// Chapter 8 \\

It is now the day of my birthday.

I couldn't lie as a smile did find its way to my face when I entered the small cozy room filled with only a few guests compared to the thousands a formal ball would've brought. There they all were, in the center of the grey room that's walls were decorated in elaborate designs. The vibrance of the room was brought out in the royal blue carpeting. They all circled a white table where a gorgeous cake sat.

The frosting was white and craftily built in the thickness of it to create a gorgeous white palace. It was like none I'd ever seen— not even like the Night Court. Its arcs and swoops and pillars lead to the top where the frosting was shaped into a simple circle. The white palace sat atop the royal blue cake that was its mountain in such a knowing yet ancient and foreign elegance.

"Surprise, you!"

I had little time to react as Heeyoung crashed into my arms in a warm and friendly embrace. I was surprised at the small chuckle I'd let out as I wrapped my arms around her as well. Somehow, I knew that that sense of happiness would only grow more at home from this gathering. I calmly responded with a sense of pure ease, "Heeyoung, I already knew these festivities were going to be held."

Heeyoung moved her hands from my waist to my shoulders as she backed up to look into my eyes with a surprise I'm sure she wished would be intended for me. I let a smile come across mine as I watched this.

"I could've seen the sun— I believed you didn't know! I could never believe your Nanny would've told you?" Heeyoung baffled as she blinked furiously at me.

I was surprised about the laugh that escaped me at this, "She gave me the idea and wondered if I was up for it," I tilted my head to the side and fanned my face in a dramatic gesture. I lifted my brows as I looked back to Heeyoung with a silly look but my voice was quite sarcastically formal, "And I told her I was."

For the first time in a while, Heeyoung gave me a genuine beam of happiness. Well, it wasn't like her previous bursts of cheer weren't genuine. More-so, she was happy to see the happiness that flooded me. I had to admit the excitement I felt in that one moment was quite genuine. The thought of knowing that made me happier for myself.

"Well, it seems like things are looking bright for you then," An encouraging and friendly voice spoke. I looked past Heeyoung to find Yeosang making his way to us. He gestured his glass of magenta liquor into the air in a way of greeting as he came to stand by Heeyoung.

"Ah, well, I suppose they are," I grinned up at Yeosang in a stupor before I immediately looked away.

I found my cheeks had inflamed from the smile I'd seen resting gracefully on his face. Perhaps it was also the elegantly frilled baby blue shirt he wore which was accompanied by a dark blue jacket that's back fell close to the mid of his thighs. The dark blue bagged pants matched this. All of his attire made the saturated pink-maroon bow laced around his neck area of the shirt all the more vibrant.

Heeyoung glanced at his attire with a pout— almost seemed in what was like envy. As if her attire of a coral cocktail dress with green and dark turquoise gems were no match for his suit. I could've laughed at this or to the fact of Hongjoong's approach to where we stood with almost that same pout formed onto his lips. But I proceeded to laugh at the tightening of his lips when his eyes landed on mine and widened, realizing I'd been watching him.

I bursted out into laughter which drew Yeosang and Heeyoung's attention to me before the two whirled around to Hongjoong. He approached even slower than before with a blush and a sheepish look on his face. He slightly giggled before clearing his throat, straightening his dark grey jacket and red and gold button up shirt underneath.

"What's so funny?" Yeosang asked as he tilted his head back towards me. A frown graced his neutral face as I glanced at him. A lift of one of his brows sent an unusual rising feeling from within me. This did not keep me from laughing.

In fact I struggled to find words because I was laughing so hard, "Those two," I pointed to Heeyoung and Hongjoong who had a bewilderment on question appear on both of their faces from my gesture, "They— their faces!"

"Oh, is this supposed to be some sort of throwback?" Heeyoung asked with a smile and an accusatory eye roll which would've been audacious for a Monarch on formal occasions. Her smile widened as she looked at me placing her hands on her hips.

Hongjoong, eyes wide, began playing with his cuffs as he shared a glance with Heeyoung at his words, "To when we were kids and made all sorts of funny faces to keep each other entertained?"

"Your faces would always look the same!" I bursted out in an even louder, outrageous laugh that I felt like I hadn't heard in all my life. It sent my heart into an unusual tizzy I'd never felt before.

