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𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇 steps she took to the way to Jang Household along with Young-hee emphasized the frustration Na-ra had to be put with the fact Yul, Dang-gu and even Uk had the chance to accompany Master Lee to the Royal Palace while she got to stand by aside by her mere wounds.

She couldn't even argue much, as the trio and her Masters appeared to hell bent on rejecting her idea of going along with them for an obvious reasons of danger.

Master Lee doubted- no, is confirmed there is soul shifter in the palace as every one with an ounce of doubt interlaced.

She wanted to test the water.

The speculation of her doubts towards the queen would have been answered, if she could've accompanied them. However Master Lee's, firm stance of dismal for her idea of tag along was double passed by every others after seeing the slight cut in her hand.

The quietness of the game appeared to be very appealingly unusual from Jin-mu, the players are free to their will.
It's like he was quietly moving his hidden piece while it is concealed by an tinted glass for the time.

Before he could show out his piece, the tint in the glass should be thrown out or maybe the girl was just paranoid.

Knowing the tricky game of the snakes and leeches is very much of an enticing gift yet, threatening to be not one of them.

Something is very bit wrong, and everyone doesn't sees it, or choose to ignore it blindly.Either way, the power to interlude not in her hands. Atleast not for now.

❃.✮:▹　◃:✮.❃

𝐓𝐇𝐄 street lights from the shops were beaming in with the loud chatters of the bustling crowd in between the night markets, the crescent moonlight overshadowed by the warm yellow lights.

" The market seems to be more lively today."

Na-ra's gaze sweeped through the stalls of various sells that piqued her interests, til it fell upon a stall that showcased several Norigae ( an traditional korean accessory that is a decorative pendent, cord and tassel.)  Her playful steps drawn to a certain one almost quickly.

A pastel teal one amongst the vibrant ones, it had the cool calming tone that resembles the light, airy shade of green mixed with a touch of grey. As an contrast to the delicate hue, it had an intricate detail to the circular jade pendent, embellished with traditional knotting. Attached below with two long flowing tassels held by silver bands adorned with small knot designs.

It was elegant and refined, recalling the heartening smile of the only one it reminded of it, and not so in hindsight of her gaze,another one captured her eyes in the trance.

The exact same ones as the ones before , rather in muted brownish-pink hue concealing the tassels and jade.

" I'll take these two. "

Her hand pointed to the two of them with twinkling gaze in her eyes, while Young-hee eyed the girl in confusion of why would she buy identical ones rather than other various pretty ones that placed right down her sight.

" Oh my, beautiful people do have the eye to find the beautiful things~here. "

Her hands quickly took the two as an smile tugged in her lips before she eyed Young-hee to pay the woman who was happy for the sale til her attention swiftly changed to other buyers.

However, by the sudden quick turn Na-ra took while her gaze were still trailed on her new purchase, she blindly clashed onto one another.

The abrupt clash clearly letting the other to almost fall upon to the rough ground while Na-ra's stance were only lightly swayed.

So-i , squeezed her eyes in shut accepting the hard rough ground after the abrupt clash. However, rather than feeling the rough ground that welcome the humiliation of the crowd, a sudden tug in her waist and a firm yet delicate hold in her nape was all she could feel.

Confusion brimming in seconds, her eyes fluttered open in puzzlement only to see the face of the woman,who she admired for saving her yet again with anxious written all over her delicate features.

She was worried. For her.

The thought alone lighten up the darkness that consumed her heart,and the remorse of letting people die because of seeing her face and knowing her identify for a mere second , until it dawned upon the bitter result of what would happen to her,the woman right in front of her she admires, if she doesn't act and disappear before the apprentice of the mad man comes in.

" Goodness, are you alright?? I'm sorry, I didn't see you. It's my fault. "

Na-ra gently let the girl to steady herself while the other initiated to play the part of an blind, and just as that, the guilt  seeped into Na-ra twofold after knowing the girl's disability.

