drowsiness. Looking around the house, she noted the traditional rooms and looking down, she found herself dressed in the same traditional clothes.

It took Seoyeon a while to grasp her surrounding, feeling like an intoxicated person. Running to the closest mirror, Seoyeon watched her reflection and finally everything came to place.

The ritual was a success. Currently she is Sol Haneul, the first catalyst which mean the maid from earlier was Yeseul the maid who had been the closest to her.

While perusing the reflection, Seoyeon also notice how she look older than before. Bringing her hand, Seoyeon remembered there was things she had to do and find out, oddly now, she can move her body. Maybe this was caused by the fortuneteller's power?

"Milady, this is the water," Yeseul poured her a drink and Seoyeon quickly dawn the drink at once. The maid concernedly watched her master, "Is it another nightmare?"

"I don't remember," Seoyeon said but it was her lips that spoke on its own, "I think the work in the palace just cause me some tiredness."

Work in the palace? Seoyeon asked herself. How long of time had been skipped since when her dream had been cut?

"Milady, forgive me but is your job with the Queen that terrible?" Yeseul asked, "I heard about it... of how the Queen promised to give her blessing to marry Master Min Hyuk and forgive me again for my presumptuous words, but milady, the Queen is known to rarely hold her promise. I don't understand why you would agree."

Seoyeon now understood after the Queen's persuasion last time which worked, Haneul now agreed to work and aid the Queen. The woman was too fishy and she guessed by the maid's reaction everyone remotely trust their own Queen.

A sigh passed by Haneul's mouth when she pulled away the cup and settle it on the nearest table. "Yeseul, trust me I don't believe the Queen either."

"Then—"

Haneul raised her hand in response, "I might not be able to trust the Queen but I have trust in my own power I have deep trust that the Queen would need to follow my words and request unless she would lose control over me. It's not only me who have the disadvantage she also have one as much as she has the advantage."

"Yeseul is stupid and is low born so I don't quite understand what you mean, milady bu as your closest friend, I am worried, milady. The Queen is not to be trusted," the maid said again. She didn't have the chance to meet the Queen too many times but she could tell the woman was an ambitious person who could sacrifice others's life if needed and think nothing of those sacrifices.

"Worry not. I have it all under control," Haneul said, holding her maid's hand with an assuring smile. She says that but Seoyeon could feel the raw emotions of anxiety that kept on sliding on Haneul's heart.

"We should prepare for today, milady," Yeseul then said and Haneul agreed. 

The day was bright in the morning. While the other part of the house seems to be busy, Haneul's part of the corridors were empty as if people were avoiding the place out of an unknown fear. Haneul was upset to know she was avoided in the beginning. Once the Queen announced her power as the catalyst, everyone begin to fear her exactly because of the Queen's one careless remark, 'She should be the sword, spear, and shield of this kingdom. Only her is needed to defeat anyone who is our enemies.'

The people then understood of her deadly power and since then the people whom she knew and once was close with then tip toes around her. The maids who she greeted on her way also bowed their back almost immediately as if fearing to meet her gaze.

Seoyeon understood the emotions Haneul had, almost too understanding that she felt her heart ache in her behalf. Seoyeon was never sure if it was because the catalyst was inside her or because they shared the same power but the feelings that Haneul had transfer to her like sponge soaked with water. 

"You came out," a voice speak and she felt how Haneul's heart turn heavier than before. Meeting the person's gaze, Seoyeon then could tell why Haneul felt sadder. The woman was her mother but Seoyeon knew that both the mother and daughter wasn't close enough to interact daily and whenever they met only sparks of anger and heartache surrounded the two that created more rift between them.

Haneul parted her lips that she didn't notice had been tightly pursed by herself, "Mother, it's a good day."

"Certainly," answered the woman and silence trickle like he raindrops that fell from the leaves beside them, "I thought the palace is close for today."

