* * *
Chapter 12
Ereka opened her eyes.
“Are you awake?”
Sungjin smiled softly.
“Ah, I fainted.”
“Yes, you overdid yourself. Rachel treated you.” Sungjin raised his hand towards Rachel, who was beside him.
“Well done.” He tried to stroke her head, but Rachel suddenly stood up.
Hmmm?
She felt a strange sensation and avoided his touch; she spoke quickly with a blush:
“Since Unni is awake, I’m going to the bathroom.” Rachel ran away abruptly.
Sungjin smiled.
Ah, right. She was caged all that time.
He didn’t understand why she was embarrassed about being excused; wasn’t she the one who had requested they bathe together?
Cough. Let’s try and forget that happened.
He had been quite shocked when she asked; she had a cute side to her.
Unlike Sungjin who was smiling contently, Eustasia and Jenna looked knowingly at Rachel. They knew why she left so quickly.
Sungjin carried on without any further thoughts on the matter.
“Ereka, I’m sorry to disturb you so soon, but we need to discuss our next plans.”
“Yes, Sungjin, I’m okay right now.” Ereka sat up straighter.
Sungjin talked as he looked down at the map of the continent.
“Right now, we have prevented the riot, but there’s no more time to wait. We must advance towards Rupellion immediately.”
“There is no other choice to save the cursed people but…” Eustasia made a doubtful face.
She knew the reasoning behind Sungjin’s decision; it was because of his reasoning that she had decided to serve him as king. But this was a fight that should not be done according to the stratagems of war. Saving those cursed by the High Priest would mean sacrificing more to the evil enemies.
As a general, she knew this fight should be prevented.
“Don’t worry, I’m aware of the difference between recklessness and bravado.” Sungjin smiled in reassurance.
He understood the situation as well.
I am walking into the trap of the High Priest knowingly.
The cost of victory had gone up, and he knew it would possibly take many more victories to completely eradicate the High Priest’s reign. Rupellion was large, and the grand temples were located in eight different locations..
They would have to prepare for, not only a long war against a stronger enemy but a third enemy behind them. The odds were stacked against them, but this also made the battle worthwhile.
“I’ll win.” He extended his fist in the direction of Rupellion.
How else could he achieve his position of Arc Master without overcoming this challenge? After uniting the four allied countries, he knew Rupellion and Eldorado remained. He promised himself he would overcome them all. It was time to prove his words. It was an uncertain battle with a lot on the line, his dreams and other people’s lives…
Sungjin smiled towards Rachel who was staring at him with anxious trust. This was a battle with a child’s life on the line as well; he had no choice but to win.
“Yes, Sungjin, we will definitely win.” Ereka spoke sternly.
She recalled the tortured faces of the people after seeing Rachel’s pain. A solid aura, like a shield, exuded from her.
“I will give everything I have in order to protect Sungjin, my teammates, and everyone from the pain. So use me as a shield and please win this fight.”
She could not bear to see torment in the name of some mad god any longer. Rage outweighed fear. The High Priest was a fearsome enemy, but this was a fight she could not walk away from. She knew what she must do: she would give everything she had to ensure Sungjin the victory.
“Thank you; I knew we could count on you.”
Watching the two lock eyes on each other, Eustasia snorted.
“Hmph, well, fine. I’m already the sword that cuts down everything in your path.”
She placed her sword on the table.
“You can wield it however you want.”
She knew the difficulty of the decision he was making, but if that’s the route he chose she would support and assist his decision.
“Me too! I’ll devote my strength too.” Jenna swayed her tail as if to ask them to entrust her to a task.
“Thank you, everyone. We’ll win.”
Sungjin’s announcement was given with confidence. His teammates had willingly stepped forth to fight with him, despite the odds. What could he possibly lack with teammates like that? The schemes of the High Priest and the Wise Golden King were nothing if he overcame everything by prevailing.
“Rachel needs to hear this too; she seems to be taking a while in the bathroom. Hmmm.”
When Sungjin spoke of her late return, Ereka stepped forth.
“I’ll go find her.”
“Ah, please.”
******
Ereka went looking for Rachel. Although she said she was going to the bathroom, she was found sitting in a corner of a balcony whimpering.
“Miss Rachel?”
“Ah, sister Ereka.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Tha…That….That is…”
“Did something happen? Are you worried about the threats of the High Priest?”
“It’s not that.” Rachel shook her head.
“Then?”
“When I see Oppa…”
“When you see him?”
“My heart seems to beat harder…My face feels hot…And I can’t stay next to him because, strangely, I feel embarrassed. Why do I feel like this? Do you think this is a new curse?” Rachel blinked her eyes in worry.
“Oh, I see.” Ereka tried to hold back her smile but failed.
How cute. Sungjin would not have noticed any changes in Rachel.
He would probably think she was just being a child.
But a young girl will eventually grow into a beautiful adult.
Upon falling in love, her emotions would develop faster.