This action earned questioning stares from all three of my friends. It was almost like they didn't understand my sudden burst of joy. It made a weight latch onto me as my laugh began to falter slightly.

Like they didn't know me— no...

But did I know myself? Why did I have that burst of laughter?

This had me calm down and clear my throat. I messaged my cheeks as the smile I held began to hurt. It hurt even more when I forcefully kept it on my face. I continued to laugh a little as I awkwardly stared at the three of them, "Don't... don't you all remember?"

Heeyoung hesitated with her usual comforting smile but it was graced with almost what I could say was embarrassment, "Um, yes, well—"

"There are other guests here besides us," Yeosang spoke as his neutral formal manner took over his entire pose and tone of voice. To think he was smiling comfortingly moments ago.

I furrowed my brows at this. Nanny had said the celebration would be a meet of my friends and no formalities. It was almost like they gave the awkward faces they'd give when we were improper in front of a crowd of Court subjects. Certainly none of the like were here. If there were others here, then, certainly, they would give me the same comfort as the three people before me.

I looked over to Hongjoong. His jaw was set in an inflamed manner. Was he angry? That wasn't what his look was. At least, not towards me. His eyes were looking at mine but he didn't give me a glare that conveyed he was directing it at me— it was something other. What was directed at me was a look of warning. I tilted my head at this before I peered over my friends to the others who were in the room. My heart sank and that was not due to the fact they were all staring at us.

There were only two other guests. One that stood there was Jongho. He was unusually stiff in his frilled white and frost blue attire. He held a dish with a pastry in one hand and a fork in the other but neither arm gave way to a single movement. It was almost as if his magic of ice had frozen his insides into this state. Even his stare towards us— towards me— was unblinking. However, I could sense a bit of uncomfort and unease in him. And I knew well that it was caused by the figure that stood a couple of paces away from him.

Seonghwa stood there. A black suit with white lacing meeting on either side of his chest. He wore a golden tie that was tucked into that suit and pinned to his white collar with a small round gold and black button. There was a purple marble like gem in the center and matched well with the color of his lips and the lavender tucked into his left ear along with a lock of hair. His black hair was curly and bangs curtained his face which was a completely new look for him. He folded his hands in front of himself as his serene dark amber gold stare bore into mine. It wasn't that oddly suspicious look he would give me, nor one of his looks I could never fully picture out. What was held in his gaze was a flicker of fascination and perhaps a slight glimpse of amusement he didn't dare show on any of his other features. When my eyes had found his, he gave a smile. Not a formal one exchanged by Monarchs, but a friendly one that I would say would be shared by friends. Yet, the comforting composure of his state didn't keep myself from stiffening up and feeling the same discomfort the others had.

"O-Oh," I muttered to the three friends that stood beside me, but my eyes didn't look away from the High Monarch of Dawn Court's until another moment after. My eyes averted to the floor.

Nanny had created the guest list and said it would be a small gathering of friends. Ideally, I could've seen Jongho being a guest and I would've been fine with that. But never Seonghwa. It was too soon. My heart almost felt like galloping and taking my body away from this room—

"There she is! My little owl!" The old woman's voice sounded in an exclamation of cheer which wasn't expressed so loudly.

Nanny's cheer, despite being a bit quieter, did snap me from the thoughts I'd begun to think. I looked down to the elder who was adorned in purple and black and a bit of silver lace. The smile she gave up to me widened as our eyes met. I gave a warm smile down to her.

"Nanny," I began in a genuine tone before I began to hesitate, remembering the last guest I'd just seen in the room, "This is all... so lovely."

"Ah, I made sure it was all the best," Nanny lightly clapped her hands together and gave a loving look towards me with the tilt of her head, "Just for my most precious Star."

All was indeed the best.

I huffed a mild laugh at the genuine tone she'd set in front of all the guests, sending me into an uncomfortable shift. My eyes swiveled to my friends, to the floor, back to my friends, the other guests behind them, and around the room before they stopped. They were frozen on four figures I had no wish to see. I frowned at the four knights I'd seen days before. My stomach churned sickeningly.

"What are they doing here?" I didn't hide the distrust from my intimidating tone of voice. I looked down at Nanny almost as harsh as the mannerism of my voice. I quickly calmed myself as guilt rushed in to flood the feeling. Nanny had looked away immediately when my harsh expression found her face. I deeply regretted that.

