4. The Path Home is Peaceful
It has been five long years. They had worked side by side for half a decade, yet this was the first time they were leaving the palace together. Su-ryeon couldn’t hide her bewilderment, but out of old acquaintance, she simply nodded, and they began to walk.
‘Is it already spring?’
Su-ryeon gazed blankly at the plum and cherry blossoms scattered throughout Seonnong Palace. The breeze carried the scent of spring—a wind that wakes all living things. She smiled faintly, thinking she should take her baby lizard, Rok, for a walk.
Sohan, catching a glimpse of her quiet smile, felt his own stiff expression soften. He suddenly remembered something Su-ryeon had said to him two years ago.
[Loosen up your face a bit.] [What?] [When you’re working. You radiate such a cold aura that everyone, superiors and subordinates alike, is terrified of you. Thanks to that, every single message ends up coming to me.] [Do you find me scary too?]
At the time, Sohan had asked hesitantly. He could understand if she hated him; he had certainly looked down on her for being nameless in the beginning. But the thought of her being afraid of him felt depressing. Su-ryeon had just laughed.
[At first, maybe. But winter always holds spring within it, right? Maybe winter becomes harsh just to protect the fragile spring it carries inside.]
He had been stunned. The fragile spring. To her, was he someone warm and protective?
He had tried practicing his expressions after that, but rumors started spreading that the Chief Assistant was making “bizarre faces” around the palace, so he gave up.
“Sohan.”
Su-ryeon’s low voice snapped him back to reality. She had stopped walking and was staring at him.
“What is with you lately?” “What do you mean?” “I’m saying you’re doing things you never do. It’s like you’re broken.”
Despite her blunt words, her eyes looked worried. Sohan found he quite enjoyed her concern. He wondered if he should pretend to be ill just so she would look after him.
Markdown
**"By the way... do you hate me?"**
**"Officially? Or personally?"**
“Well,” Su-ryeon continued, “if I had to pick, I’d say it’s a love-hate relationship. But lately, seeing you ‘broken’ like this is actually kind of funny. It’s entertaining.”
She laughed brightly. Sohan was struck again. For five years, he had been the freezing-cold Lord of the Dong family. Seeing her relax now that they were outside the palace walls made his heart feel heavy for a different reason.
As they reached the marketplace, the lively atmosphere put Su-ryeon at ease, but Sohan grew more tense. Twilight was falling.
“Is there anyone besides me who might hold a grudge against you?” she asked, finding his behavior like a difficult riddle.
“Besides you? Probably no one.”
Sohan served King Jae-hu with absolute loyalty—bordering on worship. Because of this, he had initially resented the bond between the King and the nameless Su-ryeon. He had been a nightmare to work for, rejecting her reports countless times. Back then, Su-ryeon had secretly spat in his tea as revenge.
Suddenly, a group of children ran past them, laughing and playing tag. The sudden movement caught Su-ryeon off guard, and she lost her balance.
“Ah—!”
As she stumbled, a strong hand snatched her wrist. Before she could fall, an arm wrapped firmly around her waist, pulling her close. His face was inches from hers.
Markdown
**"...You should be more careful."**
**"Ah, right... yeah."**
Flustered by the proximity, she quickly pulled away. They walked the rest of the way in awkward silence until they reached her quarters.
Su-ryeon sighed as she stood before her door. “Sohan, I know you’re worried about being the only assistant left, but I’ll recommend a replacement soon—”
“I’m anxious,” he interrupted. “What?” “I feel anxious when I can’t see you.”
What is he talking about? Su-ryeon looked at him with genuine concern. Is he dying? They say people change right before they die.
“Sohan, go see a doctor. And stop burying yourself in work.” “It would be easier if you stayed as the assistant.” “No. Our pact was for five years. I can’t change a royal appointment. Goodnight, Chief Assistant.”
She disappeared into her plum-tree-shaded home. Sohan stood there for a long time under the cold, blue moonlight. Finally, his gaze turned sharp as he looked into the shadows.
“Come out.” “Yes, Lord.”
A man in black, face masked, emerged from the darkness.
“You have a report.” “Yes. There were two others besides myself monitoring Lady Su-ryeon’s quarters. For reasons unknown, one of them vanished without a trace recently.”
Vanished without a trace… Either the order was rescinded, or someone even more skilled had eliminated them.
Markdown
**"Is it a neighboring nation? Or an insider...?"**
Sohan fell into thought. He had recently felt a murderous aura—sal-gi—around Su-ryeon. At first, he thought she hated him that much, but he realized it wasn’t hers. Someone was targeting her life.
“Should I pursue them?” the masked man asked. “No. If we move too soon, we’ll expose ourselves. Watch and wait. If things get dangerous, intervene then.”
The man vanished back into the shadows. Just as Sohan turned to leave—
CRASH!
“Rok!”
Su-ryeon’s terrified scream tore through the air. Sohan didn’t think; he sprinted toward her door.
“Cheong Su-ryeon!” he shouted, rattling the locked sliding door. “So-Sohan?” her startled voice came from inside. “What happened?!” “What are you still doing here?! Go away!”
“Open the door! Or I’ll break it down!”
He shook the door violently until it finally slid open. Su-ryeon stood there, looking completely flabbergasted, clutching her baby lizard, Rok, to her chest.
It seems Sohan’s “over-protectiveness” just collided with Su-ryeon’s private life! Would you like to see what caused the crash inside her room, or should we find out more about the mysterious shadow watching her?
