NJBN 06

Chapter 6

The man’s eyes gleamed in the darkness, like a beast revealing itself at last.

The razor-sharp hostility he displayed without restraint made him look as though he might act at any moment.

“……”

“……”

Silence fell.

Soa was confused.

It was shocking enough that Yeonwoo—who was not supposed to be able to see spirits—was staring directly at the man. But it was just as unsettling that the man was now standing so close to her.

If the two of them knew each other, then how?

And if the man was not a spirit, then what was he?

There were too many things she could not understand.

Still, she could not simply stand there frozen.

Soa stepped between the two men, who were glaring at each other with open hostility, and spoke to the man.

“It’s alright.”

At that moment, Yeonwoo’s gaze wavered.

But Soa did not notice. She focused on calming the man first.

Though he radiated a cold and dangerous presence, he did not seem likely to harm her again—especially after having saved her once.

“I’ve been friends with His Highness for a long time. He is someone I’m grateful to. So please don’t worry. Right now, His Highness is simply concerned about me.”

“…Concern?”

“Yes. Concern. Caring about someone and wishing to protect them. And Your Highness—this person is the spirit who helped me. He’s probably just glad to see me again.”

Soa glanced at Yeonwoo, silently asking him to let go of her wrist.

The moment Yeonwoo tightened his grip as if to pull her away, the man’s eyes darkened, almost as if he were growling.

Though she could not be certain, it looked as if he believed Yeonwoo was interfering with his reunion with Soa—and had grown hostile because of it.

“We can’t stay here. Let’s go.”

Normally, Yeonwoo would have sensed Soa’s feelings first and followed her lead.

But today, for some reason, he refused to listen.

It even felt as though he harbored resentment—perhaps disappointment—toward her.

That alone could not be explained by the fact that he and the man recognized one another.

The man, too, was staring at Yeonwoo.

Even after learning the meaning of “concern,” he did not relax. If anything, he seemed provoked by it.

“I said let’s go.”

“Yeonwoo—no, Your Highness. Could you at least explain why—”

That was when it happened.

The man’s gaze, which had been fixed sharply in one direction, suddenly shifted.

A moment later, the sound of approaching footsteps reached them.

They could not be seen together like this.

Today was the day the king had declared his intention to appoint a Crown Princess.

If they were discovered now, it would be disastrous.

“Wait—”

Whoosh.

But the one who moved first was the man.

In the blink of an eye, he shoved Yeonwoo aside, breaking the space between him and Soa, then leapt effortlessly onto the roof.

“How did you—!”

Forgetting that she had believed him to be a spirit only moments ago, Soa waved her hands anxiously.

Come down—it’s dangerous.

The man looked at her for a brief moment.

Then, as clouds drifted across the moon and darkness deepened, he concealed himself from sight.

“Huh?”

Taking advantage of her confusion, Yeonwoo pulled Soa back and pressed her against the wall.

“Shh.”

He covered her mouth.

“Did you hear that rumor?”

“Rumor? What rumor?”

“Well, they say strange things have been happening in the palace at night.”

“Strange things?”

“They say court maids are disappearing.”

“Disappearing? Where to? Running away? Why?”

“Come on now. Where would the king’s women run to? That’s why it’s strange. It’s not as if His Majesty or the Crown Prince would treat women carelessly.”

“Then where do they disappear to?”

“They vanish into the pond.”

“The pond?”

“Yes. There’s a water spirit there—a mul-gwi. They say the women are lured away by it.”

Soa blinked slowly.

There’s a place like that inside the palace?

Water spirits were known for their powerful resentment and their ability to easily ensnare others.

But if a ghost had taken so many court maids, there was no way Soa would not have sensed its presence.

“……”

As if sensing her thoughts, Yeonwoo removed his hand from her mouth and gently brushed her cheek.

It was a tender, intimate touch.

The cold demeanor he had shown earlier was gone.

Had he calmed down?

As Soa met his eyes, the sound of a large bell rang—clang.

It signaled the end of the banquet.

“It’s already this late… We should return for now.”

The footsteps faded away again.

Fortunately, it seemed no one had noticed them.

“……”

“…I should go back.”

An awkward silence settled between them.

Yeonwoo looked as though he wanted to say something, his lips parting slightly—but Soa had no time.

And neither did he.

“Soa.”

As she turned to head back toward the banquet hall, Yeonwoo called out to her.

When she looked back, he stepped closer.

Before she could react, he pulled her into his arms.

The warmth of his broad chest was unmistakable.

This was the Yeonwoo she knew.

No—this was Yeonwoo who felt even more earnest than usual.

“I’m sorry for startling you. That wasn’t my intention.”

“…It’s alright. You were worried about me.”

“I will protect you. No matter what happens. I will—protect you.”

Was it because the man had saved her?

Yeonwoo treasured Soa more than anyone; perhaps that fact weighed on his heart.

Perhaps calling the man “someone I’m grateful to” so casually had hurt him.

But was that really all?

Anyone could see that Yeonwoo and the man harbored open hostility toward each other.

It was not the wariness one felt toward a stranger.

“Don’t tell anyone about what happened today.”

Yeonwoo repeated the warning several times before letting her go.

Soa nodded, though she was confused.

Did he mean not to speak of meeting him?

Or not to speak of the man at all?

“Still no word?”

“Goodness, how many times are you going to ask in one day? At this rate, you’ll march straight into the palace yourself.”

“I can’t. You know the selection for the Crown Princess will begin soon.”

“I know. Which is why you can’t go see His Highness. You know all that—so why are you like this? Watching you come back injured after sneaking into the palace night after night broke my heart. Now that you won’t be doing that anymore, I feel relieved.”

Tsk, tsk.

Jeong-i scolded her lightly as she laid cotton bedding out under the warm sunlight.

Despite the clear sky, a shadow lingered on Soa’s face.

Whenever Yeonwoo couldn’t sleep due to spirits, he would sometimes send word to her.

In that sense, no news should have been good news.

But after what had happened at the banquet, it was not that simple.

Yeonwoo was a thoughtful man.

He would know how worried she would be.

And the man was still inside the palace.

If the two of them encountered each other alone, there was no telling what might happen.

“If he’s not a spirit… then what is he…?”

The man was undeniably different from ordinary spirits.

He carried a sense of vitality no ghost should possess, and though his movements were incredibly fast, nothing about them felt unnatural.

Yet he wasn’t human either.

His existence felt dreamlike—too unreal.

“Soa!”

A voice called from afar.

It was her father.

When Soa rose and walked toward him, she saw Yun Jaesang already dressed as if preparing to go to the palace.

“You called for me?”

“Prepare yourself.”

“Prepare? Aren’t you going to the palace now?”

“……”

Yun Jaesang fell silent.

Seeing his hesitation, Soa regretted asking.

I could have found out later. I shouldn’t have worried him.

“I’ll be ready soon. Don’t worry, Father!”

She said so and hurried away.

As Soa went inside to change, Yun Jaesang stepped forward.

A servant sent by the Queen bowed deeply before him.

“Have you received the message?”

“We will depart shortly. Go on ahead.”

“Forgive me, but I will accompany you today.”

“We are to meet soon anyway—what is so urgent?”

“The message requested that you come discreetly. I will personally escort the young lady in a palanquin.”

“Then you do not intend to take me?”

Yun Jaesang clenched his fist, trying to suppress his unease.

The Queen had requested a private audience with his daughter.

In utmost secrecy.

Then there was only one answer.

She intended to test Soa.