"Well, um," Nanny hesitated with the purse of her lips as she looked back up to me with a soft tone, "For protection of course."

I looked back up to the four knights that held their positions in formation. That look didn't last too long. I didn't give myself time to take in their features once more as my eyes went to the ground.

"Right," I hesitantly spoke in a quiet drowned mutter.

All was silent for a moment with no shifts of movement. Then there was a brush of cloth and a tap of heels before warm hands with red painted nails found my shoulders. I looked up to Heeyoung's genuinely comforting face. She smiled before bringing her eyes down to my royal blue and black dress that was flaked with stars as colorful as the ones in the sky. Her eyes complimented my work of craftsmanship on it. She fixed the frilled lacing of my sleeves as her arms were placed there. She then looked back up and fixed my black and silver threaded hair which was put up into a lovely braided bun atop my head. The gestures eased me.

"Maybe we should all go have some cake?" Heeyoung suggested with a tilt of her eyebrows, her smile becoming a playful one.

I only hesitated her offer for a moment before I gave in with a huff and a grin, "Sure. This is a celebration after all, isn't it?"

"Indeed it is," Yeosang spoke as he offered his hand with a bow.

To this, I sputtered, "I thought this celebration would be more casual." I folded my arms as I playfully starred at Yeosang.

"Ah, but you turn eighteen today, You finally grow into a fully grown woman," Yeosang remarked as he tilted his head up to look at me but never reclined his hand, "Can I not show a formal gesture of kindness to a newly matured lady?"

I smiled at this but I had no chance to respond as an arm wrapped itself around mine from my left. I gazed over in surprise to find Hongjoong standing close to me, arm entwined with mine.

He was looking down to Yeosang in a stupor, slightly nervous, as if he wasn't sure of what he was doing. All erratic expressions which he quickly composed as his remark didn't fail to seem accusatory. Hongjoong's words wavered slightly in the beginning, but became colder as he continued on, "I never thought you would be the one to be this formal in such a casual manner you usually thrive in."

My eyes widened a bit to Hongjoong before I looked to Yeosang to find him rising to his feet, his smile wavering. His eyes were locked on Hongjoong's.

Not this again.

Yeosang tilted his head and swirled his hand till a magenta drink— I hadn't realized had disappeared— reappeared in his left hand. Yeosang slightly fixed his jaw as his smile returned with a flutter of his eyes. He spoke in a cheerful manner, "Ah, yes. That is usually you, Shine, is it not?"

Hongjoong tensed even more than he had done previously beside me. A low-breathing tsk escaped his lips. He stepped forward, arm unlooping itself from mine as he seemed to almost silently begin storming towards Yeosang. Yeosang lifted his head up, as if he expected this, with a smile wide and evident.

A hand came in between them before Heeyoung wedged herself there. Adjacent to them, She quickly bunched her arms at her sides before stretching them out in front of the two High Monarchs' bodies. This caused their attention to be brought to her, stopping them both from their actions.

"Okay," Heeyoung spoke in a joking and sarcastic manner, but I could tell from her sheepish smile and glaring eyes that she had the underlying intent to scold the two, "How about you both escort her to the table?" The entire room seemed to relax at this proposition. Heeyoung took both of their hands and quickly guided them over to me, "After all," Heeyoung looked at me with a smile, "You two have been her best friends from childhood."

Hongjoong's grey and blue eyes looked at me. They were wide and sparkling. They could almost seem innocent if the bridge of his nose didn't give it a sharp handsome complexion. I could say my heart fluttered at it before he looked away with a red tint barely being seen in the shadows of his face.

Yeosang looked to me with a frown almost in dismay before he smiled at the attentional gaze I now gave to him. His turquoise eyes appeared clear and kind, beautifully placed like two gems in an already perfectly sculpted masterpiece. He first made the move to take my arm from my right side.

"Ah, it only seems fair for this momentous day," Yeosang chimed as he situated himself next to me. We continued looking at each other. Each moment we did so, I felt my heart thicken in the feeling that wished to burst out of it. It almost busted when he playfully raised his eyebrows at me. I looked away. I held it in.

