Episode 5
A voice, low enough to feel endless, slipped into her ear, making the back of her neck prickle with goosebumps.
Her sight was robbed, and her hearing had become unnaturally sharp.
Gahwa lay still, pretending to be dead, when the voice came again.
“I know you’re awake.”
Cunning tricks wouldn’t work.
She pushed herself up and turned toward the direction the voice had come from — the same way the wind was blowing.
There, a man sat leaning against the window frame, gazing outside.
Ah.
It was then she realized — the reason the room was so unusually dark was because there was no moon in the sky.
Because of that, she couldn’t make out the man’s features clearly. She could only discern the outline: long hair, a large robe, and in one hand, a long danjuk (tobacco pipe). The unfamiliar scent in the air came from it.
Gahwa wiped the sweat from her palms onto her skirt. She had been sweating cold since earlier. There was an overwhelming aura emanating from the man.
He’s the dragon…
She instinctively stepped back.
According to Lee Hyul, all those who were offered here died within a single day.
She stared at the dragon, tense and wary. Yet he didn’t move an inch.
She was baffled. She had expected him to devour her immediately, not to remain in human form and speak politely.
No… maybe he’s just trying to lower my guard.
“As I thought, this time as well.”
She flinched.
The dragon turned his gaze toward her. The shadow over his face made it impossible to read his expression. His flat, even tone gave no hint of intent.
Gahwa kept her lips firmly shut. At times like this, it was always best to say as little as possible. Silence stretched on for a long time, until it was the dragon who broke it.
Tap.
He stood and flicked his fingers. Instantly, the candleholder on the wall lit up, flooding the room with light.
The sudden brightness made Gahwa raise an arm to shield her eyes. Her tear-filled eyes squinted sharply. She quickly wiped them with her sleeve and lowered her arm.
That’s when she saw the hem of a dark robe. While she was struggling with the light, the dragon had closed the distance.
“!”
Startled, she looked up — and locked eyes with the dragon.
The moment she saw those snake-like eyes, a chill shot down her spine.
This was nothing like the flat, emotionless voice from moments ago.
Gahwa squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again. Now his eyes looked human.
But they were still terrifying — because they held nothing at all. Just black, still emptiness.
Her trembling hand went to the hairpin her mother had given her, gripping it tightly.
No matter what it took, she would survive here.
Whether she fled from the dragon, killed him, or bargained with him — by any means necessary, she would live and stand before Lee Hyul again.
But now, facing the dragon, all of those possibilities felt impossible.
Still, she had to. She must.
Clenching her fist, she steeled herself — and the dragon slowly lowered his body until their eyes were level.
“Is it another half-wit this time… or…?”
His gaze roamed over her, filled with arrogance.
It moved from the ornate headpiece, down to the tear-brimmed eyes, to her nose, lips, and finally stopped at her neck — where a long scar ran.
“I see. This time they sent one who cannot speak. Ha.”
He gave a bitter smile, then rose to his feet. For some reason, he seemed displeased, his interest fading.
He proved it by turning away without hesitation, heading for the window.
Gahwa’s trembling hand reached into her clothing and took out the hairpin. Perhaps she could escape while his guard was down.
Shhhk.
She separated the head and shaft of the hairpin, revealing a short blade inside.
Gulp.
The edge gleamed sharply in the light.
With this…
“Don’t do anything foolish.”
The low voice cut her down instantly.
Hhk.
Her breath caught. Just a single sentence was enough to make her feel powerless.
She dared not move. Only her eyes stayed locked on him.
He tilted his head back toward her.
“What? Do you resent being forced to become a sacrifice? There was another like you before. But he only cried in fear and did nothing — until he starved to death. Do you know why that was?”
The dragon fully turned to face her, looking down.
Even with her holding a blade, he made no move to stop her. He merely tossed out a question she couldn’t answer.
Does he think killing me would be that easy?
Her grip on the dagger tightened. Everyone underestimated her.
A young woman with no strength, no power — she knew her place well enough. But now that she had decided not to endure it any longer, she had to be different. She had to act.
She pointed the blade at him.
“I asked you a question, and you answer with a knife.”
His gaze drifted from her face to the dagger. She thought it would only flicker over it, but it lingered there for quite some time.
Then, with a curl of his lips, he looked up.
“Ha ha, you!”
The sudden loud voice made her flinch. She had no idea why he was laughing.
“I see. You came back of your own accord.”
And now he was spouting nonsense she couldn’t understand.
“Hahaha!”
He laughed heartily for a long while, then just as suddenly, his expression went cold.
As Gahwa backed away from the change in mood, the dragon strode toward her.
“Do you truly think you could kill me with that little blade?”
His pace was slow, but each step carried an imposing weight.
The closer he came, the more she was crushed by his presence, until she could do nothing but stand frozen, holding the dagger out with trembling hands.
“Still no answer, I see. Ah, you were mute, weren’t you? Then I’ll answer my own question. Every single one sent from the imperial palace was a fool — whether their throat was injured, their head was damaged, or they were born deaf and mute.”
He tapped the side of his own head. Her eyes followed the gesture to his temple.
It made no sense. Wasn’t the whole point of dressing the sacrifices so extravagantly to placate his anger?
Then why did they keep sending ones who only fueled it? She couldn’t fathom the reason.
While her focus was on her fingertips, the dragon had closed the distance to just in front of her. He seized the hand holding the dagger.
She tried to pull back, but his grip was far too strong.
Ugh!
Dragged forward, she found herself forced to look up at him.
He leaned in so their eyes met.
“You have good eyes. Yes, you’re mute, but you’re no fool. Still, it’s a pity — that you can’t speak.”
Her eyes widened. In his words, she thought she caught a thread — maybe a way to escape.
Desperately, she cried out:
“No, I’m not mute!”
“…You can speak, then.”
A smile spread across his face again. He laughed aloud, as though truly amused.
“This time, they’ve been well and truly tricked — by a little girl, no less. Thanks to you, I’ve had my first real laugh in ages.”
He laughed for a long time before finally releasing her hand.
But he didn’t step back. He remained close, smiling faintly.
Gahwa tightened her grip on the dagger.
The more his mood shifted, the more it felt like walking a tightrope.
“Good. I’ll give you a chance.”
Her eyes widened at once.
Her instincts told her to take his hand.
She cautiously tested the waters.
“…A chance? For me?”
“Yes. A chance to survive — and take your revenge.”
It was far too tempting to refuse.
But Gahwa remained careful, endlessly careful.
It was the only thing she had learned in the palace that kept her alive.
Never let down her guard. She lowered her head.
“Why would you give me such a chance?”
“Because you said you wanted to survive with that blade.”
“That is my reason.”
“Exactly. That’s your reason. Isn’t that enough for you to take this chance?”
And indeed — it was enough.
She had to cling even to a rotten rope if it offered hope. Sensing this, the dragon whispered:
“If you’ve come here pretending to be mute, I imagine your life hasn’t been easy. So take the hand I’m offering. Don’t you want revenge — on the one who made you this way?”
The dragon extended his hand, his tongue curling like a snake’s.
