Chapter 09
Doheon’s instruction to move to the palace had also been passed on to Aseon. The next morning, things were unusually busy. Aseon fussed about packing, her movements brisk and deliberate.
Heeyeon, not having brought much with her, thought she only needed to come with her body, but Aseon’s priorities seemed different. She was busy packing things she apparently wanted to give.
Heeyeon was seated at the edge of the wooden floor, watching Aseon organize her belongings, when a boy walked across the yard. He had stayed in the house before, and although they had crossed paths a few times, they were not close enough to exchange friendly greetings.
“Hey, kid. Come over and say hello.”
Aseon waved at him with quick nods. The boy frowned, evidently offended by being called a ‘kid.’ Yet he still walked over obediently, suggesting he wasn’t on bad terms with Aseon.
“Starting today, you’ll be entering the palace. Go greet them properly.”
“Entering the palace?”
The boy’s usually impassive face lit up with surprise. So, staying in the palace was a big deal, apparently.
“Yes. You might be the companion of the master.”
“I thought you were human?”
The boy asked, his face twisted with doubt.
“So what if I am? Why the attitude? You’re human too, so what’s with the sour look?”
Aseon lightly tapped the boy’s head in response to his wary stance, and he huffed in protest.
“Is this kid human too?”
Heeyeon’s curiosity piqued at this revelation, and she looked closely at the boy.
“Yes. His name is Suho. He’s the youngest here, eleven years old.”
Suho seemed mortified to have his introduction come from Aseon. He bowed briefly toward Heeyeon before scurrying away. Aseon watched him leave with complex feelings in her eyes.
“When he was abandoned in the forest as a child, I took him in and raised him. The wolf clan doesn’t show much hostility toward you because of him—he’s had experience embracing a human. Wolves are fiercely protective of anyone within their territory.”
“He was abandoned in the forest… so that’s why he hates humans.”
Heeyeon nodded, understanding Suho’s attitude.
“After learning that his mother was killed by humans, he shut his heart off completely. She was killed by human hands manipulated by wild dogs.”
“Oh…”
Heeyeon sighed, feeling sorrow for him. Being abandoned by his parents, then losing the mother who raised him to human hands—it was no wonder he had a sharp attitude.
She had thought about the cruelty of humans countless times herself, having seen their capacity for malice and cruelty firsthand.
Seeing Heeyeon’s somber expression, Aseon shook her head with a wry smile.
“Still, he’s thriving. He’s learning swordsmanship under his father’s guidance, and apparently, he’s even more talented than me.”
Among the wolf clan, she was the only child of the greatest sorcerer, yet she preferred swords to spells. Knowing this, Master Chunbok had long since given up expecting her to excel in magic.
Heeyeon couldn’t help but smile at Aseon’s straightforwardness. Though her time here had been short, the unpretentious warmth of the wolf clan filled a quiet corner of her heart with comfort.
It was a feeling she had never experienced in the human world, and it struck her as surprisingly novel.
Finally, they arrived at the palace. Following Aseon, Heeyeon couldn’t help but marvel at the endless rows of gleaming halls.
The blue-glazed tiles shone brighter than those she had ever seen in ordinary houses.
“Hmm, what do humans call that again?”
Aseon seemed to remember and spoke after a moment.
“Ah, celadon. A bluish kind of porcelain. Supposedly very expensive.”
She shrugged casually, but Heeyeon’s eyes widened in awe. Celadon was treasured even in noble households—using it as roof tiles?
Yet that wasn’t all. Fruit-laden trees and countless unknown flowers filled the backyard, stealing Heeyeon’s attention. She had never seen such beauty anywhere.
A tall mountain of jagged rocks formed a natural backdrop at the far end of the creek that ran through the palace, making the view breathtaking.
Entering the inner palace, a group of servants came rushing out to greet them.
“Is this the person?”
“Even more beautiful than the rumors said!”
Their chatter mostly consisted of praise for Heeyeon, and she blushed at the attention.
“Take good care of her from now on,” Aseon instructed the servants repeatedly.
