The Nature of Possession

406 – EP.15 Face to Face

***

I looked at her as she looked at me.

“Do… Lien-nim?”

Chunhyang stuttered as if she had seen a goblin.

Her hair was messily tangled and hung in a disorderly manner, and a few strands of hair were stuck to Chunhyang’s cheeks.

In the prison, softly lit by moonlight, only the sound of Chunhyang and I breathing could be heard.

Was it because of the moonlight? Chunhyang’s skin was pale, not to mention white. Looking at her face, which was devoid of any blood, I had an ominous feeling that she would soon end her life.

“Uh, uh… uh…”

Chunhyang had difficulty even uttering a single word. I knelt down and met her gaze.

I unwrapped the bundle that Hyangdan had given me.

Dried food that could be easily eaten and water drawn from the well were brought out in a bundle.

“Drink first.”

I called out to Chunhyang while hitting the cup against the bars.

“…….”

Chunhyang, who had been catching her breath for a while, approached me with difficulty.

The sword that was strangling her neck seemed solid and heavy. The weight of the sword caused sweat to bead on Chunhyang’s forehead.

A fragrant scent came from Chunhyang who came closer.

Chunhyang’s lips peeked out through the gap in the bars. Her white, torn and dried lips came into view.

As expected, Chunhyang was in a weak state.

As she tilted the cup, the cold water began to wet her dry lips. Like spring rain seeping into a field cracked by drought, a sliver of life seemed to return to her once-white lips.

– Gulp gulp

Water her like you would a plant.

Chunhyang’s slender neck moved. The water that passed through her lips and entered her throat seemed to give her strength.

The moisture that had not yet reached her lips flowed down her beautiful jawline to her collarbone.

The sight of water flowing into the tattered, loose clothes was more heartbreaking than fascinating.

Except for calling Chunhyang’s name for the first time, he didn’t say much. And he didn’t even think of rashly bringing up a topic of conversation.

What can I say when I have no memories?

“Can you speak?”

“…….”

Chunhyang drank the water and wiped the remaining moisture from the corner of her mouth with her white hands.

Although it was only a bucket of water, her condition was incomparably different from the first time.

Chunhyang, with her cold and reserved face, gave off an air that made it difficult to approach her carelessly.

Chunhyang glanced at me from an oblique angle, perhaps because the knife hanging around her neck was bothering her as she faced me.

“How….”

She cleared her throat.

“How come you are here? Didn’t you receive my letter?”

And obviously pushed me away.

“How can I not come to you?”

He touches her heart with his soothing words.

“master.”

Chunhyang’s eyes were shining brightly even in the dim jade.

“The plow was made to level the ground, and the needle and thread were made to weave cloth. In the same way, we know that great men are born into this world to accomplish great things.”

Chunhyang slowly but surely expressed her intentions.

“You shouldn’t give up your great ambitions as a man just because of a woman.”

Chunhyang bowed her head politely.

As the letter said, it meant to forget about oneself.

“Chunhyang-ah. I guess you haven’t heard the news yet. I failed the exam this time. And I have a new woman. You seem to be misunderstanding, but I swear to the gods of heaven and earth that such a thing will not happen.”

First, Chunhyang had to clear up the misunderstanding. If she didn’t clear up the misunderstanding that the person she had sworn to love was with someone else, Chunhyang’s already weak condition would get worse.

“Was that so?”

Was it my imagination? Chunhyang’s expression seemed to have relaxed a little.

Seeing the tiny smile on his lips, I think it’s okay to be a little hopeful.

Now, speaking of the plan to rescue Chunhyang-

“I have no regrets that Your Majesty has not forgotten me, a lowly being. However, what I have to say to You is the same.”

As is always the case with everything in life, plans don’t always go as planned.

“Chunhyang. Have you changed your mind?”

When I asked just in case, Chunhyang shook her head strongly.

“No! I will always hold you in my heart. This feeling will not change even when I die and return to the earth.”

“Then why…?”

As he grabbed the bars and brought his face closer, Chunhyang turned her eyes away with a pained expression.

“I just… realized.”

“You realize? Did Magistrate Byun say something to you?”

When Magistrate Byeon was mentioned, Chunhyang’s face frowned.

“I am not one to be swayed by someone who is not like that person.”

“Then tell me. Why are you doing this?”

“I just realized the difference between you and me.”

“Suddenly? Why now?”

Didn’t we meet knowing everything?

Chunhyang turned her head away further and covered her expression.

“No matter how hard I try, I’m still a lowly woman. My lord is a nobleman. You said you’d take me as your wife, but in all of Joseon’s eight provinces, you can’t find a case where the wife of a nobleman’s family is of lowly birth.”

By the way, you even said you were going to take her as your wife. I didn’t know that.

“Do you not trust me? Are you afraid I will change my words?”

“I tell you this because I believe it.”

Silence came after Chunhyang finished speaking.

Only the sound of insects chirping and branches swaying filled the prison.

Chunhyang seemed reluctant to show her face, so she moved her body with difficulty, only showing her small back.

While I was taking in the sight of her looking like she would fall over if I touched her… a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

“if….”

perhaps.

“Have you met my parents?”

As I watched Chunhyang’s shoulders flinch at my words, I felt things were going wrong.