"Y-Yeah," Hongjoong cleared his throat as he briskly took my left. Our eyes met and he grinned kindly as he looked away before hesitantly looking back with an affectionate expression, "It'll be just like your Coronation Day."

I smiled at this, reminiscing, "Yeah, I guess it would be."

The three of us began to walk to the table with the elegant royal blue and white cake. Heeyoung was not too far in front of us and the Monarch looked back at us with a smile. She stated fondly in her typical giddiness, "You know who else's Coronation Day is coming up."

Mingi.

The trials and competition for the title of High Monarch there were nearing our present time. Perhaps that was why he wasn't here. Of course, he's busy. His soul was for the right cause, though.

I smiled at Heeyoung's statement.

"We don't know if Mingi will take the place of the High Monarch in the Dusk Court, though," Jongho pointed out.

His gaze looked up to ours from where he paused his fork from meeting his lips— a scoop of a delicate white and blue pastry sunk deep in its prongs. He was just as stiff as before, but his stance began to relax as Heeyoung made her way around the table. Her eyes were locked on his and she dashingly stood in front of him. A smile almost made its way to Jongho's face as she tapped his nose.

"Leeyon seems to think as much," Heeyoung turned away from Jongho who now smiled fondly to himself as she placed her hands onto the white table cloth. She smiled at me, glancing with a wink that almost made me confused to what she was implying. I think I knew what that was?

I brushed that off with the raising of my brows as another question came to mind, "Speaking of which, wouldn't she be invited to this?"

We'd made our way to the table where Hongjoong and Yeosang both waited a moment before letting go of my arms. The sensation of their brushing of arms on mine shouldn't have been as noticeable as they'd been. I refocused myself on my ask as I looked back to Nanny who was now approaching the table.

"The High Monarch of the Eastern Court?" Nanny tilted her head innocently, "I didn't know you were good friends with her."

Not the closest. However, I wouldn't have minded her presence.

I gave a small slow nod, "It's fine. You didn't know," I spoke the last of my words as I turned back to the table. My eyes had found Seonghwa's momentarily before I fixated them onto the cake in front of me. The details were now more prominent to me. I could now see just how intricately detailed it really was, "It's a lovely cake."

"Only the best for you, Star," Nanny's hand brushed my arm. I knew then that she'd made the outlandish piece. It was somehow comforting, yet irking to know that. I still gave her a happy smile, nonetheless.

And so we had cake. Slices were passed to each of us as we slowly picked up the conversation in the room. Grateful wishes of my birth were given to me before we slowly diverged into each of us making our own comments and talked about the table. We all made jokes and delightful remarks of our happy memories. We all had a good chuckle and a savory moment of reminiscence. However, I constantly found myself guilt ridden of how Seonghwa silently ate there and observed us.

I shouldn't have felt that way or should I? He was the entire reason unease had still seized me in this comforting room. Perhaps it was due to the realization of him being a victim rather than an enemy. The vivid memory I had of him was that same chilling day I always found myself silent about. I'd never forgotten the way he had cried.

Now, I found myself standing next to him, observing how he ate the cake before he took not of the blue cloth at my feet and quickly bouncing his gaze up to mine with a slightly surprised lift of his eyebrows. He finished chewing the cake in his mouth, taking a swallow and a clear of his throat with a gloved white hand lifted to his face. He quickly brought it back down to his plate as his warm dark golden gaze looked to me and bowed his head.

"Star," Seonghwa's velvet voice greeted in a slight edge I'd never heard. Was that nervousness? His eyes didn't reflect that, but they also didn't reflect anything harsh. It was the most innocent and endearing I'd ever seen his gaze.

I smiled up to him with a tilt of my head and a nod, "You haven't said a word."

He slightly shrugged his shoulders as his eyes looked about the room, squinting slightly, "I wasn't sure with whom to speak."

I followed his gaze around the room to Nanny and Hongjoong sitting over on the white couch, deep in conversation; to where Yeosang, Jongho, and Heeyoung were in a bout of complete laughter over something I wasn't sure of; to the four knights that stood motionless in the back. I quickly diverted my gaze from those four. I looked back to him with a thin line of my lips.

"I understand that," I faintly spoke in a sympathetic understanding.

He blinked a few times at my words before he gave a smile with the lavender purple lips of his.

It seemed my entire soul lept at this. A newfound shyness took over my cheeks. They tingled and I found myself unsure. So, I made myself fascinated over the black dress shoes he wore. The white threading had gorgeous mountain carvings with swirls of clouds. It certainly matched well with the black dress pants and, of course, his suit.

"How have you been?" He gently asked in the faint brush of his smooth voice. It was a coaxing warmth that sent my cool body into chills of the unusual comfort it brought. It was a reminder of the place where I'd experienced pain, but it also gave me comfort in the understanding and knowledge that came with it.

I slowly brought my eyes back to his face with a slow nod and a faint smile on my lips, "I'm... doing fine."

Seonghwa hesitantly nodded along with this but his eyes flickered in a bit of disbelief— uncertainty. I frowned at this. As if he'd keep tabs on my whereabouts for the past three months.

"How about you?" I forcefully spoke before I cleared my throat and the thoughts from my head. I replaced the flaring thoughts with a calmer state of mind. A more cheerful mannerism. I tilted my head back up to him, "How have you been?"

Seonghwa hesitated, biting his lower lip as he gazed around the room and shrugged along with the blink of his eyes. He sighed, "Fine. As good as I can be."

Because he had experienced it too.

I nodded as I took in the features of his face. The strong structure of his jaw and his eyes looking ever so warm. Not to mention the fond way his bangs brushed against his face. I looked back to the now heavy plate which held my cake. The delicately built structure of a palace in my piece was now in ruins of frosting.

"Have" Seonghwa spoke but silence drew on between us after the word was uttered. I looked up to him to find him giving a side glance to the side of the room, barely folding the inside of his lip. He was hesitating. He blinked, looking back to me in a stern but comforting look on sincerely, "Have you had any dreams?"

Because I'd had them there...

I shook my head and huffed a sigh, "No," I remarked with a lift of my eyebrows and I smile, "I have not."

"Ah, I see," Seonghwa muttered with a nod before he took in my slouching shoulders of disappointment. His hand found its way there, having my shoulders flutter up into a stiff position. My eyes bore into his. I relaxed then at the sympathy his expression gave, "The only reason I ask is because... Well, I've been having some vivid ones in the Dream Realm."

Because he and his Court had the strongest connection to it...

I ignored my emotions that followed at that thought. I only wished to be happy.

"Well," I sarcastically began. I allowed my eyes to roll dramatically as I subconsciously neared his figure. I pointed a finger to my eyes, "You forget that these are unblinking once in a while until you stare at them for too long."

His dark golden eyes became a brilliant amber as they lit up in amusement and a grin came to his face. I grinned at this as well as the two of us chuckled.

Seonghwa licked his lips before he smiled once more and inclined his head, "Well, you forget that these eyes often blink and droop half of the time."

My face backed away and gave him a sideways look of confusion. The look brought another laugh from his mouth. I neared him again with narrowed eyes and a wide smile, "Since when were you ever caught dozing off?"

He chuckled once more before he calmed himself enough to respond yet giggles were still hinted as he spoke, "Since I sleep so often into the Dream Realm. I'm barely awake and moving around."

I could not keep myself from gawking at him which made him snicker. I exclaimed, "I never knew this!"

"You never asked," Seonghwa raised an eyebrow to this, "In reality, I would be much more active in my Court if it weren't for the amount of tiredness and sleep I often find..." He trailed off as he opened his mouth and squinted his eyes closed. He covered his mouth quickly as he lent out a silent but big yawn that had him sighing in annoyance at the end.

I couldn't help but giggle and he smiled.

"Excuse me," Seonghwa bowed his head in apology, "That must've seemed quite rude."

"No, not at all!" I chuckled. Though, maybe I should've cared, I couldn't seem to give one as I stood there. My golden eyes gleamed at his with a relaxed yet longing sigh, "I would give anything just to experience a yawn."

Seonghwa lifted his brow with surprise and awe. He tsked, looking away to the crowd of people once more with a shake of his head. There was a sad wish lingering in his voice as he muttered, "To think you haven't even experienced that."

Silence became comforting between us as we took in the joy the others had mingling about the room. I smiled at this. Perhaps Nanny was right after all. Perhaps this was what I needed to get better: a celebration. The surprise was I couldn't believe I was finding the most of it in the unwanted guest.

