In the prosperous kingdom of Kwangya, Queen Karina's reign is unmatched, but she longs for something to fill the void in her heart. When Winter, a time traveler from 2024, is imprisoned in the castle, Karina is immediately captivated by her intellig...
In the middle of the night, before dawn had even begun to lighten the sky, I sensed a presence in my room. A shiver ran down my spine as I lay there, eyes closed, trying to discern the sound of approaching footsteps.
"Who is that?" I whispered into the silence, my heart racing with a mix of fear and curiosity. The air felt charged with tension, and every sense was on high alert.
The footsteps drew nearer, slow and deliberate, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to prickle. I strained to listen, trying to distinguish any familiar sound or voice, but all I could hear was the soft rustle of fabric and the hushed breathing of the intruder.
My mind raced with possibilities. Was it an assassin sent to harm me? A servant with urgent news? Or perhaps someone with more sinister intentions, drawn by the chaos that had engulfed the palace?
I dared not open my eyes, fearing what I might see. Instead, I focused on regulating my breathing, willing myself to remain calm despite the rising sense of unease.
As the footsteps halted near my bedside, a tense silence enveloped the room. I held my breath, waiting for the next move, my fingers curling instinctively around the edge of the blanket.
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Without warning, I felt a touch on my face, a cool sensation against my skin. Panic surged through me, and in a reflexive response, I jerked awake and instinctively swung my fist toward the source of the touch.
But before my punch could connect, strong hands intercepted my wrist, halting my motion mid-air. I froze, eyes wide with alarm, as I realized who had intruded into my room.
"J-Jimin!?" I stammered, disbelief and confusion mingling in my voice.
"Woah, you scared me with that," Jimin said, her voice a mix of surprise and amusement as she held my punch with ease.
My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline still coursing through me. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. "What... what are you doing here?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, still processing the surreal encounter.
In the quiet of the night, Jimin didn't utter a word. Instead, she embraced Winter tightly, her arms wrapping around her with a mixture of exhaustion and vulnerability. Winter, still reeling from the sudden wake-up call and the adrenaline of their earlier confrontation, felt a surge of concern and compassion.
"What's wrong?" Winter whispered softly, her own arms encircling Jimin in a comforting hold. She felt the tension in Jimin's body, the weariness that seemed to weigh her down despite her usual poise.
Jimin sat beside Winter on the bed, clinging to her as if seeking solace in the warmth of their embrace. Her head rested against Winter's neck, her breaths coming out in quiet sighs that carried a hint of distress.
