The kiss lingered, soft yet urgent, the world around them disappearing under the gentle patter of the lingering drizzle.
Bella's chest rose and fell against his, heartbeat syncing with his own as though the rain itself had become their rhythm.
The air was heavy with the scent of wet earth and the faint incense still drifting from the palace, but all she could taste was him, salt, warmth and him, and the faint sweetness of his lips pressed to hers.
Ji-ho's hands rested lightly at her waist, trembling ever so slightly, his chest against hers, feeling her warmth seep into him. She could feel his pulse through the fine silk of his robe, strong and unyielding beneath her fingertips.
Every second stretched, electric and intimate. She felt every brush of his breath, every heartbeat hammering through both of them like a shared drum.
And yet, even in this moment of closeness, clarity struck her like cold water.
She pulled back abruptly, the world spinning slightly with the sudden absence of his lips.
"Stop," she whispered, eyes wide, breath shaky. "We… we can't."
Ji-ho's hands wanted to follow, to pull her back, to bridge the small distance she had put between them. "Ha-neul..," His voice cracked with pleading.
"No," she said firmly, stepping back, staggering almost. Her hands trembling as she adjusted her damp robe. "Do not, do not come near me again like that. Not here. Not like this. Not when everyone could see. Not when the King, the Queen… everything could-" as a stream of tears run down her cheeks.
"Do you think I care?" he interrupted, chest heaving, eyes burning. "Do you think it matters? Not here, not ever, not for me. I… I want you."
Her eyes narrowed, fierce and resolute. "And I will make sure, Your Highness, that if you ever come near me like that again, you will regret it. No matter your title. No matter your crown."
The words landed between them like a sword's edge, sharp and final. Ji-ho opened his mouth, wanting to argue, to deny, to reach for her again, but she did not give him that chance. With a glance, Bella turned, letting the rain wash over her as she ran back toward her quarters, leaving him standing alone in the pavilion.
But Yeon was observing it all
From the shadows, Yeon's hand rested lightly on the hilt of his sword. He had followed the Prince as always, silent, vigilant, the eyes of a hawk in the night. But what he had seen chilled him.
The kiss.
The closeness. The way Bella had returned it without hesitation.
And how desperate, how hungry the Crown Prince looked, like a hunter on a hunt.
"Your Highness," Yeon muttered, stepping from the shadow. "This… this is not proper. You know the dangers."
Ji-ho did not turn to him. He let the rain soak his hair and robes, water dripping from his chin, his chest tight with longing. "I do not care, Yeon," he said, voice low, almost a growl. "I have never felt peace in this palace until her. I do not care what the King thinks. I do not care what the court thinks. She… she is my only solace."
Yeon's face hardened, jaw tight. "Sire… the consequences-"
"I do not care!" Ji-ho snapped, teeth clenched. "Do you hear me? I do not care."
The bodyguard lowered his gaze, lips pressing into a thin line. He knew there was no reasoning with a heart like this.
Bella's Quarters The Same Night
Bella entered her room, water dripping from her hair, soaked to the bone. She sank to the floor by the door, wrapping her arms around her knees, pressing her face into them, trying to drown the turmoil inside.
Tears mingled with raindrops on her cheeks.
She forced herself to breathe. "It's wrong. It's impossible. He… he is the Crown Prince. I am not of this world. None of this can be."
But sleep did not come easy.
In dreams, the kiss replayed. Every pulse, every whisper, every brush of lips and warmth was vivid.
In the dream, Ji-ho's hands cradled her face, his lips soft and urgent. Her body responded, heart thundering in a way that scared her, thrilled her, and confused her all at once.
And when she woke, morning light spilling across the floor, she realized… her heart had grown heavier, the feeling stronger, more impossible than she had thought.
That Morning's Internal Conflicts
Ji-ho stood by the window of his chambers, gazing out at the palace gardens, lost in thought. His chest still ached with the memory of her lips, of her warmth, of her refusal. And yet he felt helpless to do anything but replay it over and over.
Bella, meanwhile, dressed carefully, running her hands over her face as if she could scrub away the memory of his lips. She told herself it was wrong to want him, to care, to feel the pull she could not deny. And yet… the memory of the night haunted her every breath.
Royal Hunt Announcement
In the main hall, the King addressed the assembled nobles and guards.
"Next moon, the Royal Hunt shall commence. I shall take the lead." His voice was firm, commanding.
But halfway through his speech, his face paled. A wave of dizziness overtook him, his hand clutching the edge of the throne, he tried so hard to covering up his deteriorating health from the eyes of all who stood there.
