The Woman Ruler of the Altan Clan

Chapter 91 Always Interested in You

"Who proposes such a senseless thing?" Eej was flabbergasted, his eyes looking at Shanum then aimed at Khan.

"I was the one who originally proposed it, Eej." Shanum stood up from his seat. Followed by Khan. Shanum avoided the man who seemed to want to approach him. The girl walked to the side, widening the distance between them and moving closer to the door.

"I thought so, because Khan could no longer feel the bond between us. So that I freed him from his obligation to be bound to me."

"The soul's blessing can't be decided that easily. Even if there's a spell that can break it I've never heard of it" Khan's mother interrupted decisively.

Shanum shook his head, throwing a sad thin smile at Eej that made Khan want to curse. "Although I appreciate this bond, but I'm not willing to force your son to be bound by something he doesn't want."

Despite the callous-sounding words, as they swirled in his own mind, Khan wanted to protest. He did not remember about their relationship but deep down he felt something that went against his mind.

Over the past few days, Khan has come to realize that he still feels emptiness when he does not meet Shanum.

Unaware of Khan's conflicting thoughts, Shanum continued, "Then I will return to my country. About the plan to go to Och city, it seems I was forced to refuse it. And sorry, I don't mean to downplay your struggles before the elders and the noble council, Eej. There are so many reasons I can't tell you." Shanum sighed, his words paused.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to go back to the hotel where I'm staying. Khan has allowed me to return to my country, and has provided a plane for us. So tomorrow morning I and my two best friends should be home soon."

"How generous is my son to provide a plane for your return," said Eej, sarcasm makes the usually soft tone turn sharp. Shanum just smiled faintly and left without waiting for permission from Khan or his mother.

"That's great, son," his mother sneered.

Khan turned to face his mother, angry in a way that he never did to her. "Why would Eej suggest something so risky? You know how the noble council and the elders behave towards women who are not their choice. Shanum will be their moons, just as Sintai was. And if Eej is going to do it at least Eej can think of the feelings of the two of us by approaching me without Shanum's presence."

The mother immediately stood up, her expression full of condemnation and disappointment so clear. "Because it never occurred to me that you would be so rude and blatantly say you didn't want to be tied up with that poor girl. Shanum is here because of you, or have you forgotten that important fact?"

"I don't remember about our bond, Eej. Oh, my God, how many times have I said that."

"really?" ask Eej while squinting her eyes.

"Of course, what else?" khan replied firmly.

"Oh no. I think you're just scared. I'm sure in your heart there must be something you feel for that girl. There was no way the soul bond could be forgotten just like that, without a trace at all."

"How can Eej say that?" Khan turned away, his emotions so stirred that he didn't even want his mother to realize it. Especially since his mother voiced the thoughts that he had tried his best to suppress in his own mind.

"There can't be anything between Shanum and me." But those words sounded empty, even in Khan's own ears.

"Because Shanum isn't a weak girl, submissive and easy for you to bully?" Eej Syndicator.

Khan was surprised by his mother's attitude, then exclaimed, "I can't possibly be that small minded, Eej. She's a beautiful and attractive girl. I just don't want to put him in danger."

But it's getting less and less important. Shanum's a tough girl. He was able to heal her, and was definitely more than capable of taking care of her. The girl had unknowingly connected with him, both as a man and a respected clan leader. What more does he want from his Shasha?"

Khan's practical brain had no answer.

"I thought bringing the two of you closer together would restore your memories slowly. But it turns out I was wrong. You've repeatedly broken Shanum's heart."

"I was not intentional, Eej. You know I don't trust women anymore. Since-" Khan does not like to do the same arguments with his mother as he did with Shanum.

"Since that wicked woman broke your heart so. If so, why are you now willing to get close to him?" connect mother.

"I'm..." The man went back to silence unable to explain his chaotic feelings to his mother.

"Maybe you feel you don't realize it, even though the evidence will show otherwise. But you, no doubt, would be foolish to just let Shanum go." The loving tone in Eej's voice at least dampened some of his condemnation sting.

