And just like that, night came.

Finally, the time had come for the couple to lie side by side in the same bed.

They stood in front of the bed and discussed the matter very seriously.

“It would be better if I slept on the outside, so that I can get out of bed without waking you, husband.”

“No, it’s too dangerous. It’s customary for the wife to sleep on the inside, so it’s better to follow that.”

“But if I do that, I won’t be able to get out of bed without climbing over you.”

“I don’t mind you climbing over me. The problem is that you might trip and hurt yourself. Just wake me up instead.”

The debate went on and on.

Woo-hye felt a little guilty at the idea of waking him, but since she couldn’t think of a better solution, she nodded reluctantly.

“Alright.”

She figured she’d follow his suggestion for now, and if it turned out to be inconvenient, they could come up with another arrangement later.

Woo-hye slipped under the comfortable blanket and lay down.

Waiting for him to lie next to her made her a little nervous – and a little fluttery.

Although she had occasionally shared a sleeping space with Hyang-eum, this was the first time she had shared a bed with a man.

After confirming that Woo-hye had pulled the blanket up to her chin and was only looking out, San-gyeong turned off the lamp.

Sigh.

Darkness fell over the room.

There was a soft rustling as San-gyeong lay down beside her.

“……”

“……”

A heavy silence filled the room, so deep it felt as if even her breath was missing.

San-gyeong wasn’t used to sharing a bed with someone.

It felt so unfamiliar that sleeping on the street might have been more comfortable.

Just then, Woo-hye shifted and turned to face him.

‘Does she… have something to say?’

He thought she was about to speak, but before he knew it, he could hear the soft rhythm of her breathing.

She was already asleep.

San-gyeong felt the tension melt away at the sound that broke the silence.

Finally, he turned his head.

His eyes, now accustomed to the darkness, rested on her delicate face, faintly lit by the moonlight filtering in.

‘Strange woman.’

He’d thought they’d never be able to communicate at all, but the more time he spent with her, the more he realised that wasn’t true.

It was at moments like this that it became clear that she really was Joo-hyuk’s blood relative.

Just then, Woo-hye moved again in her sleep – and wrapped her arms around San-gyeong.

Startled, he instinctively tried to pull her arm away.

“Hyang-eum…”

‘Did she mistake me for her maid?’

San-gyeong hesitated, then adjusted his position so that her arm could slide more comfortably under the pillow she was using, allowing her to hug him more easily.

He had already confirmed that a hug would not upset his emotional balance.

‘So lending her my arms for a while should be fine.’

San-gyeong closed his eyes.

But sleep did not come.

***

“Woo-hye.”

At the familiar voice calling her name, Woo-hye suddenly lifted her head.

Her mother was lying in bed, reaching out to her.

‘Yes, Mother. I’m here.’

She tried to answer, but no voice came out.

Her body felt heavy, like she was drowning in a river, and she struggled to breathe.

“You must wait until you are sure that you are stronger than your opponent. You must hide in a safe place and build up your strength.”

Woo-hye wanted to scream.

‘Until when? When is that exactly?’

‘It has been seven years, Mother. My body is broken – I don’t have much time left.’

She screamed in silence.

And just then, a much smaller, younger version of Hyang-eum than the one she knew entered the room.

Woo-hye knew only too well what this situation was like.

And so she screamed in fear.

‘Don’t say it, Hyang-eum!’

“Master Joo-hyuk has been killed in battle, Madam! His body is outside!”

“That can’t be. My Joo-hyuk, that sweet boy, would never die and leave his mother behind!”

‘No, please! I don’t want to be alone, Mother. Don’t leave me behind. Take me with you instead, please!’

At that moment, she saw her father and Seol Mi-hee beyond the wide open window, dressed in mourning clothes.

They watched from a distance with a mischievous expression on their faces, as if they were already preparing for her mother’s funeral.

‘This is a dream. This never really happened.’

But she began to doubt herself.

‘Was it really not happening?’

‘There was laughter coming from the house, wasn’t there?’

Woo-hye opened her mouth soundlessly.

‘Seol Mi-hee.’

‘Seol M-ihee.’

‘Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee. Seol Mi-hee.’

‘Seol Mi-hee—!’

She screamed the name with a voice so raw it felt like it would tear her throat open and spill blood—
but the nightmare was cruel. It wouldn’t let a single sound escape her lips.

Even the heavens had turned their back on her.
She was powerless.

