NJBN 05

Chapter 05

“Because you all faithfully guarded this place, I was able to leave without worry and carry out the subjugation. Therefore, this victory belongs to everyone, and it is only right that we raise our cups together. For the long peace of Yeon Kingdom—let us drink.”

Following the king’s words, everyone lifted their cups.

Everyone except Soa.

Far away, beneath a wall overgrown with ivy, someone was standing in the shadows.

The distance was so great she could barely make out a shape, but the cold presence was unmistakable.

“……”

Soa stared at him as if entranced.

It might be him.

“Is something wrong?”

Startled, Soa turned her head at the voice calling her.

The young lady of the Seo family, seated beside her, was looking at her with concern.

“It’s nothing.”

Snapping back to her senses, Soa hurriedly raised her cup.

She could feel Yeonwoo’s worried gaze on her.

Smiling slightly as if nothing were wrong, Soa straightened her posture.

“For the prosperity of Yeon Kingdom.”

The officials echoed the king’s toast.

Soa also spoke aloud and brought the cup to her lips.

She only wet her lips, yet the strong scent of alcohol burned her throat, forcing out a warm breath.

As she set the cup down, Soa glanced toward where the man had been standing.

There was no one there.

As if what she had seen had been nothing more than an illusion.

“Among you, there is one in particular whom I wish to praise—someone who tirelessly watched over the kingdom while I was away. Like all fathers, I had thought of him as nothing more than a child, but he has grown. It is time for him to stand as a true adult. I kept you waiting while I was gone, Crown Prince.”

At the king’s words, tension rippled not only through Soa, but among the noble young ladies seated nearby.

They all understood what his words implied.

As if he had been waiting for this moment, Yeonwoo slowly rose from his seat.

“…Even the waiting was a joy.”

He bowed his head and accepted the cup the king handed him.

The king poured until the wine nearly overflowed, the surface trembling at the brim.

Without hesitation, Yeonwoo drained the cup.

Soa clenched her hands as if she herself had drunk the wine, her chest burning.

Yeonwoo’s ears flushed slightly from the alcohol, but that was all.

Seeing no sign of unease in his dignified composure, the king laughed heartily and looked around the hall.

The young ladies, faces faintly flushed, admired Yeonwoo’s handsome features and composed bearing, while the officials calculated how the king’s next words might affect their own standing.

At last, the king spoke.

“It is time to appoint the Crown Princess. I hereby declare a marriage ban throughout the land!”

Where is it?
I’m sure it was around here.

Soa looked around anxiously.

She was certain she had seen the man nearby earlier.

“I said I would repay the favor…”

If not for him, she would surely have fallen victim to that unknown beast.

Even if she had escaped the beast, she would have been caught by the palace guards.

The fact that the prime minister’s daughter had been sneaking in and out of the palace would have come to light.

Shiver.

Soa’s body trembled.

Just imagining it was terrifying.

Not only had he saved her, but he had protected her father’s position as well.

That thought made her impatient.

Fortunately, the banquet was in full swing, with performances of music and dance drawing all the palace attendants away.

Because everyone was watching, Soa could move through the palace without attracting suspicion.

“—!”

Suddenly, a sharp chill ran down her spine.

It was the same presence she had felt before.

Soa quickly turned around.

The sun was setting, dyeing the peaceful scenery in orange light.

And at the edge of that scene, far away beneath the shade of a large nutmeg yew tree, someone was standing.

Half-hidden behind the trunk, staring intently in her direction.

It was him.

Certain now, Soa slowly began to walk toward him.

“……”

It wasn’t that she couldn’t speak.

After all, he had whispered words to her before she lost consciousness that night.

Now that she had met him, she had to ask.

What had he meant by “the next time we meet”?

How had he been living since then?

And what kind of resentment was so deep that he could not leave the palace?

One step, then another.

Standing in the sunlight, Soa approached him.

He seemed startled when he realized she had found him, but quickly regained his composure.

Slowly, he stepped out from behind the tree.

“Oh… your clothes—”

They were different.

Unlike the last time, he was now wearing a dark purple robe.

Was that possible?

Could spirits change clothes?

Or was her memory wrong?

When Soa stopped in confusion, the man stepped forward once more—then stopped.

He remained under the shade, as if deliberately avoiding the sunlight.

“I don’t think I ever properly thanked you…”

Soa spoke hesitantly.

The man continued to stare at her, his pitch-black eyes sharp and unwavering.

She had never experienced such an intense gaze.

Despite his refined clothing and elegant appearance, his eyes and movements were nothing like those of royalty.

“I don’t know why you died so unjustly, but I’ll listen. If you release your resentment, you’ll be able to pass on peacefully.”

Instead of answering, the man tilted his head slightly.

Taking his reaction as confusion, Soa spoke again.

She thought perhaps he had died too young to understand what “passing on” meant.

“If you tell me your name, I’ll write it down on paper and burn it for you.”

“…Name?”

A low voice reached her ears.

Yes—this voice.

Low but not gloomy, rough at the edges yet resonant. Not unpleasant, not frightening. If anything, it felt too brief, as if she wanted to hear more.

It felt like she had heard it even in her dreams.

“Yes, your name. You must have one. What should I call you?”

“……”

“Oh—my name is Soa. Yun Soa.”

“……”

“Don’t you remember? I heard some spirits forget their names after they die.”

Soa took another step closer.

Now there were only about five steps between them.

The wind blew.

Leaves rustled, and a fragrant scent drifted toward her.

The same scent she had smelled that night.

His scent.

“…Do you remember anything else? The palace has many records. If we look through the books, we might find something. I’ll help you search, so if you can remember anything at all—”

“Soa.”

The man spoke—but not the words she expected.

He said her name.

Lowering his gaze slightly, he repeated it softly a few times before looking back at her.

Then he spoke again.

“Yun Soa.”

“Yes, that’s my name, but that’s not what matters right now—”

“Soa!”

At that moment, a familiar voice called from behind her.

Without thinking, Soa turned around.

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh, Yeonwoo—no, Your Highness. I was… I mean, the one who helped me that night was a spirit. I wanted to thank him, so I was looking for him. But what about the banquet? Why did you leave?”

When Yeonwoo stepped closer—

Stop.

His footsteps halted abruptly.

His expression hardened instantly, just as it had when he saw the flower bud.

“Why are you here…?”

“No, it’s not that. I received help from a spirit that night, so—”

“I asked why you are here.”

Yeonwoo’s voice was cold.

Only then did Soa realize that he was not speaking to her.

The one Yeonwoo was staring at—with sharp, hostile eyes—was the man.

Soa looked between them.

The two were facing each other.