" No, it's alright, I'm quite in a hurry so. "

" Still I- "

She couldn't even finish her sentence before the girl hastily walked away with her cane, fear pricking her mind to walk away before she could unintentionally harm her,while the latter appeared to be more in guilt of not even apologize for her negligence of surroundings.

" When did you start the hobby of collecting Norigae?? "

Young-hee who appeared from behind clearly took her in a jump-scare , which the latter brushed off in a scoff of disbelief before walkin away knowing the girl is following right behind.

" Since from now. "

" Hmm... Suspicious. "

❃.✮:▹　◃:✮.❃

𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄 tinted glass risen between the two and the world apart from all the tangled conflicts and obstructions that layed down in silence.

Atleast that's what Na-ra believed to be seeing the boy she loves in middle of the night, in front of her house til her eyes leaped to the summer boy and her dear Cho-yeon along Kim Do-joo with the same face of whining before the two ran to her two sides, latching onto her hands.

" Na-ra, help usssssssss. "

❃.✮:▹　◃:✮.❃

The night was unbelievably eventful, and the only regret the girl had was, she wasn't there to witness any of it.

Nonetheless, her ears were blessed with every bit of information from the boy of the past events , with the witness of nothing other than the crescent moonlight that dawned on to the two.

" I cannot believe this... Those two of all people, together. It makes sense, and doesn't at the same time. "

Her words of disbelief got out a chuckle from the boy who sat beside her,softly tracing the lines and curves of her palm with his fingers ,easing her mind with the comfortable touch.

" What are they even going to do? Her mother is never going to allow her to marry Dang-gu , and Master Park wouldn't just let his only heir to go in vain... "

She felt sad behalf for the two inside her household, apart in two rooms but, thoughts joined into one with concern over themselves.

For their own tomorrow.

" Don't concern over something that we cannot intervene in..."

The cold hands of Yul came to a slight touch on her cheeks, a gentle care yet the coldness of the touch and the warmness in the act eased her troubled mind than anything.

" We cannot do nothing but to hear out their worries and stand beside them for the choice they make,and you have done a great job in that til now. "

As if those reassuring words were the only thing that lacked to dismiss her mindless thoughts, the end of her lips tugged up as she leaned into his shoulder, a sigh of relief letting out from the eventful day as their eyes stared ahead with no worries of thier own future.

❃.✮:▹　◃:✮.❃

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 the morning hour came by, it was an absolute torture for Young-hee, who was the one always chose Na-ra's attire for the day since the latter couldn't care less about it, now trying her hard not let her hands fall onto the ground by holding out the clothes for an hundredth time since her Young lady who is suspiciously enough was too cheerful for to start a day.

" Not this either, it's too.... Yellow. "

Young-hee was barely holding on the urge to roll her eyes at the lack of excuses that the latter came up with, first it was with being the colour didn't go well together, then it was being too silky, too cotton, too vibrant too pale and now... Now this.

" Should I just bring you a white gown then? "

" Wouldn't that look too mournful?? "

The sarcastic remark clearly flying over her head as her eyes were stuck on the dresses, scrutinizing them to a extend to even find a thread of faults.

" Alright, this is it. "

Young-hee, fed up with the sudden spoiled act, dropped every clothes in her hold. Her eyes sweeping in every corner of the room til it found something in the pile of clothes her Young lady made. A piece of teal seeped through the other ones before the girl jumped into take it in her hands.

" This would be perfect. "

The teal with mint hues featuring an serene delicacy with the translucent sleeves that softly overlayed the bodice, while the voluminous skirt flowed perfectly graceful in layers of sheer fabric that is adorned by intricate golden patterns giving out a touch of opulence to the calm and subtle colour palette.

It was perfect.

◐◐◐◐◐

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬:

𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐨,
𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬 , 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐡, 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐡, 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐡 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐬𝐨, 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐲'𝐚𝐥𝐥.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐨, 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭-
𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐢𝐭.

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬 ♡