-Lake

@Choi Seunghyun Sojung tried to go back to her book but her gaze kept straying to the water, waiting for him to reappear. When he finally did, she let out a sigh of relief and pretended to go back to her book. Biting her lip, she sighed and shook her head slightly. Since when did she worry about his safety? Running a hand through her dryin hair, she ahifted onto her back, giving up all pretenses of reading to stare up at the sky in thought. Lost in her thoughts, she looked over blindly at the sound of him getting out of the water. It took a second for the sight of hom shortleas to sim k in and for her to focus on him but when it did, her breath caught in . Sojung couldn't take her eyes off him as he moved to the boulder, barely registering his words. Finally tearing her gaze away from him with a soft whimper, she stared up at the sky once more but that didn't stop the soght from plaguing her mind. "Oppa," she whispered, hoping he wouldn't hear her but unable to keep quiet, "you're one of the few people who could actually tempt me to find a relationship...one that will make me happy..." She trailed off as she refused ro look at him. There was actually no one els that made her wish for a less complicated relationship but she knew to tell him that wouldn't be right, she was semi regretting telling him what she had. It was rare for her so truthful even to herself, especially to herself.

@Lee Sojung Swimming around under the water until he needed air he rose to the surface looking at her from the water as he pushed his wet hair back wiping any excess water from his face. Silently he stared at her not sure what was wrong with him why did he suddenly get jealous like that when he knew it was against all his rules he set for himself. Looking away from her he slapped the waters surface with his palm then looked up at the sky sighing. "I could use a few drinks." He spoke to himself as he floated on his back for a few minutes in silence. Once he felt he relaxed enough he swam back towards the shore forgetting he was shirtless and in front he exited the water walking back towards his clothing. "The water is clear." he mumbled as he picked up his clothing off her blanket and moved to sit on a boulder by the waters edge going back to just being a knight watching his surroundings as he choose to wait until he dried up before putting back on his clothing.

@Choi Seunghyun Sojung thought about his question before answering. "It's the amount," she told him, "It's like no one is ever enough for him." Her gaze shifted to him at his next question. "I don't know. If I did it wouldn't matter. I'll never be enough for him," she answered truthfully. There were times that she wished she could be with someone and be the only one for them, then she remembered that she had agreed to this and she really did care for Jiyong. When he said he was going to check the waters, she looked at him in confusion. Shouldn't he have done that before she went in if he was going to? But she didn't question him as he walked to the edge of the water, looking away when he asked her too but not before she caught of glimpse of his back.

@Lee Sojung He smiled lightly hiding it with the book hearing her explanation of Jiyong and the women he usually surrounds himself with knowing full well how right she was. "It does come with being a mistress but your are hurt by him having other women or by the amount of women?" He asked placing the book down losing interest in it. "Do you...love him?" He noticed the way her voice became soft making him feel a strange pang of jealousy. Sighing softly he looked towards the lake once she started to read again after explaining her reason for so much food which pertained to her issues with the king once again. "I have to go check the waters for any danger...like scuba divers and that stuff." He was a terrible liar he just wanted to go in to the water and cool off plus the area was perfectly safe. Getting up he moved towards the waters edge rolling up his pant legs to his knees. "Could you look away for a bit." He then proceeded to his shirt tossing it on the blanket next to his jacket before heading into the water diving underneath once he was in deep enough.

@Choi Seunghyun "I know," she said softly, "But he won't even talk to me. Every time I come near him, he's got some woman in his lap or just draped over him." It wasn't something she could handle too much of at a time like this. "I knew what I was getting into when we started this, but I was only 17. Who isn't an optimist at that age? But seeing it time and again hurts...especially with the way I feel about him," she said softly. Sojung sighed softly. It was like the more time she spent with him the more she came to care about Jiyong. She just wished she mattered a fraction of the amount that he mattered to her. At his question, she smiled and looked over at the basket where the food sat. "It's emotional eating right now. I'm too stressed to do anything else. As to where it goes...I spend a lot of time making sure that I use every calorie I eat." She nodded her head slightly as he told her a month would be tough. "It will be but I have to follow through on my word. If that means finding other men to make me special so be it," she said with shrug. "I'll do my best to enjoy our time here." Biting back a smile, she looked back at her book and started to read once more.

@Lee Sojung "I think that is something to discuss with Jiyong, If it means anything you have a point but you are a mistress you should expect his behavior to be like that." He could understand her feelings on the matter but it was a very complicated one to discuss with him. Above all he was relieved she was laying off the teasing and flirting for a bit since he was being friendly. "Your slack is very much appreciated and you brought a lot of food where does it all go?" He mumbled the last part seeing her small frame and so much food didn't match up in his head. Listening to her talk about her argument with the king he had heard about it to some extent from the gossiping maids and servants. "A whole month wow that is tough." He smiled finding her boldness to deny the king endearing. "You just let go of all your frustrations and enjoy the fresh air, it is stressful to prepare something only to have it not be appreciated so just don't think about it right now okay." He smiled at her then went back to reading looking around every so often.

