If she was like a fresh fruit before, Eom So Yeon now looked as tantalizing as a well-ripened autumn fruit with a sweet aroma.

Just holding her in his arms, without doing anything, felt good. A smile formed naturally, and his heart was full.

Even his breath, which had been uneasy lately, became comfortable. He felt like he could live just being intoxicated by her soft touch and subtle fragrance reminiscent of apple’s freshness and fragrant olive’s scent.

However, her turning away from him in the hotel lobby looked very unfamiliar. Though they had been so close in Malaga, though he had appealed to her heart all the way from there to Cadiz, her wariness seemed not to have decreased at all.

Throughout his life so far, rejection had always been his share.

But for the first time, he was rejected by the woman who stole his heart. Tae Seo Jun, by that small and delicate person.

Ha, does that even make sense!

What on earth was that distance I felt!

Constantly thinking of Eom So Yeon, who became more difficult the closer he got, Seo Jun rose from the bed and moved to the window.

The moderately spacious room condition was luxurious. Being alone in such a place was nothing new, but today something felt especially empty.

Perhaps this is the aftereffect Eom So Yeon has given me.

Even after entering the room, he thought only of her. As the day passed aimlessly into night, his obsession grew stronger and deeper. The stubbornness to absolutely obtain Eom So Yeon’s surrender, that is.

This night, time flowed ever so slowly.

Seo Jun, who had been gazing at the night view dyed in darkness through the wide window, suddenly closed the curtains and turned his back to the window. It was because he saw a suspicious flashing light from the opposite building.

It seemed that someone was observing this side.

Seo Jun, who cynically narrowed his eyebrows, immediately called Manager Bong.

−Yes, Director.

“I saw something strange, and I need you to check it out quickly.”

He had an idea who might have sent the suspicious person. But they needed to be informed they were caught so they would stop this useless act.

After giving those instructions, Seo Jun paused as he was about to put down his phone.

It was because he was thinking of contacting Eom So Yeon with the childish excuse of having dinner together. But Seo Jun soon dropped the phone from his hand. Though it felt like he would be in agony if he didn’t see her right away, he also let go of that impatience.

Because human psychology tends to want to move away when approached, and run away when chased.

Especially Eom So Yeon seemed to be more like that.

The next morning.

So Yeon entered the restaurant where the breakfast buffet was set up with Yeo Do Soon.

While putting food on her plate, So Yeon ran into Seo Jun face to face and habitually bowed first.

“Did you sleep we……”

“……”

But Seo Jun ignored So Yeon as if snubbing her and leisurely returned to sit at his table.

From then on, So Yeon’s expression remained heavy. It was because Seo Jun’s cold attitude, so different from yesterday, had given her quite a shock. But Do Soon had no way of knowing that part.

“Are you sick somewhere?”

“Me? No.”

“Then why do you look like that? You’re about to start filming soon but your face looks like you’re ready to get into a coffin. How can I not ask?”

“Was I like that?”

“Yeah.”

“I have to ride a horse from the first scene today. I’ve been a bit burdened by that since yesterday.”

Though she had experienced horseback riding as a college elective course and practiced hard, that was a long time ago. So Yeon was very nervous, wondering if she might make mistakes from the first shoot.

And that’s not all.

In the afternoon, there are intense melodrama scenes and kiss scenes too. Do Soon, who knew today’s schedule thoroughly without having to say it, reached out and stroked So Yeon’s head as she spoke.

“Oh my, but what can we do? A rookie actress can’t ask for changes from the first scene, but if it’s really hard, I could go and at least say something…”

“No. Don’t do that. I should do what I have to do. More diligently than anyone.”

How fortunate to have Do Soon who always embraces her like a mother hen. So Yeon naturally raised the corners of her lips. Thinking it’s fortunate that she can smile as if nothing’s wrong, even if forced.

But who would know the aching heart she’s trying not to reveal. And this was just the beginning.

Even during the meeting with the actors after breakfast, Seo Jun never gave So Yeon a proper glance. Though his eyes were hidden behind dark sunglasses, his dry atmosphere alone made it seem like she was excluded from his interest.

I must have expected despite telling myself not to.

In the end, I was nothing to him.

Right, this is normal.

Still, I got to embrace and be embraced to my heart’s content, so I should be satisfied with that, Eom So Yeon.

Having confirmed that Seo Jun’s heart had truly turned away from her, So Yeon bit her lower lip hard. However, her heart did not move away from him a single step at any moment. It only grew more desperate.

So Yeon felt that sharp fact even more painfully.

The black horse snorted as a hand patted it gently.

“I’m Eom So Yeon. Please take care of me.”

As So Yeon greeted kindly, the horse seemed to recognize beautiful people, looking at her with friendly eyes.

Though it’s in the script, the Demon King Ki Cheon Yul blindfolded a foal and tamed it harshly to create a monster that obeys only one person.

Thinking this horse was that horse, So Yeon felt a pang in her heart.

‘As if I could ever be sincere to the likes of you. If you want to save your life, get out of my sight as soon as possible.’

His icy voice she heard during filming earlier still echoed in her ears. No matter if it was acting, his demeanor and attitude showing no trace of the warmth she felt in Malaga was perfectly portraying Ki Cheon Yul.

No, perhaps Tae Seo Jun himself is a person as cold as Ki Cheon Yul. Along with that thought, what crossed So Yeon’s mind was that criticism in his voice in reality would be more terrible than any words.

