Chapter Fifteen: Buried Clues

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The week dragged on with the same pattern. Ho-Yeon continued to keep her distance from Wonwoo, spending her days with Minghao and avoiding her responsibilities in the kitchen. The more she distanced herself, the more she began to overthink the situation. Was Wonwoo purposely appearing wherever she was? She couldn't shake the feeling that his presence was deliberate, as if he was always within sight, watching her from afar.

Ho-Yeon's mind was a whirlwind of confusion and anxiety. She would catch herself staring out of the window, looking for glimpses of Wonwoo. His occasional presence, whether in the courtyard or during official events, seemed to be a constant reminder of the unresolved emotions she was trying to avoid.

Minghao, oblivious to the inner turmoil Ho-Yeon was experiencing, continued to play the role of her confidant and distraction. They would sit together in the garden, the soft breeze rustling the leaves around them as they talked about trivial matters or simply enjoyed each other's company.

"You seem distracted," Minghao observed one day, his tone casual yet probing. "Is everything alright?"

Ho-Yeon hesitated, unsure of how to voice the thoughts that had been consuming her. "It's just... I keep feeling like Wonwoo is always around. Even when he's not directly interacting with me, I can feel his presence. It's unsettling."

Minghao's expression softened slightly, though he remained playful. "Well, it sounds like you're more aware of him than you realize. Maybe you're just reading too much into it."

Ho-Yeon's gaze dropped to the ground. "Maybe."

The week dragged on with the same relentless pattern. Ho-Yeon's deliberate distance from Wonwoo had become a daily routine. She spent her days with Xu Minghao, although lately, Minghao's presence was more of a distraction than a comfort. Ho-Yeon had resolved to focus on the investigation and avoid her responsibilities in the kitchen, but her thoughts were consumed by the unsettling feeling of being watched.

As each day passed, Ho-Yeon found herself increasingly consumed by anxiety. The sight of Wonwoo, whether in the courtyard or during official events, seemed to be a constant reminder of the unresolved emotions she was trying so hard to avoid. It was as if he was always just within sight, his presence a persistent shadow that refused to fade away.

Ho-Yeon would often catch herself staring out of the window, searching for any sign of Wonwoo. Her thoughts spiraled as she wondered if his appearances were mere coincidences or if there was a deliberate intention behind them. The more she tried to ignore him, the more she felt his gaze lingering on her, adding to her sense of confusion and frustration.

On this particular day, Ho-Yeon was absorbed in her work on the investigation. The sense of urgency in her pursuit of answers was palpable, but she struggled to focus. The case of the empress's assassination had become more complex with each passing day, and the lack of progress was starting to wear on her.

A colleague of hers, a merchant who had witnessed the assassination, approached her with an anxious expression. His clothes were disheveled, and he appeared to be sweating profusely, a stark contrast to the usually composed demeanor she was used to seeing from him.

"Ho-Yeon," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "Have you learned anything about the ministers?" I asked in worried tone.

Ho-Yeon looked up from her notes, her eyes filled with determination. "Not yet. We're still piecing together the evidence. Do you have any updates on what you've seen?"

The merchant wiped his brow with the back of his hand, clearly distressed. "All I know is that one of them might be the mastermind, but they're not the one who actually carried out the killing. We still need to find more clues to narrow it down."

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