I was content. I was satisfied.

"You know," Seonghwa broke the silence once more, looking down to me as I looked up to him. It was then I realized how close we were. That his hand was still lightly touching my shoulder. That the warmth that radiated his body was greedily be taken by my own body which was cold. My lips parted slightly in awe at him. It seemed like the most dreamy scene pictured right before me. He only returned my fascination with a smile and a gentle voice, "It's nice to have a celebration where there isn't an ambush putting our lives in danger."

My fascination was crippled by his words.

My dream woke to reality.

My eyes suddenly shifted, looking up to him in shock. His golden eyes reflected mine, except his almost seemed like they shattered. Like they'd broken at the realization of what his words had done. That I wasn't as healed as he had presumed me to be. Perhaps that was what his look of disbelief and uncertainty had indicated earlier. Did that make him the selfish one or was the selfish one me? Either way, my stomach turned uneasy, the warmth becoming chilling to me.

I backed away from him and his hand that had been on my shoulder almost followed my figure, as if it was polarized towards me.

"Star," Seonghwa's voice was a shuttering whisper of regret as a vague expression of knowing crossed his features.

I didn't let that keep me from running. From turning and galloping just as my heart had wished me to do the first time my eyes had set on him in the room. The warmth of his outreached hand faded fast as I quickly bolted for the door, silencing the other mingling in the room. That mingling was replaced with urgent calls of my name.

They say my name. Oh, how they worshipped. Oh, how they lovingly needed.

I was sick of it.

I quickly flung open those doors but my pace slowed, much irony to my frantic action. I hesitated my leave as I felt a sense of being drawn towards the room. To be accepted. To be relieved. Truth was that those wishes were no reality. Not mine, anyway. And as I felt drawn to the room, I equally felt I was pulled away. So, I settled for a quick pace of a walk, exiting the room. I continued that way down the hall with not a sound from that room behind me. Not a sound, until there was a thud from behind me along with a slight wince of pain.

I glanced back and focused my gaze on no one else but the figure that had caused the noise. She was in the entrance of the room where my celebration was held. The woman from the four knights. What was her name? The one with the dark skin and freckled face. Her eyes ghostly pearls that seemed to hide something so blatant in them. Perhaps the blatancy of the small wooden table that was in front of her— the table she'd ran into from her pursuit of me. She began to move her hands about the table to maneuver it, her face looking to the ceiling above.

I didn't spend another moment observing her as I looked back to my course down the hall. I stormed that path.

"Ma'am," The woman hasted in almost a pleading voice and a pant of the fast yet cautious pace she took to catch up to me.

I didn't respond and forced myself to not care for the girl's blind and desperate path. I took a turn down another hall, keen on being sure my feet were as silent as the air breathed. I could fool her by being this quiet. This didn't come to be true.

I heard her thundering steps take the same turn as me. How she tracked my silent steps I hadn't the slightest clue. Her pace came to a stop. I believed her to have been confused in which path I'd actually taken.

But her feet suddenly picked up speed into a run towards me. I barely had time to whirl as a warm and dark hand latched onto mine. I almost yanked my arm away, raising my hand as I madly turned and slightly bared my teeth to the woman. She showed no response but only a stern expression as her eyes blankly pointed at me. It was then I gave into her calls of my response.

"What?" I breathed in a harsh whisper and an enraged tone.

"Ma'am. There. Is. A. Taker." The woman bared just as I did in an imperative manner.

My enraged line of thought stumbled and fell as realization struck it. Fear crawled up that same path. My eyes widened as I took in her words.

I didn't have any more time to process— to respond. There was a pain on my back— a kick. I forced into a tumble that would've had me on the floor if the smaller woman hadn't caught me.

"So you are all you add up to be," a chilling snark remarked. That snark was accompanied with an uncomfortable chill that crawled up my spine. That voice was familiar.

I whirled around to be face to face with a Taker I constantly found myself so conflicted about.

This is 5537 words and I'm shaking. Like I felt like this chapter was going to be long but NOT THAT LONG-

REMEMBER:​​​​​​

1. Smack dat butiful star

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\\ See u in the next chapter! \\