Haa. There’s an additional woman to Sungjin’s list but…if it’s Miss Rachel, I suppose there’s nothing I can do.
She was so cute and loveable. They should get along well as women who love the same man. It is her duty to lead them as the older sister. Organizing the inner palace was the duty of a wife for her husband, after all.
Kyah. How embarrassing, I’m acting as if I’ve already married Sungjin.
She hadn’t. Still, it wasn’t as if Sungjin had an official queen, so wouldn’t she have to be in charge of the inner palace?
“It’s okay, Miss Rachel. You feel like that because you have come to love Sungjin even more.”
“Really?”
“Yes. You are turning into an adult. Perhaps, we will call it affection before love.”
“I really like Oppa…But when I see him…”
“Huhu. It’s fine. That emotion will later grow to love, and you will seek out true lovers.”
“What should I do when I can’t go near him?”
“Just try and keep your composure and be slightly more courageous.”
“Courageous?”
“To be honest, I find my heart beating quite quickly when I’m near Sungjin, too.”
He tends to show new sides of himself every time she’s around him. Perhaps, she, too, is falling in love everyday. Ereka rubbed her cheeks gently.
“But how do you remain by his side? Is it because you are an adult?”
“Of course, I think, as people grow older, they find their footing. People around me are saying I am of marrying age and offer encouragement.” Ereka smiled and patted Rachel’s head.
“So, Miss Rachel, you will be fine. Be a little bold and practice standing next to Sungjin, so that when you become an adult you can hug him too.”
“I see. I need to start gathering my courage now on my way to becoming an adult.” Rachel, who echoed her words, screeched to a halt.
“Um… But…”
“Yes?”
“No…Nothing! I’ll find my strength eventually.” Rachel shook her head from side to side.
“So, let’s go back. You like Sungjin don’t you?”
“Yes, Unni.” Rachel nodded her head vigorously.
When the two returned hand-in-hand, Sungjin smiled.
“Ah, you’re here, Rachel. I’d like to talk to you about the battle with Rupellion.”
“Oppa! I’ll be courageous!” Rachel replied immediately.
“Huh? Oh, well, sure. This is the time for courage, I suppose.”
Sungjin nodded his head in agreement. The High Priest was strong, and they would need all the help they could get, including a combative spirit.
“Yes, Oppa. I’ll be brave.” Rachel replied again.
Ereka smiled.
“Yes. We should win this fight and schedule an outing on the following day. In the summer, we will head down to the beach, jump in the leaves during fall, or play in the snow during winter. Perhaps visiting the spring blossoms will be nice? If we all go with Sungjin, it will surely be a fun time. Right, Miss Rachel?”
“A picnic with Oppa and everyone…that’s a great idea!” Rachel replied with sparkling eyes.
She will win and live and go everywhere with Oppa.
Goddess, please save me. Give me strength.
She prayed in her mind. Sungjin watched the scene with satisfaction. Beside the queen, Jenna only sighed. Eustasia, intertwining her fingers, began to think.
If she’s a child that I cannot get rid of, it is better to have her as an ally, as Ereka. It’s astounding how she does such things without even thinking.
She was, however, in complete agreement with the picnic plan, including resuming the canceled beach vacation. With that, Sungjin raised the morale as he prepared for the battle with the High Priest. This didn’t, however, change the fact that the road ahead would be a harsh one.
******
That night, Rachel prayed while looking at the moon.
Goddess, please let me grow into an adult, so that I can hug Oppa.
She then lowered her head. But what if she died because the bad guys took her away? That was the question she was unable to ask Ereka. Oppa and Unni said that they would protect her, but a corner of her mind was still unsettled.
Adult…Adult…Ah….
As she pondered, her eyes shone, and she whispered towards the garden.
“Please teach me the quick way to become an adult.”
******
That night, Sungjin was awakened by an approaching presence.
“Oppa!” The voice was familiar.
“Ah, Rachel?”
“Can I lie down next to you?”
“Mmmm, yes.” Sungjin replied without opening his eyes. It seemed she had come to find him because of a nightmare.
“Ehehe.”
With a bright laughter, something soft and smooth attached itself to his body. It was an electric but comfortable feeling.
Huh?
Something was off; Sungjin opened his eyes. The body lying next to him didn’t seem like Rachel’s. He was at a loss for words when he realized a mysterious woman was lying next to him. Her long black hair reflected the moonlight. It was like the Milky Way of the night sky. The smiling soft red lips and white teeth carried the night’s seductive whispers.
But that was not all.
The white clothes she wore placed an emphasis on revealing a woman’s body: a thin waist, a robust chest, soft skin. It was seductive. His desire came to the forefront. The pinnacle of beauty any Easterner would dream of was before him, a beauty beyond praise.
Who was this woman?
The beast inside him shouted that there was no need to question such things and urged his instincts.
“Oppaa!”
If the beauty had not jumped into his arms calling him Oppa, he did not know what he would have done.
“Ra… Rachel?”
“Yes! Oppa! Ehehe.”