Saya could not sleep from the intensity of confusion, for she was thinking all night about what happened with her yesterday.
The door of the room was knocked.
Saya hurried and entered the bed to make it look like she had just woken up.
_ Who is at the door?
_ It's me, my lady, the maid Mina.
_ Come later, I don't want to go out now, I am a little tired, don't come unless I call you myself.
_ Yes, my lady.
Saya stayed in bed and didn't go out at all and didn't even eat.
The time became nine in the evening.
The door was knocked again.
_ Mina, didn't I tell you not to come unless I call you?
_ Forgive me, my lady, but it's an order from Mr. Nathan.
_ What does Mr. Nathan want?
_ He told me to take you with me to the garden gate; he is waiting for you there. But you must first eat all this food that I carry on the tray.
_ What?? Isn't this the garden forbidden to everyone?
_ Yes, it is so.
_ Alright, stay by the door until I finish eating and dressing and come out to you.
Saya began talking to herself saying:
_ How rude I am, why do I act with the people of the castle as if I am the lady of the place, while I am only a psychiatrist for Mr. Nathan, and I must do everything I can to help him, but it seems that I do the opposite and act foolishly. I even crossed my limits yesterday and entered his room and violated his privacy. Since when did I become this bold?
I must fix what I ruined and try again so that I won't be fired from this job too, for then I will return to the life of unemployment again.
Alright, now I must act normally so that no one feels I am strange or moody, and I must start with eating first for I am starving; after that, I will get ready and go out to Mr. Nathan to know what he wants.
Saya finished her food and opened her wardrobe and wore the most beautiful dress in that collection with the help of the maid Mina, but the strange thing was that it was also in light pink color. It seemed that it was Saya's favorite color or maybe it just coincided with the designs she liked, nothing more.
She combed her hair and let it fall around her neck and wore very simple white heels.
She looked at herself in the mirror and said:
_ Yes, now I am ready.
She went out of the room and the maid Mina was waiting for her and said calmly:
_ My lady, you took a long time to get ready, I hope Mr. Nathan won't be annoyed by your behavior.
Saya walked accompanied by the maid Mina in a corridor leading to the back of the castle, and this place was the first time Saya saw it, but she didn't ask any questions and stayed silent just walking.
At the end of this corridor, Saya saw a large black gate open, and beside that gate stood Nathan waiting for Saya to come to him.
When he saw her approaching him accompanied by the maid, he smiled and came close to them and said:
_ Miss Saya, you made me wait for a long time, you know that, right?
The maid Mina left that place and no one remained except Nathan and Saya.
Nathan was wearing a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves and black pants and black leather gloves.
He extended his hand to her so that she would come with him to the garden.
Saya didn't hesitate in that; her heart started to trust him even if she knew that maybe she would not leave that garden alive, but she didn't care for all those strong possibilities, for it was clear she had loved him even though he was still a strange man to her; she knew nothing about him except his name; even his face she hadn't seen — she fell in love with his soft eyes behind the mask, eyes she had never seen like them in her life.
After moments of silence between them without anyone speaking, they began walking in the garden path. It was a garden as if taken from heaven for its beauty and magic. Inside it were various groups of flowers, plants, and rare trees, besides the cherry trees spread across the garden with their flowers falling like pieces of snow.
Saya was enchanted by the magnificence and beauty of the scenery and the nature in this garden; astonishment and admiration were clear on her face — her pupils widened and her mouth remained open from surprise, saying:
_ Waaaah, this is really amazing! I feel like I will cry from the magic of this beauty. I really love these things, as if you were inside my mind and designed the things I wished to see one day in my life.
Nathan looked at her and said:
Do you really feel happiness or are you just pretending?
What are you saying? Hahahaha I really don't understand you.
Nathan came closer to her and began walking while she was walking backward facing him, until they reached one of the cherry trees.
Saya put her back on the trunk of the tree and he came close to her and whispered in her ear saying:
_ You entered my room yesterday, didn't you?
Saya stared into his eyes as if to say, "How did you know that?"
