Chapter 02
The tree branches brushed against each other in the wind, making a cold, lonely sound.
As a whistling noise rang in Soa’s ears, the skirt she had dropped from her hand flew away and fell near the man’s feet.
He had pale, bloodless skin.
His eyes were deep-set, with dark shadows.
The corners of his eyes were long and sharp.
His eye whites were clean and bright.
His nose was straight, like it had been drawn.
His thin lips were the color of violets.
A spirit.
Soa knew it right away.
Of all the spirits she had ever seen, this man looked the neatest—and the most frightening.
He wore clean, orderly clothes, and his eyes were darker than a normal person’s, shining faintly blue.
She was lost in those deep eyes for only a moment.
“Ah!”
Something grabbed her legs and shook them hard.
If she looked down, she could see what was attacking her.
But for some reason, Soa was too scared to look.
She felt like if she looked down, she would see something horrible.
Her hands would lose strength, and she would fall.
She desperately clung to a stone sticking out of the wall, trying not to fall.
“Please… please…”
Something sharp scraped her ankle. It burned with pain.
Still, she forced herself one step higher.
She wished the spirit would help her.
But when she thought of the man standing there, staring at her without moving, she felt she should be grateful he was not stopping her.
An unmarried woman—especially the daughter of a high official—should not be sneaking into the Crown Prince’s residence.
She did not want even a spirit to know that.
“Ah!”
She could not hold on anymore.
One by one, her fingers slipped off the stone.
I’m falling. This is the end.
The moon above her head shone brightly, unaware of her fear.
She should not have refused Yeonwoo’s offer to call Lady Hwang.
Every time she ignored Yeonwoo’s advice, something bad happened.
Soa shut her eyes tight.
Her last finger slipped, and her body fell.
It will hurt. It’s going to hurt.
As she imagined hitting the ground—
Thump.
Her body landed on something.
“……”
“……”
Silence followed.
The thing that had attacked her was gone.
The sharp pain at her ankle faded, leaving only a dull ache.
Am I dead?
So fast? So easily?
Is death this warm?
Still unable to believe it, Soa kept her eyes closed.
Then she felt something cool touch her ankle and opened her eyes.
A face was very close to hers.
The man was looking at her calmly.
He smelled faintly sharp and clean.
Her heart thumped hard.
She stared at his eyes, then suddenly came to her senses.
Why was his face so close?
Had she died and become a spirit too?
Otherwise, she would never be this close to a strange man.
But even so—
Why was he this close?
Startled, Soa leaned back.
Something hard was under her.
She looked down—and her eyes widened.
She was sitting on his thigh.
On a man’s thigh.
In shock, she tried to stand up, but pain shot through her ankle and she collapsed again.
The man frowned.
He pulled his hand away from her ankle.
Blood was on his fingers.
Calmly, he brought his fingers to his lips.
A red tongue appeared—cold-looking, with tiny bumps—and licked the blood away.
A shiver ran down Soa’s spine.
“W-wait!”
“…?”
“What are you doing—no, I mean…”
“….”
Is there really a spirit like this?
No spirit eats the dead.
And no spirit drinks blood.
Soa had seen many spirits before, but never one like him.
Then she heard something breathing in the darkness.
What kind of beast breathed so loudly?
Spirits could not help her.
They could not save her.
She should run—but her injured ankle caught her eye.
If she moved carelessly, she might make things worse.
As she hesitated, a black shape burst out of the bushes.
This night is really long, she thought.
Just as she was about to clench her fist—
A choking sound rang out.
She opened her eyes slightly.
A huge beast with long fur and glowing red eyes twisted violently, its tongue hanging out.
The man was gripping its throat with one hand.
His large hand tightened. Veins stood out.
No matter how much the beast struggled, the man did not move.
The beast began to whimper.
Then the man shifted only his eyes and looked at Soa.
“……”
Soa was frozen. She could not look away.
The man released his grip.
With a loud thud, the beast fell to the ground and fled into the darkness.
“Haa…”
Soa’s legs gave out.
She looked at the man carefully.
His thick eyebrows, deep-set eyes, and clean white eye whites stood out.
His eyes were pitch black, but sometimes shone faintly blue.
He looked like he would be cold to the touch.
From his clothes, he was clearly royalty.
His clothing was elegant and refined, even by today’s standards.
But something felt different.
Unlike the noble spirits she had seen before, he gave off a sharp, wild feeling.
It reminded her of the time she had seen a beast deep in the mountains at night.
Then, far away, a bell rang.
Patrols would start soon.
If she was caught, it was over.
“Did you save me?”
“….”
“What was that thing earlier? Was it—”
The man stayed silent.
His gaze was like a beast watching prey—beautiful, calm, yet filled with restrained hunger.
Soa felt her hair stand on end.
But it was either die or faint.
Even if you fall into a tiger’s den, you live if you keep your wits.
“Thank you. I have to go now. If we meet again, I’ll repay you.”
“…?”
He tilted his head, as if confused by the word repay.
If he was a spirit, repayment meant helping him move on.
She did not have time to explain.
Limping, Soa moved back to the wall and started climbing again.
It was embarrassing with someone watching, but she had no choice.
“—!”
Her injured leg slipped again and again.
She almost made it, then nearly fell.
At that moment, she heard footsteps in the distance.
The patrol is coming!
Panicking, she reached up desperately.
Just get over. Just over.
“Just a little more…”
She clenched her teeth and reached—
“Hey! Who’s there?!”
I’m done. I’ve been caught.
One of her shoes, already half-off, fell and rolled away.
The man looked at it.
Her thin ankle, like a bird’s, looked fragile.
His gaze followed her ankle bone, shining in the moonlight.
Then he kicked off the ground and jumped.
“…!”
Are spirits always this fast?
Before she could react, he pulled her down.
She was dragged into his arms, feeling cold air brush her cheek.
“Catch them!”
Shouts followed behind them.
But the man did not stop.
Even carrying her, he moved lightly, like a feather.
Soa reached out blindly and grabbed his clothes.
He glanced down at her.
Then he turned a corner and pushed open a thick, locked door.
The lock broke with a small sound.
Soon, the chasing voices faded.
A familiar forest path appeared.
The scent of dew-covered grass filled the air.
When everything became quiet, the man slowed down.
Thump. Thump.
Soa’s heart pounded.
His eyes moved to her small hand gripping his collar.
Embarrassed, she quickly let go.
“Thank you…”
“….”
“I’ll repay this kindness. I promise.”
“….”
“—Miss! Where are you? Do you know what time it is?!”
Jeongi’s voice called out in the distance.
She must have come looking for her.
“I’m here—”
Soa opened her mouth to answer—
The man’s eyes flashed.
He leaned down and whispered into her ear.
“Quiet.”
“You can talk? But I suddenly feel so sleepy…”
“If we meet again…”
“…Huh?”
“If we meet again, I will kill you.”
What does that mean? Again… what again?
Soa’s eyes slowly closed.
