I'm The Boss's Secretary?!

"Yessir," the other man answered, seemingly finding Min Hyuk's sudden change in behavior to be normal. "Other than Miss Sol—" the man turned quiet all of a sudden, his eyes snapped back and Seoyeon's body turned rigid as the man stared right at her. 

Seoyeon gulped and it took her a while to realize the man didn't stared at her but rather behind her. She breathed out in relief and also turned to look behind but was distracted as the earlier man who seemed as if he had sensed a presence of someone left the place as if he was never there before. 

"Mr. Min," came the voice of a man and Min Hyuk turned his face, his once cold nature then turn to a more friendly manner though the other man can't help but noticed the distance between them. 

"Minister Suk Wi-Hwa," Min Hyuk answered the man, "You seem to be struggling to walk, it might be a great time for you to rest now." 

The other man laughed in response. He dragged his body that walked unsteadily, not wanting to leave, "I am not drunk yet! There are still plenty of attraction all over the palace. I cannot miss this opportunity to enjoy it while I could. What are you doing here, Mr. Min? Is it a woman you are waiting for?"

Min Hyuk looked at the man in response, saying nothing in reply. Suk Wi-Hwa is known for his bad behavior during drunk but this was nothing half of his usual behavior. Min Hyuk guessed that the man had called him up in purpose.

Hearing no reply, Suk Wi-Hwa then raised his hand, "Naturally charming men like you must have many admirers. I wouldn't want to poke. They do say that poking to a vampire will cause one's finger to disappear!" Nasty laughter then echoed from the man. "I can understand the Queen's disgust for vampires, I mean drinking blood, who in their right mind would do such a thing?"

Min Hyuk's eyes that stared at the man narrowed but Suk Wi-Hwa didn't put in his mind of the gaze that went unnoticed, continuing to say, "However, I understand that one cannot blame their nature, you are born as a vampire so I understand it is not your choice to adopt such awful way of living. The catalyst too—"

Minister Suk Wi-Hwa wasn't able to complete his word as Min Hyuk settled is hand over the man shoulder. Being taller than the man, his shadow casted a horrifying loom before the man and he looked at the minister with a cold and narrowed gaze. The smile on his lips had also slipped away, "I do think you are too drunk, Minister Suk. It is better for you to go back and rest rather than putting up an act of a drunk person just so you can slander me and think you can go off with ease. Humans like you, who see us as monsters, always think you can put vampires to leash. But remembered, monster can break their own cage if it isn't too sturdy. Be careful."

Seoyeon watched how the other man's face turned pallid when Min Hyuk turned his eyes to the glowering red color. Quickly, the other one ran in speed for fear he would get caught and killed. 

Seeing how quick the man run, Min Hyuk faintly chuckled. He who was left alone then stared at the flowers before him. It was the same white peony flowers that had been the design on Haneul's gown. His hand slowly reached to the flower, the movement of his fingers were gentle but before he touched the petal, he retracted his hand.

"I don't want to sully you," he whispered, "when you are as pure as driven snow."

Seoyeon didn't know when it happened, she had stared at the flowers like Min Hyuk did while deciphering the man's words when her view blackened. When she opened her eyes, she was back inside Haneul.

A lot happened to Haneul and she continued to stare at the door even as Min Hyuk left, watching how his shadow turning thinner until it was gone. 

In the silence, every words Min Hyuk said came again rushing to her, jumbling all her emotions and her heart raced faster than a butterfly's wings.

Can she takes what he said as his confession for his love? Can she interpret his action as one? Haneul wanted to ask him more, question him about all the feeling that he hid to her which might be similar to what she felt for him— love.

But there was still tomorrow, thought Haneul and when tomorrow come, she would come again to him and this time ask him for the word she wanted to hear him. Little would support to their marriage and she might not accept her parent's blessing but she couldn't care about it now as being him had her over the moon. 

But contrary to Haneul's wish, after that night, she didn't meet Min Hyuk again, not until two years later after he had came back from the war. 

The past which Seoyeon had been watching quickly crumbled back to the current timeline where Haneul reunited again with Min Hyuk. 

