I woke up earlier than usual.

It seemed I had fallen asleep while waiting for him until late.

Seeing that he hadn’t come to the main room, he must have slept in the outer quarters or Yeonhwa Hall.

Eun Seol put on a simple outer garment and went outside.

The biting cold dawn wind, sharp as a knife, made her body shrink.

Arriving quickly at Yeonhwa Hall, she quietly opened the door.

Intending to just check if he was sleeping and leave, she couldn’t see him.

Thinking he might have already gotten up, she looked around the outer quarters, but he wasn’t there either.

She started to worry if something might have happened.

As she was anxiously pacing the inner courtyard, she heard a familiar voice from somewhere.

“Why are you out in the cold?”

“My lord, where have you been?”

“It got late, so I slept in Yeonhwa Hall.”

“Have you been in Yeonhwa Hall until now?”

“Yes. I stopped by briefly to see your face before leaving.”

He took her hand. It was warm. Despite the warmth transmitted from his hand, her heart was still in the cold of winter.

“Aren’t your hands cold? You should go inside now. I must be going as well.”

“Are you going to the Chief State Councilor’s house again today?”

“It’s an urgent matter, so it seems I’ll have to for a while.”

“It’s not dangerous, is it?”

“Who do you think I am? I absolutely won’t do anything for you to worry about, so please don’t be concerned and go inside.”

His retreating figure as he turned his back somehow looked unfamiliar.

* * *

For several days after that, she didn’t see his face.

During the day he went out with Seo Yeom, and at night he went alone to Kim Hak Gyu’s house.

Every time she woke up and saw the empty space beside her, it felt like a cold wind was blowing through her heart.

She walked in the chilly dawn air.

Walking absentmindedly, she arrived at the front yard of the separate quarters.

Surprised to see Min Seo sitting blankly on the porch, she asked:

“It’s still a long time before daybreak, why are you out here?”

Min Seo got up and came down to the yard, standing in front of her.

Since the new year, Min Seo somehow seemed more mature.

Min Seo’s eyes, filled with her image, shone brightly.

“It doesn’t seem like you were waiting for me, is there someone you’re waiting for?”

“I was waiting for Master Seo Yeom.”

“How do you know when he’ll come?”

“I heard he usually comes around this time.”

“Why do you want to meet him?”

Min Seo blushed and lowered his head. Then he fiddled with something in his hand.

“I have something to give him, so I was waiting.”

“I wonder what our Min Seo wants to give to Seo Yeom.”

Min Seo held out his hand. A pretty knotted cord was visible in his small hand.

It seems he had been diligently making it for several days to give to Seo Yeom.

“He’ll like it.”

“Do you really think he’ll like it?”

“Of course. No one dislikes receiving a gift made with care for them.”

When asked if he liked Seo Yeom that much, Min Seo nodded without hesitation.

This child did not hide his feelings.

“What if Seo Yeom says he doesn’t like it?”

“I’m not sure about that. But I don’t want to hide my feelings of liking him.”

“I see… You’re better than me.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s nothing. Seo Yeom will definitely like it. How could he not like you?”

It seemed okay to keep Seo Yeom by this child’s side.

Though it’s hard to predict the future, what’s certain is that Min Seo will grow up well and become someone who can stand proudly next to Seo Yeom without falling short.

Just then, Chief Eunuch Choi came running from afar, calling for Min Seo.

“Min Seo, Yeom has arrived. He just went into the outer quarters, so hurry and go.”

Min Seo and Chief Eunuch Choi bowed to her and rushed to the outer quarters.

That sight overlapped with someone who said they had their first love at twelve, making her smile involuntarily.

Min Seo’s words about wanting to be honest if in love wouldn’t leave her mind.

She gathered her thoughts and headed towards Yeonhwa Hall. It was still dawn, so he would be sleeping.

Quietly opening the door and entering, she saw him asleep on the bed.

She sat in a chair, looking down at his sleeping form.

Though his face seemed a bit thinner since she last saw him, he still looked handsome to her eyes.

Seeing him in deep sleep when he used to wake at the slightest sound, he must have been very tired.

After gazing at his sleeping face for a long while, she quietly stood up so as not to wake him.

As she walked towards the door, her gaze fell on an object placed on the table.

It was a red silk pouch with its opening tied with a string.

Though she knew she shouldn’t, her hand was already holding the silk pouch.

Glancing at his sleeping form, she opened the pouch.

Inside were an incense stick and a piece of paper that looked like a letter. Even the paper smelled fragrant.

Curious, she gently unfolded the paper.

After confirming again that he was asleep, she read the words written on the paper.

−I miss you.

Thank you for accepting my feelings. I knew you had come home, but I couldn’t visit you because I was afraid my father would notice, and it was frustrating.