Khan turned back to face his mother, only to watch the woman leave the room while opening both doors wide.

Khan was tired. His mother was an expert at making him feel guilty every time they argued. The man rubbed his hands against his face. Is it true that he can't just let Shanum go, just like his mother said.

Perhaps the mother did not realize how her son, the clan leader, had already almost bowed his knees towards the girl. Now he can only let fate decide his path. Of course one thing he had to do first was to hold Shanum back to his country.

Although Khan was not so sure he could prevent the girl. He himself has only recently realized how very wrong he is about himself. He thought he could just feel used to hanging out with Sintai and only now realized how much it turned out to be very miserable for him.

Not because the woman had already broken her heart, but more because she was overshadowed by the guilt towards Shanum. Khan felt like he was a man cheating on the back of his partner.

Returning from the hotel where the meeting with Khan's mother and the man, Shanum found his two best friends were engrossed with their mobile phones in the living room. Shanum smiled and slightly mince-talked saying his meeting with Khan's mother went smoothly.

After that he took his swimsuit and now stands in front of the swimming pool of the hotel where he was staying. The swimming pool was in a closed room and had a heating, so the air inside still felt warm, even though the air temperature outside was quite cold.

Shanum had been wearing a swimsuit from the room, coated it with a hotel bathrobe, and began removing the bathrobe. He put it on a chair by the pool. Shanum wanted to immediately cool his body and mind inside the pond.

But when he saw the reflection of the pond water, his mind wandered into the events as he drowned. The whole incident, one after another popping up in his eye. Shanum gritted his teeth. Feeling upset, every look at everything he always remembered the man.

"That's because you're still hoping for him" whispered Shanum's little heart. The girl shook her head. He must forget Khan. He should be able to get rid of his entire story into a closed room in the corner of his heart.

Shanum heard the sound of footsteps on the floor telling him that someone was approaching. The environment of the pond this afternoon was indeed quiet, not a single person was swimming.

And Shanum just thought, that he was alone in that place. Shanum turned his head, and saw Khan with his cold, unreadable face approaching him. The girl was immediately relieved to see Khan coming, she reflexively pulled the bathrobe from the bench and put it back on.

"I'm a jerk."

Shanum froze, he did not immediately reply to the man's words. He will not deny the truth either. From the outside the girl showed no reaction to Khan's presence or the man's shocking confession, though her heart started beating faster. Honestly, he was more than happy if he could completely ignore the man now.

So, here comes Khan. To go back to apologizing. To make the girl undo her intention of returning to her country.

In Shanum's mind, whatever Khan wanted, Shanum wanted the man to finish him and leave immediately. His self-defense was always at its lowest point when he was near this man and he did not want Khan to see the tears that blocked his throat.

Khan stepped behind him, putting his hand on his shoulder. "I hurt you, again."

Shanum shrugged, did not want to lie and was reluctant to admit his weakness. It was too nearly like admitting why he was so vulnerable to the man.

Love is painful. There is no other name for the emotional blaze that Khan triggered in him. He loved that man.

Shanum is also pretty sure he will always love Khan. Things about the only true love he always thought of as a silly fairy tale before meeting the man? He's living it now. It's just that the "happy for ever" part is still in the fairy tale world and will always be there.

"I'm so sorry. It was unintentional. It just popped out of my lips when you made me mad. Usually I'm not easily affected by emotions, but ever since I woke up in the hospital, my soul and my mind seemed to contradict each other." Khan's right hand slipped down, circled Shanum's body and pressed down on his stomach, guiding the bodies of the two of them closer.

That position was very intimate, Shanum should have rejected it. But he only took a deep breath and could not say that his body missed the man's embrace. "Please, let me go."

He could not blame Khan for defending his former lover. They once had memories together. But the man's current touch brought his emotions too close to the surface. And that's something he can't handle.

Khan's lips swept his temple. "Eej has awakened me from my own delusions. There's nothing I want more than to spend time with you."

Gently yet firmly, Khan flipped Shanum's body facing him. "That's right Shasha. Deep down my heart feels empty when I don't see you. My meeting with Sintai did not mean anything. I felt nothing more towards him, including the pain he had once inflicted."

