Hae Rin's POV

I dreaded this day as yet another meeting with the princes and princess will be held at the 8th Prince's library again. I tried to stay locked up in my room but Prince Eun demanded that I have to play with him this time. After getting dressed, I headed out with heavy footsteps. I waited at the courtyard where Prince Eun usually played at. 

Not paying attention to my surrounding, a shadow hovered over me and I straightened up to greet whoever it was in front of me. I looked up and saw it was the 4th Prince, I couldn't help but smile at him as I bowed. "Are you okay, Hae Rin? You weren't hurt during that incident, right?" I shook my head, "No, I'm fine. Prince Wook came in time before they..." I shuddered at the thought of what they'd do to me.

Prince So looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to finish my sentence, "They wanted to make me their slave..." I murmured softly, eyes casting towards the ground. I noticed his fists were clenched after what I said. "Those bastards, I should have killed them all." I shook my head again, "Let's just not talk about it again. It's over now and that's all that matters." He placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled comfortingly at me.

"Oh right, also, that night of the ghost festival, in the woods." My blood ran cold when he mentioned that night again. "I don't mean to pressure you but I just really need to know, did nothing really happen? Did you not see anyone when you were there?" I felt my whole body went numb when I saw Prince Yo standing in a distance, watching me speak with Prince So. He looked straight into my eyes with a grin, as if challenging me to tell Prince So everything.

I immediately looked away from him and stared at the ground, I shook my head furiously, "No, it was only me there." Prince So pursed his lips, disappointed with the answer he got but nodded, "Alright, I'm sorry for bringing it up again. I know you must have heard this question so many times." I shook my head and forced out a smile, "No, it's fine."

"Rin-ah! I'm here now, let's go play!" Prince Eun yelled from a distance, running towards us. "Alright, I'll take my leave then." Prince So said before leaving. 

I walked as fast as I can, trying my best to return to my room without walking into a specific person. It was as if God was trying to punish me for something I did in my past life, I walked straight into Prince Yo. I picked myself up, bowed with an apology, and attempted to run when he forcefully grabbed onto my wrist and pulled me close to him, snaking an arm around my waist, our faces inches apart.

My heart accelerated and my breath came out shakily, eyes wide staring into his dark ones. "Where do you think you're going, my love?" I gulped and looked at anywhere but his eyes. His fingers curled over my chin, he tilted my face up and made me stare into his eyes. "I've missed you. Now, let's go somewhere less crowded and have some time alone, shall we?" My eyes rounded in fear as he let go of me but kept a grip on my wrist, pulling me to a secluded area of the household.

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