I’ll be waiting for the day we meet at Unyeon Palace. I prepared a gift, but I’m not sure if you’ll like it.

Then I’ll see you soon at Unyeon Palace. Yeon Woo.

Is this what it feels like to be struck by lightning? It felt like time had stopped.

She couldn’t think of anything, just that she needed to leave this place.

She folded the letter again, put it back in the pouch, and quietly slipped out of the room.

She didn’t remember how she made it back to the main room.

Her violently pounding heart simply wouldn’t calm down.

She should have just left without looking.

* * *

Last night too, Lee Woon didn’t come to the inner quarters.

After spending a sleepless night, she collected herself and sat in front of the writing desk.

She didn’t want to believe anything until she heard it from his own mouth, and she didn’t want to jump to any conclusions.

Yoon Eun Seol kept herself busy all day to shake off her thoughts.

Late in the afternoon, he entered the room. Who knows how long it had been since he crossed that threshold.

He threw off his outer robe and hat, and hugged her as she stood there blankly.

“It’s been so long… Did you not miss me?”

“I missed you.”

Not knowing what to say, she barely managed to say she missed him, but even that sounded dry.

Sensing something odd in her voice, he held her shoulders and examined her face.

“Your voice sounds strange, and you don’t look well. Are you sick?”

“No. What brings you here at this hour?”

“I have something to tell you. Please, sit down first.”

He stared intently at her as she looked down with an expressionless face.

“Are you perhaps angry with me?”

“Why do you think that?”

“Your expression isn’t good, and you’re avoiding my gaze. It seems like you’re acting this way because I haven’t visited for a few days, but didn’t I tell you I’d be busy for a while?”

“Do you think I’m throwing a tantrum because you haven’t visited for a few days? How can you say such things? What do you take me for?”

His words hurt her feelings. That’s why her tone wasn’t pleasant either.

“Your tone is rather harsh. My lady.”

“Didn’t you say you had something to tell me? You must be busy, so please go ahead and say it.”

This isn’t right.

She sighed in frustration.

She could see his narrowed eyes trembling slightly.

“In three days, Yeon Woo will come to Unyeon Palace. You remember, Kim Yeon Woo.”

The moment the name Yeon Woo left his lips, it felt like a needle was stabbing her heart.

Unlike her, Lee Woon’s expression remained unchanged. He was speaking so calmly it was almost infuriating.

“Are you listening?”

“Yes, I’m listening. What business does she have here?”

“She said she regretted not being able to see the place properly last time, so I told her to come. I’ll take care of everything, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

Being told not to worry made her feel so dejected. She averted her gaze, saying she wanted to rest.

A heavy silence fell between them.

After a moment, there was the sound of silk rustling as he stood up.

She could feel his intense gaze, but she didn’t move.

“You seem to be in a bad mood, so I’ll come back later.”

With those final words, Lee Woon turned his back and left.

* * *

When he arrived at the outer quarters, Seong Won Gun was waiting.

His head was already complicated because of Eun Seol, and seeing Seong Won Gun gave him a headache.

“Brother. Why is it so hard to see your face these days?”

“Why are you here again?”

“It hurts my feelings when you say that. If you get to know me, I’m actually a sensitive person.”

“A sensitive person who caused that commotion at Eunwol Hall?”

“How did you know about that, brother?”

“Do you think Eunwol Hall is some village tavern? It’s strange not to know about such a disturbance.”

He had heard from So Hyang about the recent commotion at Eunwol Hall.

The person who caused the disturbance was Seong Won Gun, and the one who provoked it was none other than Prince Jin Heon.

“Well, should I just sit quietly while they insult you? Could you do that, brother? I might have been a bit rash, but I don’t regret it. Even if I could go back to that moment, I would do the same.”

“You’re not some street ruffian, but a member of the royal family. How could you get into a fight?”

Unable to respond to his scolding, Seong Won Gun took out a book from his chest. It was the book he had lent him before.

“This… I meant to return it earlier but it got delayed. I enjoyed it very much.”

“You didn’t have to return it. If you need anything else, take it.”

“That’s alright. Well then, I have other business to attend to, so I’ll be going now.”

After Seong Won Gun left, he picked up the book and discovered a paper inserted inside.

It definitely wasn’t there when he lent the book. Lee Woon unfolded the paper, curious about what it might be.

In that moment, his eyes turned cold.

It was a drawing of a man standing under a plum tree. Looking at just the drawing, there was no problem.

The issue was the name written below the drawing.

Yoon Eun Seol, and Lee Kang.

He let out a bitter laugh, at a loss for how to interpret this.

Just then, Seong Won Gun rushed back in from outside.

He calmly lowered the drawing under the table, as if nothing had happened.

As Seong Won Gun flipped through the book, he nervously fiddled with his chin.

“Is this what you’re looking for?”