“Of course, as you say,” they replied.
As the noise settled, Heeyeon felt a twinge of sadness at realizing she wouldn’t see Aseon often. She had felt comforted, almost like having a real sister.
“You won’t see each other often?”
Heeyeon asked, and Aseon’s lips curved slightly at her cuteness.
“Today, my father insisted on attending to some matters. From tomorrow, I’ll be your escort. So we’ll see each other frequently, whether you like it or not.”
“Oh, I see.”
Heeyeon felt flustered, her eyelashes fluttering nervously. She had just been imagining herself in a dramatic, tearful scene, making her feel awkward.
“Now that I’m in a position to serve you, you can speak freely,” Aseon added.
“Well, even so…”
“Speaking freely will help me serve you better.”
Still unsure how to respond, Heeyeon hesitated, but just then, Taewoon arrived.
Seeing him bow, Aseon said, “Speak comfortably. I’ll step back and visit you tomorrow.”
“Yes, let’s do that,” he replied awkwardly.
Seeing Heeyeon’s discomfort, Aseon smiled briefly before stepping away. Taewoon then finally spoke.
“The master instructed me to invite you to dine together.”
“Oh, I see. Understood.”
Hearing this, Heeyeon realized just how close she was to Doheon. Moreover, entering the palace made her feel that she was being treated as if she truly were his companion. She fidgeted with her fingers at the warmth of that word.
“Um, I’m not sure if I should say this, but don’t be surprised that Aseon will be staying by your side.”
Taewoon’s serious words pulled Heeyeon from her thoughts. He wanted to warn her about Aseon? She nodded, curious.
“Yes, go ahead. That’s fine.”
Even after receiving her permission, Taewoon hesitated briefly before speaking.
“Even though she seems fine, when Aseon wields a sword, she becomes a completely different person. I hope she never has to shed blood, but we can’t guarantee anything. Among our elite troops, Aseon is known by another name when she fights.”
Heeyeon muttered in surprise.
“Another name?”
“Gwangseon.”
“……”
Blinking, Heeyeon thought it over. No matter how often she recalled it, Aseon—who had always cared for her like a true sister—suddenly seemed different.
“Gwang—like the light, 光?”
“No, it’s the ‘mad’ character, 狂.”
“……”
After a brief pause, Heeyeon gathered herself.
“Alright, I’ll remember, so I won’t be surprised.”
Taewoon bowed politely and withdrew.
Before Heeyeon could dwell on Aseon’s surprising title, evening arrived swiftly. Led by the servants, she finished dressing, and couldn’t help but feel restless.
‘It’s like she wants to look good for him,’ she thought.
Her hair was carefully braided, decorated with camellia oil and ornaments. Though she had worn silk before, this was her first time wearing makeup.
Fidgeting with her skirt, a servant informed her that Doheon had arrived. The moment he entered, the room seemed to swell with his presence.
“You’ve arrived?”
Heeyeon found herself unable to meet his gaze.
“Yes… let’s sit. How does it feel here? Is everything comfortable?”
“Yes, very comfortable,” she answered, though her nervousness made her voice falter.
“Bring in the dinner,” Doheon said softly, and the attendants moved with flawless precision.
“Is there a dish you particularly like? Tell me, and I’ll have it prepared next time.”
Next time…? Heeyeon wasn’t thinking about her favorite food, but rather about what it implied, and nervously rubbed the back of her neck.
“I… don’t have any particular preference…”
Her words trailed off as she looked at the feast laid before her. This wasn’t dinner—it was a banquet.
Heheon opened her mouth in stunned silence. Doheon, watching her reaction, chuckled quietly.
Wiping the smile from his face, he decided to address something important.
“The full moon is in two days. You haven’t forgotten our agreement, have you?”
“Oh…”
Heeyeon suddenly recalled the promise she had made by the sacred tree. She had insisted she was brave enough to meet him that night.
Seeing her remember, Doheon tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes gleaming like a predator.
“Will you come, or should I go?”
