━ ♞ @dalhyeonn 、 continued from 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 .
Hyeon can’t help it. Naivety of the young, one might call it, or naivety of those with a heart big enough to harbour it, is how Hyeon would call it. But when his gaze moves to rest upon the young features of the maiden who had uttered those words, Hyeon simply can’t help it, and he chuckles.
A light, warm sound, for his laughter is truly his biggest pride, and the smile doesn’t vanish even as he clears his throat and makes to bow in apology to a perhaps rude beginning of a conversation.
“Apologies for my reaction, but I hope you may forgive me if I explain to you why this,” and he turns to pointedly direct his gaze onto the men currently stuck in a rather heated debate further into the room, glasses in hands, chins lifted in a clear attempt at dominance over the other that the other wasn’t willing to give - no man would, “is an absolutely expectable turn of events.”
“You see, when a young woman - and I hope this won’t sound like an offense to you, your highness - asks just the right kind of question to the right kind of men, discussions are born as easily as snow falls during winter,” he tilts his head, “I would say… you’ve managed to bring quite a heated debate to life. I’d be proud. It keeps men such as themselves feeling alive.”
He halts.
Huh.
When’s the last time he had spoken that much to anyone tonight?
“Ah, I may have stepped over a line with my unrequested talk, do forgive me.”
the panic never settles ; instead, curiosity fosters it, concealing it for the moment, as she listens, dumbfounded, having not thought that the words she had uttered prior were of any sentiment. in fact, deep down, ruihan knew they shouldn’t have -- her mother’s disconcerted gaze could be felt heavily on her back -- and the fact that the opposite had happened made her shift one foot to the other in discomfort.
but despite what she knows she should have done instead, a curious gaze follows his steadfast, unable to deny the interest that had been piqued by his words. like a bee, encouraged by the promise of honey at the tip of a bud, she’s buzzing with curiosity. of which swirls in dark pools of brown, hidden by long lashes that fail to hide the stare she dons among a group of men from afar. it’s the slightest slip of judgement as she hangs onto the other’s every word, the need to sate her wonderment overriding the control she had branded into her skin.
she feels the alarms in her head go off ; warning her of the way her eyes never sway, the piercing gaze of utmost attention dripping from her fingertips. the silent questions once more at the tip of her tongue but never once breaching the surface. she had gone as far as to blatantly stare, could she be so daring as to commit to questions, as well?
“no,” and her voice holds firm; despite the soft tone that carries the word. “not at all.” she brushes off his apology, finding no reason for it as she bows her head, instead, “i believe, i should be apologizing for the commotion i have caused --” her eyes trace the conversation back to the group of men then back, downcast ; teeth pulling at her bottom lip. “it was out of turn of me to say something so carelessly.” and she truly believes it, feeling the guilt beginning to pull its weight at the depths of her stomach.