Murmurs swept through the hall as the ministers spoke among themselves concerning the hunt.
As he retreated into his chambers.
Royal Hunt-Private Chambers Scene
The King's pale face had gone unnoticed by most in the hall, save for a few attentive attendants.
The royal physicians had whispered behind closed doors, casting uneasy glances.
But when the ceremony concluded and murmurs filled the hall, the Crown Prince was summoned.
"Ji-ho," the King said, his voice steady, but his hand gripping the armrest betraying him. "Come to my chambers."
The Crown Prince's eyes narrowed in concern. "Father… what happened? Are you well?"
"I am… well enough," the King replied, masking the tremor in his voice. "The hunt… this year, you shall host it on my behalf."
Ji-ho stepped closer, worry etching his features. "Is it the old sickness, Father? From your youth? Is it back?"
The King exhaled slowly. "Perhaps. Perhaps it is… something worse. But you must not let the ministers or court know. They would speak too freely of weakness."
The royal physicians, standing discreetly to the side, inclined their heads slightly toward the Crown Prince. Their eyes were grave.
"Your Highness… it may be more severe than it appears. The King was poisoned"
"Poisoned?" The prince asked concerning.
"Yes. It was suspected that something was put into his usual tea. But the King wishes to keep it discreet. For the sake of the court."
" Do we know who would've done such a thing to the King?"
"No, your Highness."
Ji-ho's jaw tightened, concern flaring. "I will do as you have commanded, Father. But-"
The King raised a hand, gentle but commanding. "No questions. You are prepared. Your bodyguards and your own men will ensure the hunt is a success. You shall represent the throne with the dignity it demands. The people, the ministers… they must never perceive weakness in me."
The Crown Prince nodded, heart tight. "I understand, Father. I will not fail you."
A pause. The King's gaze softened, just for a moment. "I know, Ji-ho. And I know… you will keep the palace safe, even from dangers it cannot see."
Ji-ho bowed low. "Always, Father."
The King's eyes drifted to the window, pale sunlight catching the faint sheen of sweat on his brow. No one else must know. Not yet. And the hunt… would be his proxy for strength, his way of keeping control while the shadow of illness crept behind palace doors.
The Royal Hunt -Summons and Departure
A soft knock at the door broke Bella from her thoughts.
"Ha-neul?" a gentle voice called. A palace attendant's shadow appeared at the threshold.
"You are summoned to serve as the Crown Prince's guard during the Royal Hunt," the attendant said formally. "The Prince requests your presence immediately."
Bella's heart skipped a beat. She had expected this moment… yet standing in her chamber, the reality made her pulse race.
"Yes," she replied, voice steady despite the sudden rush of nerves. She smoothed her damp hair, adjusted her robe, and followed the attendant through the winding corridors, each step echoing with anticipation.
The Crown Prince waited near the stables, mounted lightly on his horse, his expression unreadable. He glanced at her as she approached.
"You… weren't expecting this, were you?" he asked, a faint teasing curve to his lips, though his eyes held a depth she could not ignore.
Bella bowed quickly, hiding the flutter in her chest. "No, Your Highness. I am ready."
He nodded, a faint smile lingering. "I'm glad you are here. I… I would feel safer with you by my side."
Her cheeks warmed at the sincerity in his tone. "Then I shall not disappoint you, Your Highness."
A brief silence settled between them, heavy with unspoken tension. Both knew the storm of the night before had not been resolved. Yet here, in the pale morning light and the smell of damp hay, duty demanded their composure.
The Crown Prince's hand twitched at the reins, as if he wanted to reach for her. Bella's eyes flickered toward his, reading the desire behind the careful formality. But she looked away, steadying herself.
"Then… let us proceed," she said softly.
He inclined her head. "Lead the way, Ha-neul."
Despite the chaos surrounding the preparations for the hunt, Ji-ho donned his hunting gear with practiced precision. The royal hunt was tradition, duty, and honor…yet his mind remained consumed with Bella.
The memory of her lips, the heat of their stolen kiss, the way she had fled from him with quiet command… every detail echoed in his chest, tightening with longing.
When he mounted his horse, the remnants of rain from the night before clinging to his hair and robes, eyes dark, breath uneven. Each gallop, each sway of the reins, reminded him of her warmth and her absence.
He could not stop thinking about her.
And as the palace faded behind him, the forest ahead opening like a sea of green, he realized: he was chasing more than game. He was chasing a feeling, a connection, a girl who had upended the order of his world and his heart in equal measure.
The hunt had begun.