If Shanum could believe the evidence before his eyes, Khan's expression showed a turmoil as fierce as he had experienced. And this time, the man did nothing to hide it.

It shouldn't be important, but it's important. Shanum forced his gaze straight ahead, opening his mouth to once again demand that Khan let him go, but he was unable to speak those words.

He wanted this closeness.

Khan sighed, his hands rubbing Shanum's back. "I spent the last three days tracing the black magic wearer's plot. I found out some strange things and doubted me. Until finally all of these activities ended dead end. And you know what keeps me feeling uneasy, in between my days, I keep thinking of you. Can't let go of my mind from daydreaming yourself. What have you done to me, Shasha? You always haunt me. "

Shanum stubbornly continued to point his hand at Khan's chest, but he had to see what the man felt about it. He looked up, their gazes met.

The mix of chaotic emotions trembled all over Shanum's body, needing only the slightest spark possible to make them flare up. Longing, love, need, pain and worry are seen in the girl's eyes.

Shanum stared at the deep stress lines around the man's golden brown eyes. Consciously, Shanum's hand was raised to stroke the lines. Khan sighed feeling Shanum's gentle touch.

"You're doing it again, Adri. This time you're being nice to me. Will you come back rude?"

Khan shakes. "Now the thought of hurting you makes me feel so bad. No, I actually felt bad from the beginning. But I tried to ignore it, and told myself that you were a dangerous girl. I'm just trying to protect my heart from severe damage, if you leave me."

"That makes sense. But you're still wrong, Adri. I won't leave you unless you urge me to do it." Shanum tried his best to ignore his heart as if soaring to hear the Khan's statement.

"And now you have pushed me too far, and made me decide to go. You don't have to make excuses to keep me away. I know, you're meeting me right now for that, right?"

Khan nodded.

"Your mother was very kind, but she was mistaken. You don't owe me anything."

Maybe if he kept saying that, Khan would realize Shanum was convinced by it. No matter how hard the truth is, it hurts.

"I'm not trying to find an excuse for myself. I'm confessing what I really feel for you, beyond the Amnesia I've suffered."

"You mean, are you seriously feeling something about me?" Shanum asked with a half shocked face in disbelief.

"Yes" Khan replied with a faint smile.

"What about breaking the bonds of our souls?" push the girl again.

"That's big shit. Realizing what I'm saying doesn't mean I want it."

"You're a bit complicated" Shanum said.

"I'm a clan leader, a hassle part of my life." Khan explained in a relaxed tone of voice, seemingly unaware that the complexity could hurt.

Shanum took a deep breath, his head ached, all these complexities could threaten his sanity. It seems that he still has to end all of this for now. Shanum pushed Khan's body firmly, until the man jolted backwards.

The girl shook her head. "I need to think about it. And tomorrow I'll go back to my country. If I've decided, I'll tell you soon." His desire to swim suddenly disappeared. She would rather be in her room and bemoan her own grief.

"No. You can't go." Khan was panicked and disliked the feeling.

"I have to go back to the room, Adri. There's nothing more we need to talk about. I'm tired." The girl walked past Khan, but the man stopped her with a grip on his arm.

Shanum stared at Khan's hand sharply. "Take me off, please."

"You can't just walk away, as if ignoring my confession earlier. Are you trying to play me, in this pull-string game of yours?"

Shanum's eyes were burning. "Aren't you the one acting like that. You should be reflecting, what have you been doing to me since I've been here?"

Suddenly Shanum saw a flash of sparkle from one of the changing rooms. He squinted his eyes. A fleeting arrow could be detected by him, and Shanum turned his head towards Khan. The arrow was pointing at the man. Khan did not realize it because the man was standing on his back to the dressing room.

The arrow shot straight towards its destination quickly. Shanum jumped towards Khan and pushed him towards the pool. They both jumped into it. Shanum felt wet, numb, and stiff. His shoulders also slowly felt hot, as if something was burning him from within. And the last thing Shanum remembered before he was unconscious was the angry cries of Khan calling out to his subordinates.