THE AUTUMN'S MOON - Alchemy Of Souls

--four

– Lee Byeol –

BYEOL TOOK a sip from her tea as she stared at the flowers that had been placed in a vase. Her lips pouted as she gazed longingly at one specific flower.

"He acts differently when he's around Eun-jeong than me." She huffed sadly. Her head turned outside the window and looked at her supposed 'fiance' walking around with Park Dang-gu, seemingly to have returned from Cheonbugwan after they had witnessed the cremation of the Shadow Assassin, Naksu.

She sighed once more. "Would he treat me like her if I took off my veil?" She wondered before returning to her tea and enjoyed her moment of silence as she waited for Seo-ho returned from his visit with his friend from the brothel.

– Seo Yul –

NIGHT HAD dawned, and Yul had occupied himself in his study once more ever since he'd returned from Cheonbugwan. He had forgotten to eat as he'd been focusing so much on his readings, that he forgot to look at the time. He'd stretched his aching body and stood up while packing the books away and placed them back in the shelves, before leaving.

On his way to get dinner, Yul thought of Byeol whom he had not seen for almost the rest of the day. He'd been with Eun-jeong for half of the day, and not once had he thought of his fiance other than the time Eun-jeong brought her up. Because of her, he'd learned some little things about Byeol. Like;

1. The Lady enjoys reading more frequently and would like to be a librarian if she was not given the role as Daeho's protector.

2. Byeol had a mischievous side – which Yul found it hard to believe but because of his little knowledge of Byeol, he couldn't debate. Eun-jeong had told him of the time where Byeol would find a hiding place and hide there which caused a mass hysteria.

3. She prefers to sleep with the window open, so she can see the moon.

The last one, Yul had thought how dangerous it was. Telling the servant what if someone had entered through the window, but once Eun-jeong explained the reason behind it, his heart softened.

There's more to Byeol that he'd never know of, and tonight he wanted to at least change that by inviting her to have dinner with him.

Once he'd reached her room, he'd paused first. Looking down at his clothes and inspecting for any imperfection before slowly knocking her door. "Lady Lee, are you inside?" He voiced out. "It's me, Seo Yul."

When he heard no response from the other side, he slowly slid the door open and carefully looked around inside. Thankfully, there were no occupants inside as the room was empty and the lady was nowhere to be found. He stepped in, thinking it was best to wait for her inside rather than standing awkwardly in front of her door.

His eyes took in the state of her room which was decorated neatly. Paintings and books were scattered in the corner near the window– he assumed that's where she spent her time the most as there is a plate of honey cookies left on the table. Yul Secretly took one.

Then he observed the room more until something caught his attention and he zeroed onto the blanketed object.

Curiosed, Yul approached it cautiously. His hands reached towards its direction as his body moved further as if the hidden object was calling to him. Beckoning him to come closer.

However, as his fingers brushed against the fabric, the door suddenly opened and he heard a female gasp.

"Yul!"

His hand dropped immediately at the sound of her voice and he turned around with wide panic eyes. "Eun-jeong ah–"

"Are you waiting for the Lady?" The young woman asked as she closed the door and approached him. Placing the sword beside Byeol's bed along the way. When he nodded, Eun-jeong continued. "Byeol is getting ready for bed with the help of Maidservant Jung."