"I was thinking to visit a lake in the southern border," Haneul answered, her voice stiff and her act rigid.

"Before that, I have to go to the tea party held by Wan Family, I wish you could entertain the guest who is waiting in the viewing room also, bid my goodbye on my behalf," Mrs. Sol left the words, adding nothing else as she then left the place.

Haneul's back that was straightened tooo unnaturally then slouched a little as she let go of her stifled breaths. Yeseul behind her looked at Haneul with worries, "Milady, believe me. The madam doesn't hate you," the maid decided to let her know.

Haneul turned her face to her maid who always walked three steps behind her, "I hope she would, thank you Yeseul." The maid offered Haneul a sympathetic expression and Haneul waved her hand in response. "Interacting with people is the hardest thing I have ever faced until now I have been at lost. Maybe she doesn't hate me but neither does she liked me... she is tolerating me." A mother who tolerated her daughter's being, Haneul didn't have to express with words how lonely she felt when she think her mother had to live with her because she couldn't chase her away.

If she hadn't work for the Queen, would her mother who then learned of her power would keep her close? Haneul could only see the possibility of her mother driving her out of the house for the fear of her power. 

One other reason why Haneul decided to work with the Queen because only by then people would accept her and her unknown power. 

"Do you know who the guest is?" Haneul then asked and Yeseul shook her head. Without any lead, the woman then went to the viewing room. The maids opened the door on her behalf, the sliding sound crisply warned the other guest who was inside the room, sitting down as his deep blue robe spread out on the wooden floor. 

"Good afternoon, I am Sol Haneul. I have come here on my mother's behalf who had to leave to attend an urgent matter," said Haneul as she entered the threshold of the room at the same time questioning her mother's action. Leaving a guest in the middle of their conversation was rude and visiting other's without particularly any reason to stop entertaining the guest was a questionable act.

Haneul only understood that this was her mother's way to force her to speak with the guest.

The man slowly turned his face and when their eyes locked it was the pair of black eyes and the handsome features which Haneul and Seoyeon both remember. 

"Miss Haneul, it is my honor to meet you again. If I may ask, do you remember me?" The man asked after pushing himself from the floor to speak with eye level with Haneul.

"Naturally, you are difficult to forget, Mr. Han Anhye," Haneul answered upon seeing the man who she hadn't seen for the last three years. The biggest reason for her to remember Han Anhye was because she had to interact with the man in the past as her mother wanted her to form a relationship with her.

Mrs. Sol didn't stopped after the hunting game and continue to create opportunities for them to be together which failed as Haneul had used all her cards to avoid the man. Because for the past six months her mother lessened her pursue, Haneul lessened her guard, not knowing that today she had to meet him again.

While Haneul felt awkward to meet the person who she been avoiding again, the man showed a rather friendly expression that caused Haneul to think that she might have overreact.

"Please take a seat," Haneul offered, her hand played to the other end of the table as they sat facing each other on the floor. "Is there anything you would like to eat? A light sweets should be great to accompany our talk."

"It is fine, Miss Sol, I didn't come to stay for long either," the man answered.

"Then we should have fruits. Truthfully I am carving for sweets," answered Haneul with a smile and the man chuckled lightly on her words in response. Han Anhye appeared to be polite and comped to the other men whom her mother had forced her to meet with, Han Anhye was the most polite one and if Haneul had to say it herself she felt that the man didn't see her with the prospect of marriage as their conversation was about a few trivial things that could be forgotten easily. 

"Yeseul, please get me the peaches Minister Chung gifted us."

Haneul fixed her dress only to realize Yeseul didn't move, "Yeseul?" Haneul asked again to the maid whose eyes were fixed at Han Anhye.. But not only the woman was the one who looked at her when Haneul had called out Yeseul name again, Han Anhye who raised his chin to meet her eyes then stared at her for long, a part of him felt as if he was sucked that they couldn't tear their gaze from one and the other.