@Choi Seunghyun She scoffed as he mentioned Jiyong. "If he can have other women, why can't I have other men?" she asked softly. It was a question that confused her everyday. She knew that it was expected of her and when she first became his mistress, she was completely faithful to him. It wasn't until they entered their third year together and he added yet another woman to his barrage of mistresses that she started to act out with flirting with and ing other guys. Looking over at his words, she returned his smile with a soft one of her own. "I'm giving you a little slack today for being my friend," she told him with a slight shrug. "I brought plenty of food," she reassured him, "There's fried chicken, rice, kimchi, kimbap, some watermelon and apple slices too." She tried to start reading but his question had her looking at him once more, this time in surprise. "Deh," she answered softly, "I don't know if you heard about last night...the king is not so happy with me right now. In fact, I'm refusing to be with him for a month due to him being late for dinner with me..." She trailed off with a sigh and looked down at her book once more but she couldn't even see the words. "He keeps threatening to send me to the dungeon or the forest any time he deems I've stepped over the line. Is it really too much to ask that he send someone to tell me he's going to be late? I spent all afternoon cooking for him and he just shows up late and then complains about how much I made. Like they weren't all his favorites." Realizing that she was ranting, she cut herself off with a sigh. He was not the one to rant about her problems with the king.

@Lee Sojung It was interesting seeing her wide eyes as he draped the towel over her head frozen as he treated her like a friend would but what made him feel good about his actions was her bright smile when she thanked him that sent a wave of warmth through his very soul. "You wouldn't be yourself if you didn't continue flirting and teasing me." He sighed shaking his head at her words if being attracted to him. "You shouldn't say things like that you belong to the king and should only be attracted to him." She was always making his job difficult his loyalty shaken already because of his attraction to a mistress and not just any the kings favorite mistress if it was ever found out who knows what would happen. "Wow that is the most quite I have ever seen you especially when I am doing something completely out of my normal behavior." He flashed her a little smile as she laid down on the blanket opening her book to read. "What do you have to eat or do I need to send for some food....it looks like you plan to spend the day here." He questioned softly while reading throughly. "Did something happen at the castle to bring you out here?"

@Choi Seunghyun She looked up at him in surprise as he draped the towel over her head. Her eyes wide, she just watched him too shocked to really do anything but stand there. "Thank you," she said with a bright smile when he told her he'd try. It seemed to be the only thing she could get people to do was to try and do things. Sitting down, she started to dry her hair, thinking about his sudden change of attitude in this. "Don't think I'll stop the flirting and teasing," she told him, looking over at him and seeing him reading a book. "Friend or not, I still find you attractive." Once her hair was dried as best as she could get it, she stood up once more and focused on drying her body off. This time she'd noticed him making the effort not to look at her while she was dressed like this. Sojung had kind of planned that, but she found that she was too happy about the friendship that she wasn't willing to use it against him today. Instead, she dried off and got dressed once more. Laying back down, she picked up the Hobbit and started to read without a teasing words or flirtatious action.

@Lee Sojung Watching as she swam he thought about her wish for them to be friends seeing that his stone cold behavior and focus on his job alone seemed to bother her. Sighing he clenched his jaw choosing to try and be less of just a knight but also a friend no more than that. "Glad to hear you enjoyed your swim." He looked past her not wanting to stare at her in the current state of dress that was driving him mad. Picking up another towel once she wrapped one around her torso he walked up to her draping it over her wet hair making sure her face was still visible of course. "You should dry your hair first to keep from getting sick." Moving towards his shoes he slipped them back on then sat on the blanket silently picking up one of her books. "I will attempt to be your friend and not just a knight." He opened the book and began reading it to himself but still kept his other senses open for any possible danger.

@Choi Seunghyun She barely noticed his staring, she was so upset by her thoughts. Running a hand through her hair, she nodded her head absently at his words. "Promise," she said quietly before moving off to the lake. Moving quickly, she stepped into the water and kept going until the water was about chest high. Closing her eyes, she just stood there for a while before finally starting to swim. She swim slowly and surely, always making sure not to go out too far. If she noticed herself drifting too far out, she'd swim back in a little. Slowly her mind started to clear, all the negative thoughts drifting away as she moved through the water. Once her mind was clear, she got out of the water with a soft sigh of relief. "You're right, the water was great," she said as she grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her torso.

