NJAN 1

Episode 1

At night, the spirits became restless.

As with all things wicked, they hid their true forms in the warm, bright sunlight of the day, only to slink out when darkness fell over the world.

“The moon is unusually bright tonight.”

It was a full moon.

Another fifteen days had already passed.

Hearing Sowa mutter, Yeon-woo picked up a rice cake and offered it to her mouth.

Although Sowa complained about eating sweets so late at night, she chewed and swallowed the rice cake carefully.

“Has His Highness sent any news?”

“He has just crossed the border between Hong-guk and Yeon-guk. It won’t take more than a week for him to reach the capital.”

“That’s a relief. I’m glad he completed the expedition without incident this time, too. His Highness is truly remarkable. How does he bravely subdue those beasts—so fierce and fearsome, yet manage to defeat them?”

“I’ve heard he showed exceptional talent in swordsmanship from a young age.”

“Really?”

Sitting together on the floor, their heads close as they exchanged soft chatter beneath the newly blossoming petals on the veranda, they looked just like a newlywed couple.

Yeon-woo poured more tea into his half-empty cup to warm it and glanced at Sowa’s teacup.

She had learned to drink even the bitter tea now.

Once a child who couldn’t drink anything but mild tea, Sowa had clearly grown.

Now, the two of them were already nineteen years old.

Thinking back to when they first met—she was only four—they had spent fifteen years together.

Yeon-woo felt a deep sense of emotion at this thought.

Unaware of his sentiment, Sowa emptied her teacup with a quiet slurp.

“You’re very different from Crown Prince Jeoha. He was slower to learn swordsmanship, wasn’t he? He was better with the bow than the sword, and even that took time because he preferred reading. Pulling the string with strength came later.”

“Are you recalling the past too vividly? I can hit distant targets now. It’s unfair to tease me like that.”

Sowa smiled knowingly, clearly only intending to tease him.

But seeing him take it in stride, one could understand why people said that Yeon-woo was the kindest and warmest Crown Prince in the history of Yeon-guk.

“There’s no fun in teasing me if I don’t get upset.”

“How can I be upset at someone who visits me every night?”

“Do the spirits still bother you? I told them strictly to leave you be.”

Sowa rose slightly, glancing around as if checking her surroundings.

The lanterns around them and the unusually bright moonlight illuminated the quiet, serene courtyard. Occasionally, the sound of bamboo leaves rustling in the wind could be heard, making Yeon-woo’s residence even quieter at night.

After looking around, Yeon-woo spoke.

“Anyway, Sowa, you can speak freely. No one else is here. I’ve told everyone to leave.”

“I got caught last time and got scolded badly. You know how terrifying the Head Palace Lady is.”

“I promise, this time I’ve made sure no one will overhear.”

“What if you get a fever again like last time…”

“Shh. It’s fine, really.”

Yeon-woo met her gaze to soothe her.

Sowa’s translucent eyes flickered. Words she wanted to say were on the tip of her tongue, but she held them back.

From a young age, spirits seemed unusually drawn to Yeon-woo. It had been Sowa who noticed when a long-haired ghost was choking him.

“I won’t let them get to the Crown Prince!”

She had charged at the spirits fearlessly, letting Yeon-woo finally sleep peacefully after three sleepless days that had even caused him to nosebleed.

Thanks to her, he could still keep this secret.

It would be troublesome if word spread that the heir to the throne attracted the spirits’ ire.

“Look at that one, Jeoha. Doesn’t it seem unusually interested in this side?”

Ah…

Sowa sighed belatedly.

As she had been checking for spirits like a sentinel, her eyes fell on a boy. One of his eyes was sunken, and his legs bore wounds from wild animals. Yeon-woo wouldn’t be able to see him.

Few people could see spirits.

“Is there a child?”

“Yes. He seems intent on this side… like he’s about to do something.”

“He probably isn’t a bad child. Not all spirits are evil, Sowa, you told me that yourself.”

“That’s true, but… Your Highness, if you stay so passive, that’s why the spirits keep bothering you.”

“But that’s why you’re here by my side. The spirits bother me, so you sit here with me, drink tea with me, and protect me.”

“Eh?”

