As she struggled to open her still-closed eyes, she saw that the day had already brightened and the sun was peeking into the room.

“Have you awakened? You seem to have drunk a lot. Is your stomach alright?”

Startled by the sudden voice, Yoon Eun Seol swallowed the sigh that was about to escape and quickly sat up.

Beside her, Eom Sang Gung was looking at her with worried eyes.

“Please drink this. It will soothe your stomach.”

Eom Sang Gung picked up a bowl from the table and held it out.

Her stomach wasn’t uncomfortable, but her head felt like it was about to split.

Looking at Eom Sang Gung’s face as she handed over the honey water, it seemed she had much to say.

“The lord has finished breakfast and asks you to come to the training grounds.”

“Why the training grounds?”

“I’m not sure either. Judging by the clothes he sent, it doesn’t seem like he intends to just show you around. It looks like you might train together. Well, you’ll find out when you go.”

Looking in the direction Eom Sang Gung indicated with her eyes, clothes were neatly laid out.

At a glance, they didn’t look like ordinary clothes.

“What kind of clothes are those?”

“They appear to be martial attire that women can wear.”

“Did he really say to come to the training grounds wearing those clothes?”

Thinking as she watched Eom Sang Gung nod instead of answering:

There’s no reason to show her around the training grounds, but even so, there’s no reason to wear such clothes.

It seemed she had made some big mistake last night, but she couldn’t remember.

Suddenly her mind went blank.

“Don’t be too scared. Surely he won’t ask you to cross swords.”

“Eom Sang Gung, I think I must have made some big mistake with the lord last night. But I can’t remember what it was at all.”

“A mistake?”

“It seems I fell asleep while drinking… What should I do? Surely he’s not angry about something like that?”

“What? You fell asleep drunk?”

Suddenly Eom Sang Gung laughed out loud. At that, Yoon Eun Seol felt even more embarrassed about last night and put down the honey water she had been drinking on the tray.

It’s not a laughing matter. Yoon Eun Seol felt her insides burning.

Observing her expression, Eom Sang Gung wiped the smile from her face and composed her voice.

“If that’s all, don’t worry too much. If there’s any fault, it lies with the lord for urging you to drink. You’ve done nothing wrong, my lady. I feel so relieved thinking about how anxious you must have been all night.”

“I’m worried that I might have said something wrong.”

“Don’t worry about that either. If he says anything, just say you don’t remember anything. What can he do if you say you don’t remember?”

Even as she said this, there was still a hint of a smile on Eom Sang Gung’s face.

The problem was that she really didn’t remember anything, not that she was just pretending not to know.

“Eom Sang Gung, have you known the lord for a long time?”

“Well, it must be at least ten years now.”

“How does he act when he gets angry? I’m just curious what kind of person he is.”

Eom Sang Gung, who had only been smiling at her question, picked up the honey water from the tray and held it out again.

“Please finish drinking this. Are you afraid the lord might do something to you in anger?”

“That’s not it…”

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t afraid.

If she had said something wrong, he would surely be very angry.

Judging by his sudden summons to the training grounds, there seemed to be something, but not knowing what it was made her worried and anxious.

She bit her lower lip and repeatedly opened and closed her palm.

It was a habit that came out unconsciously when she was nervous and anxious.

She sighed involuntarily, wondering why she was showing such an unsightly side of herself again.

Eom Sang Gung, who had been quietly observing her until now, slowly opened her mouth.

“You don’t need to worry. In any case, the prince will never get angry with you, my lady. I don’t know how it’s been until now, but from now on it will be like that. And, if you get to know him, he’s a person with deep feelings. As you spend time together, you’ll see that he thinks of those close to him first. That’s why those who open their hearts to him once regard him as their life. Do you feel a bit more at ease now?”

It wasn’t just because of last night’s worries that she had asked.

She was curious what kind of person he was, as he seemed different from what she knew.

The rumors of him being dissolute and lecherous didn’t seem true, and sometimes when she saw glimpses of him, she thought he wasn’t just a cold person.

After hearing Eom Sang Gung’s words, she felt a warmth in one corner of her heart.

Perhaps what she knew wasn’t everything.

“Is the lord at the training grounds now?”

“Probably. If he says anything, just firmly insist you don’t remember.”

Eom Sang Gung handed over the clothes laid beside her and admonished her once more.

* * *

The sky that had been clear until morning suddenly darkened and rain began to fall.

This year, spring rain seems to fall unusually often.

Because of that, it’s been difficult to properly enjoy the fully bloomed flowers.

The rain that started falling lightly grew heavier as time passed.

It wasn’t a downpour, but it didn’t seem like it would stop soon.

The one fortunate thing was that there was no thunder or lightning.

Yoon Eun Seol, who had put on martial attire to go to the training grounds, changed clothes again and came out.

It seemed she wouldn’t be able to go to the training grounds after all.

