The 10th area was unusually covered with thick fog. The atmosphere became eerier as a brisk wind rustled through the trees.
“I think it’s better to dismount and search for the fox on foot. It would be faster to follow the fox footprints left on the ground.”
Having confirmed the surroundings that were difficult to discern from horseback, Rainian suggested to Idel. Because the ground was not clearly visible from the high horses, the two got off their horses and started walking.
“Rainian, here are animal footprints! Could they be from a fox?”
“Yes, they are fox footprints.”
Fortunately or unfortunately, on the damp swamp, the distinct claw marks of a fox were visible in abundance.
Walking for quite a while following these footprints, the outline of a log house standing at the end of the footprints gradually emerged.
“What kind of house is that?”
“It seems to be a hunter’s house. A place where hunters take a short break. There might be emergency rations like jerky left, and the fox might have gone in that direction, smelling it.”
Rainian explained to Idel, who was tilting her head while looking at the log house in the middle of the forest.
“You must be tired from walking. How about taking a short rest there? We can also check if there’s a fox.”
Seeing Idel, who relatively had less stamina, looking a bit tired, Rainian suggested a break.
“Yes, a short break sounds good.”
Perhaps due to the fog covering the forest, her clothes and body felt as heavy as soaked cotton. Thinking that she needed to quickly recover her strength in the delicate situation of still trying to find the fox, she nodded.
Rainian opened the door of the log house and entered, scanning the surroundings.
“There doesn’t seem to be a fox inside. You can come in.”
After finishing the check, Rainian invited Idel to enter the log house. Because of the faint light due to the mist, it was so dark inside that it was difficult to distinguish objects.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll look for a lamp.”
It was when Rainian was looking around for a lamp.
Bang!
There was only one entrance where light could enter since there were no windows. However, the door, which had been left open to get even a faint light, suddenly made a loud noise and closed. It felt like a strong wind had blown.
As the door closed, the inside of the log house became even darker. It was so dark that it was difficult to perceive the presence of objects around.
“Miss Idel, weren’t you startled?”
“A bit. It seems the wind suddenly blew. I’ll open the door again.”
Idel, who was near the door, cautiously moved towards it and tried to push the doorknob outward.
“……!”
However, the door did not open as if it were firmly locked. Even when she tried pulling it inward, the thick log door did not budge.
“Rainian, the door seems strange. It won’t open.”
“It won’t open? Just a moment.”
Hearing Idel’s confused voice, Rainian approached her near the door. In the moment when they couldn’t gauge each other’s distance, Rainian’s body, which had come closer, touched Idel’s body, and they ended up facing each other.
“Ah…!”
When she felt the firm chest muscles of his, Idel made a surprised sound, as if startled.
“……!”
Rainian, too, stiffened at the unintended situation, then, feeling a swaying gesture as if about to fall, he quickly reached out and grabbed her.
As Rainian wrapped his arms around her from behind, holding her firmly, Idel, completely trapped in his arms, didn’t know what to do.
“R-Rainian…”
“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
When Idel called his name in a trembling voice, Rainian, who came to his senses, quickly let go of the hand holding her and stepped back.
However, the smooth and warm sensation that had touched the skin was still vivid. Even if they had danced together at the ball, being this close and pressed against each other was a first.
‘Ha…! Can’t seem to pull myself together.’
It was fortunate that the surroundings were dark. If not, his face, now thoroughly flushed, would have been exposed.
The subtle tremor in the hands that had embraced her remained. Perhaps due to the obscured vision, the pounding heartbeat in his ears sounded unusually loud.
“Sorry for surprising you.”
“It’s okay. It’s because I can’t see well.”
As Rainian apologized again in a low voice, Idel’s response eased the awkward atmosphere.
“It was my fault for standing in front of the door. Now that I’ve moved aside, you can come forward.”
Rainian’s initially tense face gradually relaxed as Idel’s considerate words penetrated. Stepping forward, he pushed the closed door with force.
“It definitely won’t open.”
No matter how many times he tried pushing, it was the same. It seemed securely locked from the outside.
“We need to find something to open the door. I’ll see if there’s a tool inside.”
For some reason, they were trapped inside. Rainian, deciding that opening the thick log door with bare hands was impossible, began searching for an extension that could break the door.
“First, we need to brighten up the area. It’s dark, and you might stumble, Idel, so please stay still.”
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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