Caught off guard, Sowa widened her eyes to look at Yeon-woo.

He turned his head, ears slightly red, as if embarrassed.

The atmosphere warmed in an instant.

They were no longer children.

The little Yeon-woo who had held her hand to comfort her was gone, replaced by a broad-shouldered man with a strong body.

With his large, warm amber eyes, straight nose, and lips tinted like apricots, it was obvious what feelings he held for the only person who had ever saved him—Sowa.

“What are you saying? You make it sound like I only come because of the spirits.”

“You don’t climb the walls anymore, right?”

“Huh?”

“You did before, remember? You said you found another way, so no more climbing walls.”

“Ah… Of course. I won’t go dangerously, so don’t worry.”

“When His Highness returns, I’ll ask for your appointment as Crown Princess.”

Yeon-woo’s voice carried determination.

The word “Crown Princess” made Sowa feel strangely flustered, and she lowered her head.

When they were alone, they could speak comfortably, but hearing such a flustering declaration left her unsure how to respond.

Yeon-woo gazed down at Sowa’s round, beautiful head like a ripe apple, and cautiously reached out his hand.

He wanted to caress her, to cherish her, to hold her dear.

Fighting the impulse was growing increasingly difficult.

She was not yet the Crown Princess.

Although everyone expected her to become Crown Princess, and he could not imagine anyone else in that role, he still had to restrain himself.

“So this hardship ends now, Sowa.”

“I never thought it was hardship. I enjoy walking in the cold night air. When the flowers bloom, we can enjoy them together. I like the night.”

That was a lie. Sowa actually preferred the daytime.

The warm sunlight and lively energy of day reflected her perfectly.

Yeon-woo knew that.

“…Then that’s a relief.”

Both closed their eyes.

If Sowa became the Crown Princess, they could be together day and night.

They only had to wait a little while longer.

From afar, the sound of a bell echoed.

Soon it would be the time for the guards to patrol.

“You should sleep now. Lie down quickly. I’ll go see to that child.”

“I’ll inform the Head Palace Lady. But with the full moon, I’m worried something might happen.”

“Something happen? Nonsense. There’s no way the spirits that His Highness drove to the distant northern lands would appear in the palace.”

“But you never know.”

“If people hear of a woman wandering around before the Crown Princess’s appointment, both you and I will be in trouble. You know that.”

Sowa smiled reassuringly and waved to Yeon-woo, who watched her reluctantly, before moving on.

If she stayed longer, she might run into the Head Palace Lady.

“Hey.”

“…”

“You’ve been staring… were you wanting this?”

Of course, she hadn’t forgotten to bring two rice cakes.

She had already noticed that the spirit of the boy hiding behind the tree had been eyeing the rice cakes.

“Here, take this. Today, make sure no one goes there. Don’t bother His Highness.”

The spirit silently nodded.

Sowa handed over the rice cake and continued walking.

Behind Yeon-woo’s residence was a small garden.

Climbing over the wall from there led to a forest path, where Jeong-i, who always attended to Sowa, waited beneath the oldest, tallest juniper tree.

“The wind feels eerie tonight.”

Sowa, walking cautiously with her cloak covering her, suddenly stopped.

She felt a chilling gaze from behind.

Had she been discovered?

The wind intensified as if on cue, flaring her cloak.

A cold sensation ran down her spine.

A spirit?

The unfamiliar, sharp scent rode on the wind.

It was different from the fishy smell of other spirits.

“…!”

Instinctively, she felt she needed to run.

Sowa pressed herself against the wall, ready to flee.

Her words to Yeon-woo were a lie.

She had climbed over walls like this every night.

Because she had done it so often, she knew exactly where to step.

Just as she placed her foot on the first stone, something violently grabbed her ankle.

She barely restrained a scream and hurriedly stepped up again.

Something moist and bumpy, like scales, climbed her leg.

A chill ran through her.

It felt as though a beast’s tongue was wrapping around her body, trying to drag her down.

‘I want to cry for help, but my voice won’t come out.’

Her body trembled with fear.

As she frantically glanced around, the moon, briefly hidden behind clouds, fully revealed itself.

And she saw it.

Sharp black eyes gleamed in the shadows.

Someone was watching her from afar.