Nathan laughed a mocking laugh saying:
_ Do you think I'm foolish to the point I didn't know you entered my room and searched my belongings, especially that drawer which contained an old book?
What, are you afraid now?
Do you want to know who I am?
He grabbed her arms strongly, tightening his words to her saying:
Don't cross your limits again, I warn you. Do the thing that I kept you by my side for — to help me overcome some psychological feelings I live through by talking with you only. Don't take other paths I dislike, for I am more dangerous than you think. Other than that, I don't trust anyone, even you; I have big doubts about you. How come your family hasn't searched for you until now? It seems you also carry many secrets. But answer me now — are you afraid?
Sadness and resentment appeared on Saya's face, and tears filled her eyes, but at the same time she tried to hold them back, pretending to be strong, saying:
_ No, I'm not afraid of you.
Nathan's face showed astonishment, and he frowned.
He came closer to her and pressed on her strongly saying:
_ Even now, you're still not afraid?
_ Yes, I am.
He was astonished by her courage; it was the first time he saw a human not afraid in such a hard situation.
_ Do you think I am playing with you, girl?
_ I don't care about what you just told me, and you're right — I crossed my limits, and this won't happen again.
Nathan laughed and replied:
_ What did you say?? Do you have anything in your brain?
After all I told you, you didn't even defend yourself?? You're really a strange girl, just as I expected in our first meeting.
Saya gathered her strength and courage, speaking seriously with her eyes red like blood, saying:
_ That doesn't matter either, because I know you like me but you try to deny it, right? I know that — your indirect care toward me, watching me from afar, protecting me, keeping me here in your castle even though I'm of no use to you and haven't even treated you. All these things mean that you love me and want me to stay, am I right in what I said?
Nathan removed his grip from her arms and held her hand, walking with her forcefully to the center of the garden.
When they reached the middle, he began pointing with his hand to the garden trees, saying:
_ Do you see this huge garden? I designed it for a woman who died long ago, and I planted in it all the plants and trees she loved, among them the cherry trees. She left this world, but she didn't leave my heart. Do you see yourself like her, or do you hope I'll give you a chance to take her place?
_ I understand how much you loved her, but she's gone — why do you torture yourself this way?
_ I loved her in the past, and I love her in the present, and she will remain immortal in my heart until I perish one day. She always reminds me that I was once tender-hearted and that I wasn't the monster I am now.
_ You are not like that; you sacrificed your life to protect the innocent from the evil ones with black hearts like demons who want to spread corruption, and you try to protect them with all you have. You have a tender heart, why do you try to convince yourself otherwise? Why are you ashamed to show your face to me? Also forgive me for saying this, but how weak you are, Mr. Nathan.
_ Shut up, I'm sick of your chatter.
She walked toward him and held his hands tightly and said:
_ Come, face me and tell the truth. I promise you, if you tell me to stay by your side, I will stay no matter what happens. But if you say you really don't want me, I will leave and you will never see my face again in your life.
Nathan pushed her hands away from his and looked at her with very cold eyes, saying:
_ Go, I don't need you, and those thoughts in your head are nonsense — you must get rid of them. I will let Chul take you to any place you want to go.
Saya's eyes filled with tears, and she felt like choking from holding them back, for she didn't want to be weak before him or pitiful.
She gathered what remained of her courage and replied:
_ No need for any of your followers to take me — I also don't need you.
_ But you fool, we are very far from inhabited areas; in this area, no one lives. We are in a dense mountain forest, and you won't be able to get out alone.
Saya looked at Nathan with disdain, saying:
_ Don't pretend you're worried about me now, huh. I will manage myself; you just care about your own matters.
She turned her face, on the verge of collapsing from crying, then quickly headed out of the garden.
She didn't take any of her belongings that Nathan used to bring her; she left the castle empty-handed, having nothing but the dress she was wearing.
She ran out of the castle even though the situation was very scary — it was late, and there was no light on the road, and she didn't know which direction to go, nor if some human beasts or wild animals would come out to harm her.
Saya didn't care about any of that, for she wanted to get out of there no matter what it cost her.
Next.....