@Lee Sojung 'A friend...' He thought to himself surprised to hear that was what she wished of him but then why would she want to be friend someone who is just here to protect her. Deciding to give her wish some thought he nodded looking at her when she mentioned going for swim. Watching her rise to her feet something warned him to look away but it was too late she had pulled her shirt off making his eyes remain unblinking as he fell into a trance. His heartbeat sped up as she slipped out of her jeans revealing her whole bikini to his eyes that seemed glued on the woman of his very apparent attraction. "Remember not to go to far out." He took a small breath as he averted his gaze to the ground waiting for her to get in the water before looking at her. This was not a good idea he should have thought about how he would have to watch her while she swam only torturing himself.

She bit her lower lip as he started to speak and looked down at the blanket beneath her. "I just wish you would treat more as a friend rather than an obligation," she whispered softly. Realizing that she'd spoken out loud, she hoped he hadn't actually heard her. She was an obligation to so many people, she just wanted friends. Even though it's been three years since she came to her position, she didn't make friends easily. In fact, she had none that she could think of. She spent so little time with people who actually wanted to be in her company that she was lonely. It was part of the reason why she ended up sleeping with men other than Jiyong, it wasn't all jealousy. His question drew her out of her thoughts and she looked over at the lake. "I think I'll go for a swim," she said, pushing herself to her feet. Without a thought of him, she pulled her shirt off over her head and shimmied out of her jeans, revealing her blue bikini, before making her way to the water.

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@Lee Sojung He felt a little bad hearing her defeated tone as she flipped onto her stomach beginning to read her book. Going back to watching there surroundings he enjoyed the silence but was beginning to wonder if he had been overreacting by her teasing. Shifting from his thoughts once she began to speak after only a few minutes of reading he looked at her giving her his full attention. "Sense of humor....I enjoy laughing and no I did not have it removed, laughter brings people closer to each other so avoid it plus humor is something rare to me." He honestly stated seeing that she was truly upset by his behavior. "I knew you were just teasing please do not feel offended lady Sojung." He bowed lightly then glanced at the water. "Are you tired of reading maybe you should eat or go swimming as you wanted."

@Choi Seunghyun Sojung sighed softly at his blank expression combined with his words. "Fine," she said, feeling a little defeated. For a second there they were having an actual conversation. It seemed that he couldn't even take a little joke he was so serious. Sighing once more, she shifted onto her stomach and opened the book in her hands without another word. She tried to read, she really did, but she wasn't much in the mood for it. Tossing the book away a few minutes later, she sat up and looked at the man before her. "Did you have your sense of humor surgically removed in order to become a knight? Or did you simply never have one?" she asked suddenly, "You can't even tell when people are joking with you." If that was the case, she was offended that he thought she would put herself in danger just to make him do something he didn't want to.

@Lee Sojung "You should learn to expect the unexpected plus I didn't want to say yes then you get sick from swimming in cold water, I would be responsible for you getting sick." He explained his reason for checking the water temperature for her leaving out that he was being genuinely nice and worried about her well being. Looking at her with a blank expression at her teasing words he sighed shaking his head. "It seems that it is no longer safe for you to go swimming perhaps you should stay reading on your blanket." He now changed his story to combat with her teasing and avoiding her making him do things he would rather not get himself involved with. "It's nice weather to read the hobbit."

@Choi Seunghyun "I hope I enjoy it, what I've read so far is kind of interesting. It's different from what I usually read," she said with a soft smile as she looked down at the book. Books had been a comfort to her since loosing her memory and becoming mistress to the King. She had too much time on her hands and there was only so much flirting she could deal with before growing bored. Her eyes widened in surprise as he stood up and made his way to the water. "I just expected you to give me a yes or no," she said as he came back. He always seemed to surprise her in one way or another. "You do realize that if I go swimming I'm going out too far now since you said you'll come in after me," she teased with grin. She couldn't help but tease and flirt with him. He looked so hot fighting his attraction to her.

@Lee Sojung As expected she made it an order leaving him no choice but to follow through and do as she pleased. "The Hobbit." He repeated in a quite voice while nodding at the fact he was right about her liking to read after seeing she wasn't reading things like how to books about love and fashion which his mother indulged in on a daily basis. "It is a good book you will enjoy it I guarantee it." Hearing her question regarding swimming he rose to his feet removing his shoes and socks. Walking towards the waters edge he rolled up his pant legs before walking slowly into the water feeling that it was a good temperature. "Lady Sojung the water is safe enough to swim in and the water is at a good temperature." He exited the water dropping his pant legs back down before once again standing watch. "When you are ready to swim please do not swim to far out for your own safety or I may have to come in after you."

