Somehow, being submerged here with him in this quiet place made her feel as if they were the only two left in the world. Below, the bottomless lake looked black rather than blue. Above it, the only things moving were the sunlight that occasionally sparkled as it refracted through the water’s surface, him, and herself.

He swam by moving his arms and went deeper. The lake spread her black hair like unwound thread.

Before long, bubbles began to escape from around Nian’s nose and mouth as she ran out of breath. Despite this, as she still didn’t splash around, he watched her for a moment and carefully pressed his lips against hers.

He gently sucked on her lower lip, slightly tilted her head back, and breathed into her.

As his breath entered her lungs, she felt as if their souls were mixing and closed her eyes.

Ah, I was wrong. Even if I drown like this…… I like you.

Nian wrapped her arms around his neck. Dade also embraced her and began to swim again.

After spending time swimming in the lake, the two returned to land by boat as the sun began to set and their bodies grew cold.

Dade docked the boat on land and took Nian’s hand.

“See that cottage?”

Looking where Dade pointed, a cozy cottage was visible beside the lake.

“We’ll sleep there tonight.”

“That’s wonderful.”

Nian smiled warmly.

This old wooden cottage, about five pyeong¹a traditional Korean unit of area measurement. 5 평 ≈ 16.5 square meters (about 177 square feet) in size, was like Dade’s hideout. Dade skillfully lit the fireplace, hung his wet clothes nearby to dry, and made a simple meal with the ingredients he had brought.

Nian watched him with some surprise as she wrapped herself in a blanket.

“Before, I liked the lake here so much that I spent a fortune to buy this cottage.”

“A fortune?”

“Yes. I gave away a ring I was wearing without knowing its worth. Looking back now, it was a sapphire ring that could have bought an entire castle.”

Nian laughed brightly.

During his adolescence, in that tumultuous period, he had ridden his horse here and impulsively made the purchase. Though he bought it at an absurd price, Dade never regretted it as he felt at peace whenever he came here.

Having finished preparing for bed, he lay on his side with his arms and blanket open, calling Nian.

“Come here”

As Nian entered the blanket, Dade embraced her. Lying quietly in his arms, Nian scratched his chin and spoke.

“I’m hungry.”

When Nian placed her hand on Dade’s chest, he looked down at her with deepened eyes. She tilted her head back and lightly kissed his lips, and he wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, pulling her closer.

She let out a soft moan at his gentle, slow kiss, and soon his hands kneaded her br*asts. Nian’s breath grew hotter.

The firelight turned the two lovers orange, and cool breezes coming through the cottage gaps brushed against their skin.

Dade rolled over while embracing Nian, climbing on top of her. He lightly kissed her forehead as she smiled shyly, and slowly caressed her soft skin.

Every time the firewood crackled and the flames flickered, his shadow above her shifted as if dancing. Yet even in the soft light, she shone brilliantly.

He slowly entered her. A sigh-like moan escaped. As she rose up to him in ecstasy, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her fully in his embrace.

Thus, with slow movements, they fully felt each other. As always, the wave of climax soaked her first and then came to Dade.

Nian’s eyes grew languid in the drowsy feeling. Dade looked at her lovingly and brushed her hair back.

“Sleepy?”

“Yes.”

“Go to sleep quickly. If we want to see the downtown area and get back to the palace tomorrow, we need to wake up early.”

As Dade patted her shoulder, Nian’s breathing became regular and soon she began to snore softly.

She seemed to have fallen asleep.

* * *

Though they had resolved to wake up early, they vaguely awoke at dawn simultaneously and made love once more. Then they fell asleep again as the sun was rising, causing both Dade and Nian to oversleep side by side.

Though it was a late morning, neither of them hurried.

“Did you sleep well?”

As Dade stroked Nian’s hair, she rose groggily and sat up. When the blanket slid down revealing her white n*ked body, she blushed and hugged the blanket to herself. Dade was somewhat disappointed that the blanket covered her body, but he shook it off and extended his hand.

“Come on. Stop being lazy and get up now.”

Nian took his hand.

The downtown area of the small village was modest but lively. Merchants busily displayed their goods while calling to customers, and the couple occasionally stopped to have snacks. Nian spoke while eating sherbet with a wooden spoon.

“What do you think it would have been like if we were born as ordinary commoners and lived farming? Your Majesty?”

“Dade.”

“What?”

“Call me by my name, not ‘Your Majesty.’ There are many people around.”

“Ah……”

After hesitating, Nian recalled their memories at the Rund restaurant and smiled softly.

“What do you think it would be like? Dade?”

Dade smiled slightly. He quite liked the sound of her voice calling his name.

