𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗦, Go Won

𝟲𝟰. 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘

"I checked all the boats, but none of them had suffered a mass murder recently." Sang-ho explained. Sang-ho, Yul, and Da-hye were now in the new leader's room discussing the rumor of Naksu. 

"That means someone is lying about Naksu's return." Da-hye said. She kind of suspected that this could be a distraction for something even bigger. 

"Ghost stories about Naksu have always been around." Dang-gu said. "But what is this story about her returning as a soul shifter?" Dang-gu asked.

"Soon, it will be the third anniversary of Naksu's death." Sang-ho said. "They believe she will shift souls and return that day." Sang-ho explained.

"I see. So that is why this rumor spread." Dang-gu sighed. "Uk must feel perturbed. It really is a lousy day for him." Dang-gu said talking about those rice cakes they had eaten.

"I need to know who started the rumor." Yul said. 

"People at Gaema Village spread the rumor now and then to make money selling charms." Dang-gu told Yul. "Do not waste your time."

"Yeah, but the rumor has never spread this much." Da-hye said.

"It all started from that unknow boat." Yul said. "Can you find out who it was that swam out of the lake?" Yul asked Sang-ho. 

"Of course." Sang-ho responded. 

• • •

Da-hye felt like she needed to drink. So she decided to go to Chwiseonru, but when she got there she saw Jin Bu-yeon.

"Young Lady Jin?" Da-hye asked.

Jin Bu-yeon turned around and smiled at Da-hye. "Hello, Young Lady Park." Jin Bu-yeon said.

"What brings you here?" Da-hye asked Jin Bu-yeon. She felt so weird talking to someone who was almost identical to Naksu.

"I am here to see the owner." Jin Bu-yeon explained.

"Oh, I'll leave you to it then." Da-hye smiled as she walked away. When Mu-deok, or well Naksu, was alive, Da-hye did not know much about her other than the fact that she was Naksu, but she did know that Mu-deok was quite close with Ju-wol. 

Da-hye started thinking that maybe, somehow, Jin Bu-yeon shifted her soul into Naksu's body. But then she remembered that Naksu's body had been burned. And anyway, Da-hye was almost 100% sure that the real Jin Bu-yeon had to have been the real Mu-deok. Not to mention, Jin Bu-yeon right now, was the same exact height as Mu-deok. 

Wait, but that made her think, what if after Naksu's soul was gone, Jin Bu-yeon somehow managed to restore her body? And that would kind of explain why she lost her memories. But, that did not explain why she had Naksu's face. Da-hye was thinking too hard about this, that she did not realize that she had been walking around Chwiseonru for a few minutes.

Da-hye looked up to see Eunuch Oh fall down while walking behind the Crown Prince, who happened to be dressed like an Eunuch again. The Crown Prince looked at him and then he looked up to see Da-hye looking at them. And then he forgot about Jang Uk, because he wanted to be with her.

"Your Royal Highness?" Da-hye asked. 

"Da-hye." The Crown Prince smiled. "Come have a drink with me." He told Da-hye as he pulled her closer to him.

"Sure." Da-hye said. 

"I thought you wanted to go back to the palace, Your Royal Highness?" Eunuch Oh asked.

"Forget about it." The Crown Prince told Eunuch Oh. "I am going to stay here with Da-hye."

The Crown Prince and Da-hye went into a room, and they were drinking cinnamon and ginger wine. She and the Crown Prince were sitting next to each other, but facing each other. She usually preferred strong liquor, but this was okay too. The Crown Prince took a few moments to admire Da-hye. 

"Oh, right. Did I tell you?" The Crown Prince asked. Da-hye tilted her head, wondering what he was talking about. "I met this Shaman, she told me I had good energy and she said I should buy this turtle because it had good energy." The Crown Prince explained.

"Did you get the turtle?" Da-hye asked. Why was he listening to other women, especially a Shaman?

"Yes." The Crown Prince nodded his head. "But the Shaman, she seemed to be really stupid." The Crown Prince explained.

"Stupid?" Da-hye asked.

"I told her I was from the Go family, and she called me Eunuch Go." The Crown Prince said.

"Was it that day you were dressed like an Eunuch?" Da-hye asked. 

"Yes." The Crown Prince responded. "I saw her a few moments ago, she was here to sell the owner some charms." The Crown Prince explained. "We started talking about how her husband left home and had not come back." The Crown Prince said.

Da-hye scoffed. She did not even think about how much this Shaman seemed like Jin Bu-yeon, because she was angry and jealous that the Crown Prince was talking about another woman right in front of Da-hye.

"What...What is wrong?" The Crown Prince asked a bit startled by the glare that Da-hye was giving him.

"You must enjoy talking about other women in front of me, do you not?" Da-hye furrowed her eyebrows.

"Why?" The Crown Prince asked. "Does it make you jealous?" The Crown Prince smiled. He loved the thought of Da-hye being jealous.

"Yes, it very much does!" Da-hye shouted. She was about to stand up when the Crown Prince wrapped his hand around her waist to pull her towards him. Now, she was basically sitting on his lap. "Your Royal Highn-" Da-hye was interrupted by the Crown Prince pressing his lips onto hers. 

Da-hye placed her left hand on the back of the Crown Prince's neck and her right hand placed on his chest. He had his right hand wrapped around her waist and his left hand on the back of her head. Da-hye knew that it was probably wrong to do this, but she could not help herself.

The Crown Prince pulled away from her. "You know that I am only yours, right?" The Crown Prince asked as he moved his hand down to her cheek to admire her. Da-hye nodded her head in response. He leaned in again to kiss her.