SinB couldn’t believe her eyes so much that she couldn’t care about the villager’s reaction. On the contrary Umji started to panic but she was too shocked by meeting SinB that she first didn’t move.

• The mute girl can speak !! screamed one of the villagers.

• How is that possible ? said another one. 

• THAT GIRL ! screamed one of the women. THAT WITCH IS BACK.

• She had surely cast a spell on the mute girl that’s why she can speak again. 

• Yes but the mute girl knew her name !!! They are both witch. 

• Yes right, I knew that girl was too beautiful to be just ordinary. 

• What are we waiting for ? Go get them ! 

Umji’s eyes widened. She had completely forgotten that she shouldn’t show herself in public. 

SinB seemed still surprised by her encounter to realize what was really happening. So confusion could be written on her face when suddenly Umji took her hand and make her run with her. 

Everything happened so fast. The villagers weren’t fast enough to catch them or rather they feared that one of them use some kind of magic in reaction. Soon, they were in the forest.

SinB collapsed on the snow as she was running out of breath. 

• Are you okay ? said Umji while taking SinB’s hand. 

• Oh I didn’t even notice because we had to run away but you’re burning Calm Snow. 

Umji helped SinB to stand up. But, as SinB’s legs were too weak, SinB grabbed Umji’s shoulder in order to stay up. Not only her legs, her head was spinning and she had trouble breathing. Despite the worrying situation, Umji couldn’t help but blush as the sudden contact. She felt euphoria because she was close to the one who had occupied her mind days and nights. Feeling her again was really making Umji feels good so much that she wanted to do much more than that. But then this idea vanished from her head and her smile turned into worries as she saw SinB on the verge of collapsing. 

Umji touched her forehead and looked at her more closely: 

• Calm Snow you have a fever. Wait, why are your eyes blue and your hair’s color blond ? 

But SinB didn’t have time to respond as she collapsed in Umji’s arms. Umji started to be scared as SinB looked lifeless: 

• Calm Snow … tell me you have only passed out.  

When SinB reopened her eyes, the sunlight almost made her blind. But the smile of Umji welcoming her was even brighter. 

• Hey, how do you feel now ? I guess better. asked Umji.

SinB lifted up her head and discovered that the « pillow » she had comfortably slept on was in reality Umji’s thighs. Just the thought of it made her blush. 

• Yeah I feel better. answered SinB. 

• Tell me everything now. 

SinB knew that sooner or later she would have faced Umji again. Yet, she didn’t expect to meet her again that soon. SinB hesitated. Should she tell her the truth ? After all, she looked innocent and trustful. So why was she hesitating ? 

• Can we first go to somewhere warm ? I am freezing. she came up with an excuse. 

Umji nodded. SinB followed Umji. She led her towards her and Yuju’s house. The latter hadn’t come back from hunt yet. SinB wanted to avoid the subject a little bit longer so she asked Umji: 

• Have you always lived here ? 

Umji shook her head. 

• Unfortunately no I haven’t.  

Then she told SinB everything but literally everything and it lasted at least one hour. Umji told her about her having been adopted by shepherds, then her terrible childhood in the village and finally how Yuju saved her. SinB felt suddenly so sad but also somehow lucky. Because Umji was the proof that there was worse than what SinB had been through. In fact, at least, SinB had had a perfect childhood and didn’t have to hide for eternity. Well, now that she thought about it, she surely was now hiding herself too .. from Sowon. SinB wanted to comfort Umji but a sudden noise prevented her from doing so. It was the sound of a door. 

• Umji, I am home. called a voice. That was definitely Yuju’s voice. 

As soon as she heard her name, Umji ran towards Yuju and jumped in her arms. SinB watched the scene and she noticed something. Yuju’s eyes were filled with love. And it wasn’t just the typical friendly love nor the sisterly one. No it was different and way more powerful than that. Suddenly, she felt bad … bad for Yuju. SinB thought that whatever she was feeling deep down for Umji was just unacceptable. She couldn’t do that to Yuju who was trying for way longer than her to gain Umji’s heart. But hopefully SinB thought that she wasn’t doing anything to « steal » Umji’s heart from Yuju. Even though, she had some ambiguous feelings for the girl. After having seen the two people in front of her and being aware of Umji’s past she decided to bury her feelings deep down. Unlike her, Yuju had never hurt Umji and it is likely that she will never do such a thing. She was good to Umji so she deserved to be with her. While SinB, she would only bring pain and misfortune to Umji whereas she has already suffered enough. 

Suddenly SinB wanted to leave. She wanted to disappear from Umji’s life for her own good. Even though, she didn’t know if she wanted to come back to the village or not. She was hundred per cent sured she didn’t want to bother Umji and Yuju anymore. So she made sure that when Yuju and Umji had broken their hug, she wasn’t there in the house anymore. 

• Who was the blond girl, I saw in the living room ? asked Yuju 

• Calm Snow said Umji while turning towards the living room. Her smile vanished as soon as she did.

• Calm Snow isn’t blond. stated Yuju. 

• Where is she ? asked Umji totally ignoring Yuju’s relevant statement. 

• I don’t know. said truthfully Yuju. 

SinB was leaving the garden when a voice shouted at her. 

• Hey you ! 

She immediately turned towards the owner of that voice and when she did her face became white. The man was part of the royal guards. There were two others with him. 

• She is blond. pointed out a man. Let her. 

• Yes you’re right. he said before turning towards SinB again. Ok you can go.

SinB was shaking. Hopefully they didn’t notice it. SinB was going to leave when she saw the men head towards Umji’s and Yuju’s house. So she decided to follow them quietly. She hided behind the main door when they entered the house. Like that, she was able to hear everything. 

• Who are you and why did you enter the house like that ? SinB heard Yuju spoke. She sounded angry. 

• We are the royal guards. You have to follow us. 

• And why would we do that ? spoke again Yuju. 

• It is an order. 

• I don’t care. screamed Yuju.  SinB then heard the sound of a sword and her eyes widened in reaction.

• Yuju stop ! said Umji.

• It is an order from the queen ! said the guards. 

SinB moved when she heard them coming. She saw Umji and Yuju tied up like slaves and led by the guards. SinB freaked out. She didn’t know what was happening. Wait. She heard the word "queen" …which means … Sowon !

This does not bode well. 

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Chapter 12 done 

Things are getting serious now. 

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. 

xoxo