@Choi Seunghyun "Then make it an order," she told him with a grin the second those words were out of his mouth. She sat down and picked up one of her books in thought. His question had her gaze moving to him in surprise. It was rare for him to start a conversation with her unless he absolutely had to. "I just started the Hobbit," she told him, blushing a little at her choice of novels. "Someone suggested it for me around the time I finished my last book." Her gaze shifted to the lake once more. "Do you know if it's safe to swim in?" she asked. She'd worn a swimsuit with the thought that if it was warm enough she'd swim, but she wasn't sure if she still wanted to. Instead, she found herself wanting to sit, read, eat, and talk with the man who sat somewhat stiffly refusing to face her.

@Lee Sojung His sight shifted to her as she began spread out her blanket close to the shore line of the quiet lake along with with books and what looked like food. He smiled lightly as he looked away from her after having learned that she seemed to enjoy reading which was nice since he did also but a trait most mistresses could care less about. "I must stay on watch at all times and standing is the best solution." He looked at her before making his way over to where she sat. "If your ordering me to sit down...then very well." He sat on the blanket with his back to the lake keeping his sight on the trees for any dangers. He had another reason for putting his back to the lake after he fell into a small trance watching her fingers slide through her blonde hair. "What are you reading by the way?" He asked out of curiosity while keeping his eyes on his surroundings.

@Choi Seunghyun She only came to a stop when he stepped in front of her path. "Mianhae," she said softly, letting him go before her. She had to walk quickly to keep up with his longer strides, but she managed to stay close. She nearly ran into him when he finally came to a stop, she was too busy looking at the beauty of the lake. She scrambled back a few steps when she realized he was about to bow. "Thank you Seunghyun," she said with a bright smile as she moved off to the lake. She'd brought somethings to keep her busy, a blanket to spread out, some books, and food for later. They would probably be spending the day here. As she spread out the blanket, she looked over at him and sighed softly. "You know you don't have to stand over there like that," she called out to him. He always took his job so seriously, it made her wonder if she took everything just as seriously. "Why don't you come sit down? You can protect me just as well from here," she told him, running a hand through her blonde hair.

@Lee Sojung Seunghyun walked with his hands behind his back looking around at the beautiful scenery but more important looking for any possible dangers to the lady Sojung a favorite mistress of his royal highness. He looked towards the lady walking in front of him seemingly enjoying her walk out of the castle as he watched her look around during the quiet walk to the lake. Seunghyun always followed orders but whenever she ordered him to accompany her as protection he wanted to refuse even tried to put another knight in suggestion to join her but she would insist or ignore him altogether and it would be disrespectful of him to keep pressing the situation. Nothing was wrong with the lady Sojung she was beautiful, strong, independent and he could go on but that was the problem that he saw all these things in her. Sadly Seunghyun was attracted to her no matter how much he tried to lie to himself about it and the worst thing was that she knew about his attraction to her and flirted with him teasing his resolve on a daily basis. Averting his eyes towards the lake in the distance as she turned to look at him he cleared his throat fixing his black uniform jacket as she made her way over to him with that damned smile that almost made him want to smile back at her. About to tell her they weren't to far from the lake he watched the surprised expression on her face almost not noticing she was moving away from him. "Lady Sojung wait." He walked quickly after her stepping in front of her. "Follow close behind me while I make the area is safe." He turned and walked towards the lake checking the trees in the surrounding area and scanned the waters. Turning to face her he bowed after approving of the area. "The area is clear it seems we are the only ones out here please enjoy yourself lady Sojung but please stay within my sights." He bowed once again then moved to a good view point keep watching as he stood there like a statue only his eyes moving over the landscape.

Sojung let out a nervous breath as she looked around. It wasn't often that she left the castle grounds, let alone in the forest, but she'd been feeling the need to get out for a while and just let everything, all the jealousies, the doubt, the fear, the anger, drift away. So here she was, in the forest with knight in tow, making their way to the lake. She was simply following her King's orders of taking someone with her when she left the grounds. The fact that it was a knight who seemed determined to ignore her flirtations was neither here nor there. She could tell that he was attracted to her, but he was so loyal to Jiyong. So was she, to a point. She might be his mistress but she figured as long as he slept with other women she was allowed to sleep with other men. Looking over at the man standing a few feet away, she sighed softly. It was a shame that he was being so stubborn. She was sure he'd be great in bed, the quiet ones were always the ones that surprised you in the end. Smiling brightly, she made her way over to him. "Seunghyun-ah, how much further is..." she trailed off looking in the direction he faced. opened into a small 'oh' of surprise. She'd never actually been to the lake before, not that she could remember anyways. "It's so pretty," she whispered, moving forward without a thought of her safety.