Chapter 02
Branches brushed against one another in the wind, producing a chilling sound.
As a noise that sounded somewhere between “whooo” and “swee” rang in Soa’s ears, the veil she had dropped fluttered away from her hand and landed at the man’s feet.
Pale, bloodless skin. Deep-set eyes shadowed heavily beneath long, sharply upturned corners.
Clear white sclera, a nose bridge straight as if drawn with a ruler, and thin lips the color of violets.
A spirit.
Soa knew instantly.
Among all the spirits she had ever seen, this man was the neatest and the most frightening. Dressed in clean, orderly robes, his eyes, darker than those of ordinary people, glimmered with a bluish light.
For a brief moment, she was lost in the depth of those unfathomable eyes.
“Ah!”
The grip shaking her leg grew fiercer.
She would have to look down to see what was attacking her, but for some reason she could not bring herself to do it.
She felt that if she looked, she would see something horrific, her strength would give out, and she would fall at once.
Her desperate struggle to cling to the stone protrusions in the wall, fighting not to fall, was pitiful.
“Please… just…”
Something sharp scraped past her ankle, leaving a stinging pain, but she managed to step up one more level.
She wished even a spirit would help her, but recalling the man standing frozen in place, staring at her, she felt she should be grateful he was not interfering.
An unmarried grown woman, and the daughter of a high minister at that, secretly visiting the Crown Prince’s residence.
She did not want even a spirit to find out about that.
“Ah!”
She could not hold on any longer.
One by one, her fingers slipped off the stones.
I’m falling. This is the end.
The moon above her head shone brightly, indifferent to her fate.
If only she hadn’t refused when Yeonwoo offered to call Lady Hwang.
It was always like this. Whenever she disobeyed Yeonwoo, disaster followed.
Soa squeezed her eyes shut.
Even the index finger she had barely been holding on with slipped into empty air, and her body plunged downward.
It’s going to hurt. It will definitely hurt.
Just as fear filled her mind and she imagined her body striking the ground—
Thud.
Her body landed on something.
“……”
“……”
Silence followed.
The violent presence that had threatened her moments ago seemed to have vanished, and the surroundings grew still.
The sharp grip on her ankle was gone.
Only a lingering, burning pain remained.
Am I… dead?
So quickly? So easily?
Was death supposed to feel this warm?
Unable to believe it, Soa kept her eyes tightly shut—until a cool sensation touched her ankle.
She reflexively opened her eyes.
And saw a face, frighteningly close.
The man, carrying a faintly sharp scent, was looking at her with an unreadable expression.
Thump.
For a moment, it felt as though someone had clenched her chest.
Soa stared at his eyes as if enchanted, then snapped back to her senses.
Why is his face so close?
Am I dead already? Have I become a spirit?
Otherwise, how could I be face-to-face with a strange man like this?
But even so.
Why… this close?
Startled, Soa leaned back and felt something firm beneath her.
She hurriedly looked down.
Her eyes widened.
There, clearly outlined beneath smooth silk, was a solid thigh.
She was sitting on a man’s thigh.
The thought alone was unthinkable.
She hurried to stand, but the pain in her ankle forced her back down.
She saw the man frown slightly.
As he withdrew the hand that had been on her ankle, her blood stained his fingertips.
Calmly, he brought the bloodied fingers to his lips.
A red tongue emerged, smooth and cold, covered in tiny, fine ridges, and slowly licked his fingertips.
A shiver ran down Soa’s spine.
“Wait!”
“……?”
“What are you doing—no, I mean…”
“……”
Was there really such a spirit?
There were no spirits that preyed on the dead.
And a spirit that drank blood?
Soa had seen many kinds of spirits, but never one like this.
Just then, a sound echoed from the darkness—something large drawing in a breath.
What kind of beast makes a sound that loud just by breathing?
A spirit can’t help me or save me.
So I should just run right now.
But then her injured ankle caught her eye.
Would running only provoke it further?
As her hesitation and silence dragged on, a black shape burst out from the bushes.
This night is really long.
She had just clenched her fist, ready to do something—anything—
When a choking sound rang out.
Peering through half-open eyes, she saw a beast unlike anything she had ever seen before, its red eyes glowing between long fur, its tongue hanging out as it thrashed violently.
