Her Poison His cure: Behind The Mask

I stopped on my track when I saw my brother waiting for me. I studied him for a few seconds and inhaled deeply. He was sitting with one of his arms on the table, his head bent down slightly with his free hand supporting his head.

What is he thinking about this time? He is always worried every time I see him

He yawned softly from tiredness and it clearly showed on his face that he needed to rest but he kept fighting it and resumed his thoughts.

I sighed and moved closer to him. I didn’t bother calling him or tapping him, I just sat on one of the chairs looking at him.

We remained in that position for a few seconds until he finally raised his head up and was surprised to see me looking intently at him.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” He queried.

“Like how am I looking at you” I raise my brows up at him.

“As if I took your husband. I am not a lady you could enter a rivalry with, you know that right. Go find the one who steals your husband and stop giving me that creepy look” he jokes and laughs lightly.

“Brother what is it this time around?” I asked, discarding the joke he cracked.

“What?”

“Don’t try to play dumb, did you know when I have been standing over there” I point at the doorway. “before sitting down here observing you”

“You have been standing there. didn’t you just get here?” he questions.

“This is what I am saying. look, you didn’t even notice my presence at all” I replied feigning to be annoyed.

“Okay I am sorry about that. But what bugging me this time around is not something to involve you with, I will sort out my thoughts myself. Don’t worry about me”

he declined and pinched my cheeks.

I looked stunned at first but regained myself after a few seconds. I knows my brother well, the crown prince never considered me a child whenever he need my help and had always not hesitate to ask for my help which I always gladly do but seeing that he is willing not to let me in his problem this time around is surprising but at the same time he said it was nothing serious. So I believe he will settle it well on his own.

“Okay no problem, but whatever it might be don’t let it bug you down okay” I gave him a reassuring smile.

“Okay” he returns the smile.

“What are we reading today?”

He said, searching for a book on the table.

“Brother” I called and he raised his head up.

“Remember three days ago when I helped you with your riddle. I have table a condition for you and you said I will get whatever I want” I uttered.

“Yes, I remember. I was practically waiting for you to ask me what you want but you didn’t, so I thought I should wait till you are ready. Seems like you are ready. Tell me what you want” he replied.

“Will you really give me what I want”

“Have I ever gone back on my words? Whenever my mind goes back to three days ago I am always grateful to you, you don’t know how embarrassed I would have been if I was unable to get rid of the riddle. I won’t have been the only one embarrassed but the royal family would have been stained if not for your words of encouragement.”

I nodded and rested my chin on my palm. If I should ask him directly he will definitely suspect I am up to something. I need to use some logical ways.

“Ask me what you want and stop giving me that look. Seeing that look on your face is making me think that what you want from me is definitely not clean”

“Come on. What I want is something clean. I am just wondering,”

I paused and bit my lip.

” Did you know why the prison is tightly guarded?” I asked.

I already know why it is heavily guarded but I need to make him believe I knew nothing about this except from the rumour.

“How did you know that?” The crown prince questions back.

I throw my hand up waving it in demonstration.”The rumour is over the palace. How can I not know when everyone in the palace is gossiping about it”

“Then you must have heard the reason from the rumor as well” he replied huskily to my disappointment.

Is he trying to stall me?.

“The reason? Oh you mean the rumor that there’s a monster in there”

I echoed, remembering what Na ji hye told me about my brother not wanting to give out any information to me.

I need to get information from him by all means.

“Yes and that was the reason” The prince simply nodded.

“I thought it was only a rumor and I didn’t expect it to be true.” I said, rubbing my chin lightly pretending to be thinking while my eyes glanced at him slowly.

“It is not a rumour but the truth. there’s a monster in there” the crown prince stated.

Time to set the bait, Almighty heavens let him bite it, I prayed mentally.

“But don’t you think putting the monster in there is dangerous? It is supposed to be isolated outside somewhere not here in the palace prison” worried clearly shown on my face.

“Are you afraid it might escape from the prison and cause damage?”

The prince quizzed seeing the worried looks on my face. Only if he knew that look was just a facade.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“It is entirely possible”

“Don’t worry. That’s the reason why the security in the palace tightened and the people has been ban from going to prison and they must not been seen around the vicinity either”

“Poor guards” I shook my head sadly

“Why? Is something wrong with the guards”

“No, I just feel pity for them. They won’t be able to leave the prison which I am sure of, I was wondering how they are eating and doing other stuff”

I shake my head miserably.

“I heard there are this maids who brings food to them and once they are done they vacate immediately”

“There are maids who bring food to them”

I touched her chest pretendly.

“I am relieved, I thought they would starve in the name of fulfilling their duty” I added.

“Don’t worry His Majesty is considerate of them as well” He assured

I nodded and smiled.

The maids are the answer to my problem.

“Don’t even let your step mistakenly turn to the palace prison way not to think of going in there. Do you understand?”

The crown prince warned, knowing I am always the curious type. I might go in there out of curiosity, if only he knew that is exactly what I was planning to do.

“Of course I am not stupid. I will never go there. I still want to live” I smile triumphantly.

“What is your request? We differ from there earlier” He asked.

“A-a-actually I am not sure yet. I will l-let you know when I have a request” I stuttered, nit-picking on my finger.

I had forgotten I tricked my brother with that and didn’t expect him to ask me that so I was caught off guard.

“I thought you said you have a request earlier”

“I am not interested in that anymore” I replied nonchalant

“Okay if you are ready let me know”

He opened the book in his hand, ready to start reading.

“Brother, you should go to your chamber and rest. Let’s cancel today’s reading, you need a lot of rest” I opined.

“I am okay don’t worry about me”

“Of course you are, but I am just tired today, that ‘s why I needed to sleep early. You too should go and have your beautiful sleep”

I intensify and as if to confirm my words a loud yawned escape from my mouth

“Alright. Have a good night’s rest”

he said standing up. He smiles, a beautiful heart- felt smile and pulls me closer for a hug.

“Dream well” he added and pecked my forehead before turning around and leaving the room.

I smiled as I watched my brother retreating until he was out of sight.

I sighed deeply when alone in the room.

“The next step is the maids. I will get Na ji hye to find Information about them tomorrow” I mumbled silently and yawned loudly.

I went directly to my bed, lowered my body on it and tucked the blanket over myself then closed my eyes, waiting for the beautiful sleep to carry me into the dreamland.