Just as she was wondering if she should still go find the prince, he suddenly appeared before her eyes.

He was holding an umbrella and staring at her intently.

He didn’t look angry, but his gaze wasn’t particularly affectionate either.

“I heard you were looking for me. I was about to go to the training grounds, but couldn’t because of the rain.”

“Are you alright?”

“…Pardon?”

He unexpectedly asked if she was alright when she thought he would be angry.

She stood dazed for a while, only coming to her senses when she saw him furrowing his brow.

It seemed he was asking about her drinking last night.

“I’m fine. My head hurts a bit, but I can bear it.”

“That’s not what I meant… Never mind. Since it’s raining, we can’t go to the training grounds, but to cool your aching head and because I have something to talk about, would you come with me to Dowonjeong for a moment?”

“Do-Dowonjeong?”

She couldn’t understand why he wanted to go to Dowonjeong, a place with painful memories, on a rainy day like this.

She swallowed a silent sigh and muttered as if to herself.

“If you have something to talk about, in the room…”

“Isn’t a room stuffy? A headache from drinking gets worse if you stay in a room. On a day like today, there won’t be any thunder or lightning, so don’t be afraid. And you can’t live your whole life in fear, can you?”

Only then did she realize that what he had asked earlier wasn’t about her hangover, but concern about her fear of rainy days.

At that moment, her heart, which had been beating quietly, began to pound fiercely.

It was fortunate that the sound of her heart beating like a drum was mixed with the sound of rain and not audible to him.

“Are you not going?”

“Ah, I’ll go. Please wait a moment. I’ll bring out an outer garment.”

“An outer garment isn’t necessary. Just hold this.”

He placed the umbrella in her hand and took off the coat he was wearing to put it on her.

After tightly tying the coat strings, he took the umbrella again and stepped down into the courtyard.

“It’s a bit big so it might look odd, but it’s better than getting caught in the rain and wind. Shall we go now?”

She walked in the rain under the umbrella alongside him.

Their bodies touched and separated repeatedly with each step.

Her whole body was on edge and tense with nervousness.

Yoon Eun Seol deliberately walked a little apart to avoid bumping into him.

“If you walk so far apart, your clothes will get all wet. Last night you leaned so well on my chest, I don’t understand why you’re suddenly being so formal.”

“What? Leaned? Who leaned on whom?”

“Ha, surely you’re not going to use that cliché line about not remembering?”

She was about to say she didn’t remember, but kept her mouth firmly shut.

It wasn’t a cliché line, she really couldn’t remember anything.

What on earth had she done last night?

She was curious but too afraid of the answer to dare ask.

“I made a mistake yesterday because I had too much to drink. I’m sorry.”

So, the words she finally managed to utter were an apology.

She thought she heard the sound of his light laughter.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. I wasn’t particularly displeased. Rather, learning your feelings has made it a night I’ll never forget.”

“…”

“You didn’t make any big mistakes, so there’s no need to be so tense. And even if you say you don’t remember, it’s fine. I’m always a bit hurt when I’m the only one who remembers, but I’m used to doing everything alone, so that’s alright too.”

His gaze, which had been directed at empty space, settled steadily on her.

Was it her imagination?

The look in his eyes as he gazed at her seemed warmer and more affectionate than usual.

On the other hand, it also seemed somehow persistent. She averted her gaze first from his blatant stare.

Her heart pounded for no reason, and she swallowed dryly, unable to breathe properly.

At that moment, his hand suddenly came up to her shoulder.

“Your clothes will get all wet. Come under the umbrella.”

As he finished speaking, his strong arm wrapped around her shoulder.

Her face flushed as hot as it could possibly get.

It was awkward, but nice.

She was embarrassed, but happy.

For the first time, she liked a rainy day instead of being afraid.

Just then, someone running from afar broke the mood.

“My lord, you need to go.”

“What is it now?”

He asked irritably, looking at Seo Yeom who had come running urgently.

He tightened his arm even more around Yoon Eun Seol, as if absolutely refusing to let her out of his embrace.

Seo Yeom slightly turned his head.

“A message came from Taeseong Company. They say the matter you requested is finished and ask you to come confirm.”

“Is that so? I’ll be there soon, so get ready.”

Watching Seo Yeom disappear into the rain, he handed her the umbrella.

He turned around, wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and spoke slowly.

“What should we do? It’s urgent, so I need to go.”

“I’m fine, so please go quickly.”

“It won’t work today because of the rain, but come to the training grounds around noon tomorrow. Ah, make sure to come in martial attire. If you don’t, you’ll regret it.”

After hesitating for a moment, Yoon Eun Seol answered in a small voice.

“Yes, I understand. But why are you telling me to come to the training grounds…”

Before she could ask why he wanted her to come to the training grounds, he walked away quickly and disappeared from her sight.

Just why did he want her to come to the training grounds?