The man had seized the beast by the throat.
Tendons bulged along his large, long hand.
Despite the beast’s struggle, the man did not move, only tightening his grip.
Soon, a whimpering sound escaped the massive creature.
The man shifted only his eyes and met Soa’s gaze.
“……”
Soa stood frozen, unable to look away.
Then the man loosened his grip.
With a loud thud, the beast fell to the ground and fled desperately into the darkness.
“Ha…”
Her legs gave out.
Soa carefully looked at the man.
Thick eyebrows, eyes set slightly deep beneath shadows, strikingly clear whites, and pupils as black as ink that occasionally shimmered with blue light, giving him a mysterious air.
Judging by his clothing, he was undoubtedly royalty.
Though she did not know when he had died, his attire was elegant and refined, no different from the present era.
Yet somehow, something felt different.
Unlike the refined nobles she had seen before, he carried a sharp, chilling presence.
Less like a spirit and more like something wild.
Soa, who had been raised gently, had felt this sensation only once before.
It was exactly like the beast she had encountered deep in the mountains on a dark night.
Just then, the distant sound of a bell rang.
The patrol would begin soon.
If she were discovered like this, it would be the end.
“Did you save me?”
“……”
“What was that earlier? Or maybe…”
The man remained silent.
His gaze was like that of a beast observing its prey—elegant and composed, yet suppressing a blind, ferocious desire.
Soa felt the hairs on her neck stand on end.
But it was either act or collapse.
Even if you fall into a tiger’s den, as long as you keep your wits, you live.
“Thank you. I have to go now, but if we meet again, I’ll repay you then.”
“……?”
The man tilted his head slightly, as if questioning the word “repay.”
For a spirit, the repayment she could offer was helping him pass on.
Whatever story lay behind such a striking appearance, she would hear it later.
With no time to explain, Soa limped toward the wall.
And once again, she began climbing.
It was embarrassing to be watched from below, but she had no choice.
“…!”
Her injured leg chose that moment to fail her.
She kept slipping downward, unable to climb as smoothly as usual.
Just when she thought she had made it, she nearly fell again while desperately clinging on.
Then she heard movement approaching from afar.
The patrol is already coming!
Startled, she stretched her hand upward desperately.
I just need to get over it. Just over.
“Just a little more…”
Please.
As she clenched her teeth and reached up—
A voice rang out behind her.
“Hey! Who’s there!”
I’m finished. I’ve been caught.
One shoe, already half slipping off from her struggle, fell to the ground.
It rolled away with a dull sound.
The man looked at the fallen shoe.
Her slender ankle, curved inward like a bird’s, looked fragile.
His gaze moved to her round ankle bone glowing in the moonlight.
Then he kicked off the ground.
“……”
Are spirits always this fast?
Even as she panicked, Soa was startled when the man pulled her down toward him.
Without any chance to resist, she fell into his arms, feeling cold air brush against her cheek.
“Catch her!”
Shouts followed from behind, but the man did not stop.
Even carrying a person, his movements were as light as a feather.
Afraid of falling, Soa reached out blindly and finally grasped the edge of his clothes.
The man glanced down at her.
Then, turning a corner, he pushed open a thick, closed gate without effort.
The lock snapped with a small sound.
Soon, the sounds of pursuit faded, and the familiar forest path came into view.
The scent of dew-damp grass brushed past her nose.
Noticing the silence, the man gradually slowed his steps.
Thump. Thump.
Soa’s heart raced.
The man’s gaze shifted to her small hand, clutching his collar as if it were her lifeline.
Embarrassed, she quickly let go.
“Thank you…”
“……”
“I’ll repay this kindness. Really. I promise.”
“……”
“—Miss! Where are you? Do you know what time it is? Where have you gone…?”
From afar, Jeongi’s voice called out, searching for Soa.
She must have come looking when Soa did not return at the agreed time.
“I’m here—”
Just as Soa opened her mouth to answer—
The man’s eyes flashed.
He lowered his head and whispered into her ear.
“Quiet.”
“You can speak? But I suddenly feel so sleepy…”
“When we meet again…”
“…Huh?”
“When we meet again, I will kill you.”
What does that mean? So when we meet again… again what?
Soa’s eyes slowly closed.