This subtle gap between So Yeon and Seo Jun continued steadily throughout the morning.

It was noon when crisp sunlight poured down.

With Director Yoon’s “Action!”, So Yeon stood in front of the horse and camera.

“That horse isn’t yours, is it?”

A low voice pierced her eardrums like a fierce wind. So Yeon looked up at the handsome yet chilling face of the man who appeared on horseback.

“You’re going to kill it anyway, aren’t you?”

A small voice filled with boldness rang out. Seo Jun raised his thick eyebrows high and cast a dry gaze downward.

“Your situation is no different from that fellow. Haven’t you thought about that?”

His voice and expression, swallowing serenity, were as leisurely and ruthless as befitting the Demon King.

“……”

Now it was time to ride the horse, but So Yeon hesitated for a moment.

It was because of the pressure that she had to succeed in this scene at once to not fall behind Seo Jun’s stable acting.

So Yeon finally stepped on the saddle and mounted the horse, gripping the reins tightly with both hands. However, her knuckles and complexion turned pale white from the force.

The frightened expression covering her entire face, whether acting or real, was enough to grate on Seo Jun’s nerves.

What if she falls off the horse. What if she gets hurt by chance. If not others, at least Eom So Yeon… If he were to see such a sight, he felt he could no longer remain calm.

However, such worries were unfounded.

At some point So Yeon spurred the horse, and soon she entrusted her all to the galloping horse, her long hair fluttering as she rode away. Seo Jun, who was prepared to stop filming if necessary, also started to run at full speed.

Though they had moved quite far from the filming staff and cameras, three drones flying high in the air persistently followed Seo Jun and So Yeon.

Catching up to the horse in front, Seo Jun asked as he rode alongside So Yeon.

“Aren’t you scared?”

“Not at all! It feels so good to ride fast!”

“Ha!”

As she smiled brightly with sincerity, he grinned as well.

For a long while, the two couldn’t take their eyes off each other’s faces.

Knowing well what their job was, the two horses matched their speeds and galloped smoothly down the long path stretching through the dense trees.

Day 5 of filming.

All the actors were at a location plausibly recreating the era when myths were born.

An open sea view and a town square bustling with merchants. In the palace overlooking it all, experienced actors skillfully delivered performances beyond the shooting script.

Not long after, when Tae Seo Jun, befitting the work title “Lord of the Sun”, appeared on set exuding deep charisma, all the actors expecting the next shoot switched from performers to audience and gathered behind the cameras.

As the sun began to set, the sea bathed in the sunset glow was all blood-red. From this moment, the prologue to tragedy, Seo Jun and So Yeon’s heartrending love scene, unfolded before the cameras.

After completing one passionate scene, Seo Jun kissed So Yeon’s round shoulder and got off the large, antique bed, standing by the window with his top off.

So Yeon wrapped a thin cloth around her body and approached behind Seo Jun, gently leaning her face against his back.

Seo Jun slowly turned around and gazed intently at her sad face with tears falling like chicken droppings, caressing it gently. Silently, just with a sorrowful, profound gaze. And he gradually lowered his head.

The kiss that started softly became somewhat intense. Seo Jun tightly embraced So Yeon’s slender waist with his long, sturdy arms. As if he would never let her go.

Carrying her back to the bed, Seo Jun lay down on the silk bedding and propped himself up slightly. His splendid back muscles rippled slowly as the two faces overlapped deeply.

It was at that moment when the camera angle focused on Seo Jun’s back, completely hiding So Yeon.

“……!”

So Yeon’s eyes suddenly opened wide, shocked to the point of fainting. Her pupils even swayed violently as if shattered by a storm. Her heart sank endlessly, pounding roughly.

The kiss that she thought would just graze the surface, his hot breath, had suddenly invaded deeply.

It was a real kiss.

Seo Jun, fully savoring So Yeon’s immobile lips, pulled up the blanket and covered them to the top of their heads.

All those movements were exactly as written in the script. But what was happening under the blanket, only the two of them knew.

Because it’s acting.

So, I don’t have to try so hard to deceive myself.

This moment belongs only to him and me, where I can have this man all to myself.

Tae Seo Jun and Eom So Yeon’s acting was perfection itself, and the atmosphere on set was truly heated up by their passionate performance.

“Don’t they look so good together? Tae Seo Jun is always a great actor, but Eom So Yeon didn’t have a single NG despite being a rookie.”

“Her pitiful crying scene was even lovable, I’m surprised too. Where did they find such a gem?”

“Right? How much must she have worked to be on a completely different level from the script reading? I knew from the start that Miss Eom So Yeon would do well.”

The staff who had been watching the filming scene poured out endless praise for the beautiful passionate performance of the two.

“But what about Oh Min Jung? She’ll see this scene someday.”

“With that jealous personality, how could she stay still? Of course she’ll go crazy.”

“Well, it’s too late to complain now, right? She insisted on being the female lead after reading the whole script. If the problem is that the on-set direction turned out better than the writing, that’s a problem.”

“Didn’t she say she’s coming to Cadiz today? Even if we meet Oh Min Jung later, let’s not show it deliberately.”

“Of course, we should. I can’t handle that reckless one either.”

Director Yoon, who had been listening to the chatter from behind, smiled and raised his megaphone.

“Cut!”