Crowned

CHAPTER THREE

Hana threw herself on the bed, devastated about her situation. However, she could not do anything to relieve herself from the situation her mother created. In anger, she had accepted what her mother did so she could not despise her and yet it made her mother more worried.

Moments ago she was a free butterfly, free from any kind of bounds and here she was, betrothed the next day to a man she did not even know. Even if it was the brown eyes, she was not the least bit happy. Her freedom was snatched right from her hands.

"Beautiful brown eyes? Huh, as if I care."

She cursed imagining, throwing the man on the ground and beating him up.

She wished she never went to the palace with the bouquet, even if it was a rule. Many thoughts ran in her mind thinking about her situation but all she could do was sigh.

...

Hana looked at the mirror that reflected her in a blossom pink hanbok, which looked so pretty yet the thought of her getting married made her feel pity for the dress.

"You look lovely, my dear,"

Madam Lee stared at her daughter with affection.

Hana smiled at her mother as she saw flecks of tears in those affectionate eyes. Even if her mother caused this event, Hana could not despise her instead she felt sad whenever she saw her mother. She would miss her dearly.

Hana's world consisted of her mother and her ever since she could remember. Her mother was a lonely soul who cared so much for Hana. She would cook different dishes for her every weekend and she would take her on hikes. She was the only parent that worked hard to raise her and she would be leaving her alone, soon.

So, Hana smiled trying her best to make her mother thrilled for her daughter's wedding.

After a few more hours of trying different coloured ones, her mother made her choice and ended the dress selection event.

"Hana, have you talked with your editor?"

Madam Lee asked Hana.

"No. I will. I told her to meet me later."

Hana answered exhaustion clear in her tone.

Her mother stroked Hana's head trying to draw the exhaustion away. Hana had barely slept with all those thoughts and sensitive emotions last night.

Hana shakes her head to let the exhaustion seep out of her and then her phone ringed from her jacket pocket.

She rubbed her forehead as she answered.

"Hello. You are done with your work. Oh. Okay. Meet me at our usual place. Yeah. Yes. It's important. Very."

Hana stood up as she asked her mother to go home.

A few minutes later, the car came to halt and Hana left the car to the cafe waving her hands to the editor.

"Hana, honestly you asked me to come here so you can tell me a very important thing and what? You arrive late."

The editor clicked her tongue with distaste.

"Sorry. But it is important. I want you to postpone the deadline. For about 2 weeks. I am suddenly packed with a lot of work."

Hana pleaded as she held her editor's hand.

"WHAT? 2 WEEKS! You know I can't do that. You are absurd. No. Hana, no."

The editor yelled suddenly taken back by the request.

It was a deadline and deadlines were not, never going to get postponed. The manager would eat her up, no scratch that she would kill her.

"But listen. I, I. It's very important and I don't think I can meet the deadline. Please. Help me."

Hana exhaled desperately, her eyes stuck on the ground.

"Hana, you know that I-"

"I am getting married!"

Hana finished, her eyes filled with tears. It was not her fault that she was getting married when she had a deadline to meet and honestly, she was barely keeping herself sane. She did not have the energy to write a story, it was out of the question and she wanted her editor to understand that.

"Wha, Hana. What? Oh my. Why didn't you tell me?"

The editor gasped at her sudden statement. She was excited for Hana. It was a wedding, how could she ask her to work when Hana was preparing for a wedding.

"Hana. I will help you. Okay. I will talk with the manager. Tell her your situation and defer the deadline for a few weeks or a month, if it is possible."

The editor smiled as she shook Hana's hand feeling happy for Hana and congratulating her.

Hana wiped her tears, thanked the editor for helping her and soon left the cafe saying she had work to do.

It was going to be a long and hard path, she was going to walk on.

Whenever she was writing her stories, she loved when her characters got married and the event seemed beautiful and serene to her but it was so much different in reality. She laughed at herself, looking at the emotions she was going through all seemed so pitiful.

Marriage. She was already losing herself and it was just another step for her to her demise.

"I hope you are happy."

She murmured with spite to whom, she was not sure but at the moment she was feeling a huge hatred swirling within her.

...

Saru entered a dark room hearing pained whimpers and pleads from the person in the room.

His eyes filled with sympathy as the man on the bed whimpered in pain, sweating aggressively.

"Your majesty. Your majesty,"

Saru held onto the man and shook him, trying to wake the suffering male.

It took a couple more times to wake the man. Cheeks stained with tears, shirt wet with sweat and eyes almost lifeless sat on the bed as Saru switched on the lights.

Saru bowed as the man gazed at him and sighed with a hint of exhaustion and frustration.

"Saru, get me a glass of water."

The man asked Saru, his voice hoarse from all the pained whimpers and pleads.

He felt tired yet all sleep had left him and even if he slept, there would be another nightmare and that would drain him. So, he gulped a sip of water as Saru handed him the glass and flopped himself on the bed.