Though Seoyeon had seen the past, she wasn't sure what happened that caused Min Hyuk to leave. He should have gotten what he needed to threaten the Queen and have her dissolve Haneul's position as the catalyst which was no less than a shackle to bind her under the Queen's control.

Haneul rubbed the back of her neck, her eyes looking shyly to Min Hyuk, "When did you came back?" She asked, scolding herself internally for sounding so rigid and cold.

"An hour ago. I left everything for my subordinate to take care and immediately come here," Min Hyuk answered and Haneul lifted her head that she bent to look on the ground.

When put two pictures of how she remembered Min Hyuk to look like and how he appeared now, she found no different. He still appeared the same with only a few things had changed. If there was one she have to point the most was the way his eyes looked more mature. Light scratches could be seen on his face but nothing to terrible.

Haneul also assessed that the stretched didn't come from a fight but rather the sharp end of a branch brushing and grazing his skin. He must have gotten them when he galloped through the forest.

"Are you alright?" Haneul asked, taking a step and she threw aside the awkwardness to ask what was the most important for her now which is Min Hyuk. "I heard about the war and how terrible they were. Did they treated you badly?"

Min Hyuk smiled, and he raised his hand to the side of the stomach, "I am not sure if you question about how my enemies were treating me badly of my allies. If your question belong to the first one then I should answer you this, no enemy didn't treated me badly," and he winced, something which Haneul immediately noticed, "While humans are not as strong as vampires, it's different when the war involve vampires."

"Did you hurt yourself there?" Haneul asked in startle, her steps shuffling quickly to stand in front of him and she raised her hand, hovering them over his hand which was covering his stomach. "Here?"

Min Hyuk's eyes continue to stare as her as she speak, the lines of worries on her forehead and the way the tail of her brows sloped down, nothing missed his eyes. He felt bad for worrying her but seeing the concern she poured for him made him think that suffering from a wound like this actually worth the pain.

No reply came to her and Haneul raised her head seeing at the same time Min Hyuk's head descended down. The sudden closure they shared had her heart drum against her chest. Her eyes were wide and dewy as all she could see was the shape of his lips that continue to descend down. Her body turned stiff but unexpectedly her eyes moved fast to shut close and she waited for the touch of his lips to press down. But instead, a heavy weigh shifted on her shoulder.

Hanaeul opened her eyes wide, and she turned her face slightly to see Min Hyuk who had rested on her shoulders. He said, "Are you not going to ask me?"

Haneul cursed herself for thinking they were about to kiss and she wanted to use her hand to fan her heated cheeks if not for the sudden question that Min Hyuk asked her.

"What do I have to ask?"

"The Queen and why did I left suddenly that day," Min Hyuk said, his eyes lowering as he immersed himself in the nostalgic scent of Haneul which always put him at ease but she didn't know it. When it comes to the things he hid, Haneul know almost nothing about it including his true personality which was far cry from the gentle demeanor he always showed her.

But Min Hyuk never lie. He was violence in flesh and as a vampire it was something he never shied away from. When he come to meet Haneul, everything turned for the different. He want to treat her gently, protect her, and allow no danger to come to her. Things were not going easy for him, however. Not only was marriage between vampires and humans in this kingdom was not allowed, Haneul had just discovered her power as the catalyst which the Queen eyed for.

Haneul grasped her hand together, "Of course I want to ask. There are many things that I want to ask you."

Min Hyuk lifted his head for his eyes to look at her side profile. "Why didn't you ask me now then?"

"Because it isn't important," Haneul said, her lips quivering and Min Hyuk didn't missed the nervousness that flashed by her eyes, "I think it is more important to ask you how you are doing rather than to demand all those question. Come with me," she then decided, taking his hand and yanking it slowly to usher him away from the garden.

Curious on what she want to do, Min Hyuk obliged by her direction. 

What they didn't know and also Seoyeon who was inside Haneul didn't notice, was that not too far away from them, a keen eye of a woman stared at the two who had shared private discussion in the garden. 

Mrs. Sol's eyes were opened widely and she clutched to her dress after seeing her daughter along with the pureblood vampire. She called out her maid once she left the hall in a hurry, "Write a letter for me.. Write it to the Queen. Now!"