“Well. With a wife who loves to sleep in, wouldn’t I have ruined the farming?”

Nian’s face reddened, and then she flared up.

“I’ll have you know I have years of experience in herb farming. I’d do better than you, a novice!”

“Says the one who keeps hurting her hands”

“That’s—”

“Remember. If you get hurt one more time, I’ll pull up all those herbs.”

“Tsk.”

Nian pouted her lips at his extreme concern. Dade gave her a not-unkind glance before looking away.

The downtown area was so crowded with people that shoulders brushed against those coming from the opposite direction.

Evening had come, and the sunset was falling.

‘We should head back soon……’

It was then. In Dade’s view, far away, he saw familiar blonde hair. The longed-for back view he had seen in his dreams.

“Rachel?”

Dade stared blankly. Even after closing his eyes and opening them again, it was Rachel.

‘It can’t be. Rachel, Rachel……’

Contrary to his disbelieving mind, Dade was already running toward her.

Nian looked at him curiously as he suddenly stopped. He had been walking peacefully with her down the sunset-lit street when he suddenly stopped in surprise.

She was about to ask what was wrong. Before hearing that familiar woman’s name from his lips. As if entranced, he called her name, then shook off Nian’s hand that had grabbed him in surprise and began to run.

Nian realized this trip had been the calm before the storm.

Dark clouds were gathering in the distance. She had a premonition that no matter how hard she tried to hold on, the coming storm would completely destroy the nest she had carefully built. And as always, sad premonitions were never wrong.

Nian painfully watched Dade moving away. Even after his back view mixed with people, grew distant, and finally disappeared into a black dot, she stood there like a deeply rooted tree, staring blankly.

She might have burst into laughter. Feelings of injustice and hurt welled up, but she swallowed them down.

The kinder he was, the more frightened she felt. The sweeter their time together, the more anxious she became. Dreams are inherently sweet because they can never be fulfilled, and thus the sweeter they are, the sadder they become. Perhaps morning was coming now. Judging by how she seemed to be waking from the dream.

After standing there for a long time, Nian turned her steps.

The two people who had separated in the early evening only met again when the night had grown quite dark. Nian had returned straight to the cottage, and Dade had returned after searching for Rachel.

No, to be precise, he had returned after searching for both Rachel and Nian. After losing sight of the woman who looked like Rachel, he came to his senses and only then remembered Nian.

The streets, now quiet, greeted Dade desolately, having lost both Nian and their vitality. Somehow, he felt as if he had lost both Rachel and Nian.

After wandering for quite a while, Dade remembered the cottage and only came back when night had fallen.

Nian sat in the cottage and faced him silently. Dade too was at a loss for words due to his complicated feelings. He became angry as he freshly realized it was Nian who had killed Rachel, but then felt sorry seeing Nian’s pale white face.

What if I could just hate you as before?

Nian was the first to break the silence.

“Did you find what you were looking for?”

“No.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

At Nian’s words, unkind feelings sprang up in Dade.

“I don’t particularly want your comfort.”

His tone was so cold, almost frigid, that even Dade himself seemed surprised, but he did not take it back. Nian answered in a somewhat sad voice.

“I’m not much of a comfort anyway.”

Nian lowered her head. He had chased after someone with a similar back view without a moment’s hesitation. Despite the warm conversation they had just shared, he had coldly run away.

Just from that alone, she could feel painfully what his unspoken true heart was.

Yes, I wouldn’t be a comfort to you. Unlike her.

Nian felt like she might cry at any moment. This place, which had been so warm just yesterday as they kissed endlessly, had become a cold block of ice emanating chilliness overnight.

She deeply regretted the past few days that had been swept away helplessly by the storm that had approached without warning.

Dade sighed and spoke to Nian who was sitting deliberately apart from him.

“Let’s go back. Though it’s late, we can call for a carriage.”

“No. You go first, Your Majesty. If you’ll allow it, I’d like to stop by my family home. There’s something I need to check.”

“Alright.”

Normally he would have questioned her persistently, but in the chilly atmosphere, he could only nod without asking further.

Shortly after, two carriages arrived at the cottage at Dade’s call. One carried Dade toward the palace, and the other carried Nian toward her family home.

Sitting in the carriage, Nian finally burst into tears she had been holding back. It was too cruel a price to pay for the greed she had unknowingly harbored.

‘Yes, Your Majesty. It’s no longer possible. So, don’t worry.’

Winter had finally come to her heart. The pink flower that had bloomed knowing winter would come withered helplessly and fell at his feet.

It was an infinitely pitiful sight, but he would step on that flower and leave without caring.

Nian cried for a long time.