Chương 2: Chapter 2
The cool evening air kissed her. The moon, this enormous pancake on the dark-blue pan of the sky, as if noticing now her presence in the garden alley, illuminated everything with its light, giving Heonui a better look at the man, who was wandering back and forth, as if possessed.
As soon as he saw her silhouette, he stopped, holding his breath. Heonui froze. And it was so strange to her that she tensed up all over. Her throat felt tight, and she cleared her throat nervously.
"I beg your pardon …" she began, not knowing how to start a conversation and seeing that the man was panicking. "I came to greet you, Sir. My name is Heonui Li-en. Pleasure to get acquainted with you."
The stranger sighed and approached the woman carefully.
"Greet me? Why would you do such a thing? What would you care to know me, young lady?"
Wincing at the stranger's rude response, Heonui continued, raising her head higher, trying to sound as proud as possible:
"I thought it was strange that you, em, were not at the feast with everyone. I came down to invite you. It's so beautiful tonight. Everyone is dancing and enjoying wonderful lively conversations. The ladies, like all the gentlemen, are dressed just so well; many famous personas have gathered, I should tell. Are not you interested? I'm sure your hand...." Heonui stumbled at this point and blushed. "...some face would be the main news, and you would all be extremely liked."
"Ha-ha-ha!" the young man laughed, slightly hysterically. "Invited to the feast? A madman? Do you really not know my face? And I am to be more famous than all your previously mentioned gentlemen. But, alas! I have no place next to the magnificent Wang Han! Only his light can shine for others. My knowledge is nothing compared to his military exploits. My poems do not sound in the halls of the palace; my songs are not sung in the halls of his dwelling; my melodies do not sound on the pianos of his living rooms. I am on the throne, but the throne is empty!"
Heonui glanced at the young man uncomprehendingly. What was he meaning by all those words? His blue eyes glittered, reflecting the moonlight; his nervous smile played some strange melody on Heonui's heart; his dark, thick hair was ruffled by the wind; his gestures were confusing with their beauty and mystery. When she examined all his features, she was amazed to admit that he was so beautiful indeed!
Understanding the confusion on her face, he said, now more politely, putting the emphasis on the words as clearly as possible:
"I am not a guest at your celebration, dear young lady. No one is happy to meet me there. And all because everyone at this feast is blind and deaf. And I can hear and see! Ha-ha-ha!"
"Heonui!!!" The graceful figure of Wang Han came up from behind. "Heonui, get away from him! Please, Heonui! He is a dangerous man!"
"Dangerous?" The stranger twitched the corner of his lip and flashed his eyes. "That is your manners, I see, seja-jeoha. To speak so of me so badly in the presence of such a beautiful Miss."
"Leave the wangbi now!" Wang Han raised his voice. Heonui turned, and at the same moment, the stranger came close to her and howled right in her ear, "Auuuuuuuu!!!!!!"
With a cry of either fear or despair, Miss Li-en recoiled from him and, looking once more into his magnificent eyes, walked away from him with a quick step without adding another word and only biting her scarlet lip.
Wang Han caught up with her.
"Heonui, what are you doing? Why did you run to him, leaving all the guests like that?" His voice trembled.
"I... I..." she gasped. "I wanted to invite him… He was all alone. Why is he, poor fellow, wandering there, all alone, when glasses are rattling inside your property and laughter is heard, the music does not stop, and dancing couples are seen in the windows? It hurt me so to see him like that! What did he do to you? Ah, leave me, Your Royal Highness!"
"Invite him? He is insane, Heonui! He is my own brother, Wang Tae, and believe me, if I say that he has no place in a civilized society! He can turn any holiday upside down and end it with a tragedy, dear. You don't know him like I do. You just saw only his shadow now. In the light of day, he will be your fright, but I shall not allow him to see him dancing waltzes and drinking wine in front of my nose."
Heonui pulled back her hand, which was easily squeezed by the Prince.
"How can you do that, Your Royal Highness? Not to let your own brother attend such a loud celebration?"
"He is ill, Heonui. He is completely out of his mind and has lost the remnants of valor!"
"What is his illness? That he is more wonderful than you?"
Wang Han recoiled in horror. Young Li-en's words hit him hard in the heart. After looking into her eyes for a minute, he understood everything and said:
"He hears voices and sees ghosts. His nights are nightmares that last until dawn. His behavior among people is like a bold goldfinch, thinking that he knows something and hears something that others do not see and do not hear. But I suppose you are already under his spell. Please excuse me; I have to go back to the guests."
And his figure disappeared into the door of the palace, leaving Heonui at the entrance to wipe the tears that appeared on her cold cheeks that were endlessly kissed by the wind.
She turned back, as if seeking support.
Wang Tae was nowhere to be found.
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