CH 3.3

He must have been fine when I was in the capital. Although he can’t see me, it’s close by. But what if I stay away from the capital? What on earth would soothe Yohan if the only comfort disappeared from a close distance? Who can understand his loneliness, his anguish, his love?

When I left the capital, Yohan must have been in agony every day, suppressing his desire to follow me. It must be his soul to be shorn in the midst of it. That hurted me.

I didn’t worry about his change of heart. Yohan can’t love anyone but me. I was just heartbroken that he would spend each day grieving and missing me. It is natural, of course. The person I love would surely be unhappy, so how could I be happy by myself?

After thinking about it all night, I decided to give him a token to replace me.

I cut some of my brilliant blonde hair and put it in a locket. It was a great token that could remind him of me anytime. I prepared the token, but the problem was giving it. I heard that the Temple burned all my letters and gifts. It must be a low act done by the priests who were jealous of our relationship, and worried about Yohan leaving. It was sad that His Holiness played a part in it.

Yohan was not free from other people’s eyes, so for him to keep my gift, I had to give it to him when it was just the two of us. If I gave the gift when there were other people, someone would steal or take the gift away for a reason that he didn’t need it. Poor Yohan wouldn’t be able to refute it and he would give it away. And he would be sad alone on a night when there was no one around. How could I hand over the token in front of others when I could clearly figure him like that?

I was wondering if I should give up the locket. Then!

I had an extraordinary idea. I couldn’t hide my excitement and immediately took action. I’m telling you once again, it was the day of my departure.

I went to the Temple under the pretext of praying to the god for a smooth trip. The eyes looking at me weren’t kind as I went to the Temple. As I told people, I prayed to the god and left the Temple. So everyone was relieved.

I knew Yohan’s schedule. I knew he was going out that day. Oh my, don’t look at me like that. I’m not a stalker. Yohan is famous and there are many eyes that watch his every move. With a little effort, I bet everyone will know his schedule for a month.

I lied that I would say farewell to my friend and left the guard behind. Then I climbed a tall tree near the road. I hid myself among the leaves and waited for Yohan. I wonder how long I waited for him. Yohan rode his horse past the road. At that time, I scattered the prepared gift.

Yes, I scattered it.

I cut my golden hair, which I had grown preciously for 14 years, and cut a bunch of shining golden strands into small pieces and put it in a box. Then I scattered it on Yohan.

The golden rain fell gently from the sky. The soft wind whirled gold hair and a group of glittering threads landed on Yohan. Yohan was as beautiful as a fairy dancing between the golden powder and the golden thread. He made eye contact with me on the tree and his eyes shook as expectedly. I smiled broadly. Because I wanted him to remember my smiling face.

Is there a more beautiful sight than that? Probably not.

“Arrrggh!”

“That crazy girl! She really!”

“Your Eminence! Are you all right?!”

“Get her out of here right now!”

“Ptui! What’s this?”

“Hair? It’s hair!”

“Oh, my God. It’s all over me. It’s really a deal to shake this off.”

The priests and the holy knights tried to force me down from the tree. Yohan didn’t look at me because he was surprised. He couldn’t take his eyes off my scattered hair on his body with his lips slightly open. I wasn’t upset at all because I knew he was doing it on purpose. I rather laughed because I was happy that the surprise gift was successful.

“Yohan! It’s a gift! When you miss me, look at it!”

“Get that crazy girl out of here! Hurry up!”

“Don’t worry too much! My hair grows fast!”

“Everyone, don’t put in unnecessary effort. Let’s get back to the Temple.”

Yohan was thankful for the present, but it seemed like he didn’t like how I cut my hair short. He spoke bluntly and turned away from me. He went back to the Temple with the priests and the holy knights like that. My blonde hair remained glittering on the ground like fairy dust along the path he traveled. It flew somewhere when the wind blew.

The people from my family dragged me, who was laughing in a good mood. My father slapped me as soon as I entered the house and the trip was canceled.

My father locked me in the basement of the mansion, barefooted in a basic dress. It was really cold there. There were rats, bugs, and I didn’t know whether it was day or night because it was humid, and dark without a window. Anyway, it was far from the place with good air and water that my parents said. The meal was thin porridge once a day.

I was hungry and cold.

Actually, I’m still curious now. Did my father try to kill me? Did he really intend to kill me? Yeah, I’m alive, so I shouldn’t have that question. Because I survived. Because I’m alive