125 Shattered Hope & Peace (2/2)
”Give me the bowl. I'll drink it myself.” He stretched out his hand.
Rin's mouth clamped shut, and she quickly handed the bowl of medicine to the threatening man. Taking the bowl from her fair fingers, with one hand, An Sun chugged down the medicine as if it were a bowl of fine red wine.
Seeing An Sun drink the medicine, Rin finally blew out a breath of relief.
”Shit,” An Sun's expression was dark as he smacked his lips distastefully. ”Why does this crap always taste so bad?”
Watching the man grumble like a child, Rin couldn't help the upward curve of her lips as she resisted the urge to laugh and reached behind her for a cup of water. ”Here, drink this.”
An Sun accepted the cup of water and drank it to drown out the foul taste in his mouth. Although the taste still lingered, An Sun was content to have it somewhat out of his mouth.
Looking back at Rin who stared at him with a suppressed smile, he shifted away from her gaze and cleared his throat.
”How long have I been unconscious for?”
”There's no need to worry; it hasn't been long. What's important is that you rest and recover quickly.” Rin answered calmly.
An Sun raised a brow in silent comment but he chose to let it be. Sighing, he leans against the headboard and momentarily stares at the tent ceiling in a daze. Rin remained silent as she watched him stare at the ceiling.
She could see the various deep complications flash across his eyes. At some point, he closed them tightly and suddenly laughed malevolently.
”It's quite ironic isn't it?”
”Huh?” Rin was slightly taken aback by his words.
An Sun shifted his head to face Rin and his lips curled into a cold, crooked sneer.
”I knew he hated me, yet I still hoped...”
Rin grew silent, and her fists on her lap clenched. She knew the 'he' An Sun was referring to was his brother An Ruo.
Although he acted unbothered by his adoptive families' neglect and hostility toward him, An Sun held small hopes. Hopes they could live with one another peacefully.
But after today, that hope was shattered.
”Lord An…I apologize. It was my carelessness that caused you to be injured.”
”Hmm?” An Sun's eyebrows arched. ”What do you mean?”
Rin's gaze lowered and her fists clenched harder. ”If I hadn't killed the scout then the An Clan would've never been suspicious.”
Furthermore, this was her plan from the beginning. She should have been the one to suffer the consequences, not him. Had she thought of a better one, they could have further avoided the An Clan's watchful eyes.
Her eyes narrowed. Why is it when her strategies backfired everyone suffered by her hand?
”Hey, kid.”
Bonk--!
Suddenly feeling a startling but light knock on her forehead, Rin touches the top of her head and looks up in disbelief, her eyes widened. An Sun sighed as he looked at the boys dumbfounded expression, their eyes blinking rapidly in confusion.
”Stop getting all emotional. No one is at fault here.” An Sun's thick, sword-like brows knitted together.
”But…”
An Sun stretched his hand out and gripped tightly onto Rin's small shoulder, startling her. His gray eyes stared back into her emerald ones with intense resolve.
”Neither I nor you knew their plans. I asked you to be my strategist, not some [1]seer. You've done the work I've asked well and that's enough.”
His stern and oppressive voice sounded into her ears, Rin stared at him, stunned. She never expected to hear words of praise from An Sun. Oddly enough, the foggy feeling in her heart dispersed and was replaced by warmth.
A light, gentle smile made its way onto her lips. ”To hear Lord An say such words, I feel rather flattered.”
An Sun's brows arched. He looked at the boy who stared back at him with their clear emerald eyes and noticed their fair little face still had some childish features in them. He was young but clever. An Sun unknowingly smiled.
He was a good kid and strategist.
At that thought, An Sun's eyes grew serious, in the depth of his eyes were resolve and determination.
”Summon Manchu. There's something I need to discuss with the both of you.”