Woo-hye’s eyes blazed with hatred as she stared at Seol Mi-hee, cradled in her father’s arms, smiling smugly behind her delicate hand.

Hot, searing tears streaked down Woo-hye’s cheeks—tears that felt like blood, like her very eyes were burning from the inside out.

‘I’ll make you watch, as I destroy everything you love.’

‘And then, I’ll rip out those bloodstained eyes—’
‘and shove them into that smiling mouth of yours—’
‘and force you to chew and swallow every piece!’

‘I’ll never forget this.’

‘Never.’

‘Never—!’

“Madam!”

At that moment, Woo-hye’s eyes flew open.

But she couldn’t see anything.

Shaken by the overwhelming shock and lingering effects of the nightmare, she couldn’t think rationally enough to realise that it was simply too early and too dark for any light.

Woo-hye quickly realised that the person touching her wasn’t Hyang-eum and began to throw wild punches.

If she’d had something sharp, she might have driven it straight into the person’s neck.

But before she could do much, San-gyeong caught her in a tight hug, almost encircling her entire body.

“You’re okay.”

“H-Heuk… Huuk! Hhk!”

“You’re OK. Just breathe.”

Woo-hye squeezed her eyes shut and hot tears streamed down her cheeks.

Her heart was pounding and her head was spinning like a street hustler’s dice.

But San-gyeong’s voice remained calm and grounded.

“Slowly… That’s it. You’re doing well.”

Woo-hye collapsed into his arms, completely limp.

Only then did San-gyeong loosen his grip a little, repositioning her more comfortably in his embrace.

He took a pill of budongsim – a sedative – from inside his robes.

“Take this. It’ll help you calm down.”

Without even knowing what he was giving her, Woo-hye swallowed it obediently.

The pill’s characteristic bitterness spread across her tongue.

Her heart, which had been pounding like it was going to burst, began to slow to a normal rhythm.

The sobs that had rocked her body subsided and the shaking stopped.

Seeing that she seemed more stable, San-gyeong brought her a glass of water and helped her drink it.

When he went to put the cup down, Woo-hye grabbed his sleeve as if begging him not to leave.

So San-gyeong let her hold on.

He stayed quietly by her side, staring at her empty expression without saying a word.

Neither of them spoke.

Time passed and the clear morning sunlight began to push away the dim light of dawn.

As the red blanket became clearer, Woo-hye regained some of her strength.

Only then did she remember what she had done to San-gyeong.

“I’m sorry.”

It had been a long time since she had lost control like that – not since her childhood.

And it was the first time she had ever calmed down so quickly.

It was probably because San-gyeong had remained calm and steady, calmly guiding her through it.

“I’m fine.”

Woo-hye didn’t say a word about sleeping in separate rooms, not even as an empty gesture – just in case he felt uncomfortable with her behaviour.

No matter how uncomfortable or tired he might be, she wanted him to stay by her side and keep telling her that everything was fine.

It was selfish, but that was how she felt.

After a nightmare, there was always a wave of loneliness that felt like it would swallow her whole.

To endure that alone was truly excruciating.

And now that she had experienced how comforting his warmth could be, she had no intention of letting it go.

“I’m fine, so… you can keep it up from now on.”

Woo-hye let out a small sigh.

He had said exactly what she wanted to hear, and even the tension in her chest melted away.

‘Cheong-un… I like him.’

She liked this man. She wanted him. She wanted to make him hers.

‘I hope he stays by my side.’

But this wasn’t affection. It was possessiveness.

A simple, common emotion she often felt towards people who caught her interest.

‘I don’t even know if he’s really on my side yet. I shouldn’t be like this.’

If she continued, she might start to interpret everything about him the way she wanted to see it.

But like a broken dam, her desire had become impossible to contain.

The heart never yielded to reason – it moved on its own, no matter how hard you tried to control it.

Even without intention, it could sweep you away before you even knew it.

From the moment the light entered the room, Woo-hye’s heart had already made its choice.

The shadows of her nightmare had vanished, fading like mist in the morning sun.

Still, she didn’t say she was well.

Instead, like a child in need of comfort, she reached out and wrapped her arms around San-gyeong once more.

She felt him tense under the thin sheets, uncertain.

“……”

San-gyeong wasn’t someone who knew how to offer comfort. It didn’t come naturally to him.

But maybe because of what had just happened – he didn’t pull away.

He stayed still… and then, gently, his arms came around her. His hand began to caress her back.

A small, contented smile tugged at Woo-hye’s lips – slow and warm, like the first breath after a long storm.