Back home, Winter is trying to settle back into her routine, hoping for some peace after her recent adventures. However, the arrival of Karina Yoo, the beautiful VIP investor, stirs up unresolved emotions and echoes from her past. Karina's presence...
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The air was thick with a somber stillness as Winter and Karina walked side by side through the quiet graveyard. The distant chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze seemed like an intrusion, too lively for a place that held so much grief. Rows of stone markers stretched out across the landscape, each one a testament to a life lived, a story told.
Winter's gaze was fixed straight ahead, her expression calm but her eyes shadowed with emotion. She walked with purpose, as though she'd been here many times before, her hand tightly gripping Karina's. For Karina, the setting felt unfamiliar, almost intimidating. She couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, not just because of where they were, but because of the reason Winter had brought her here.
The pair stopped in front of a modest grave marker, and Winter released Karina's hand, stepping forward. Karina's gaze fell upon the inscription etched into the smooth stone.
In Loving Memory of Queen Jimin Yoo Forever cherished and never forgotten
Karina's breath caught in her throat. This was it—the moment Winter had told her about, when she'd finally meet Jimin, Winter's first love. The one who had come before her, long before, during a time Karina couldn't begin to comprehend: the Joseon era. The woman who, as Winter had confessed, still held a piece of her heart even centuries later.
Winter knelt down in front of the grave, her fingers brushing lightly over the inscription. Her voice was barely a whisper when she spoke, but it carried a weight of a thousand untold stories. "Jimin... it's been a while," she said, a faint smile touching her lips. "I finally brought someone I wanted you to meet."
Karina felt a strange mix of emotions—jealousy, curiosity, and a deep sadness that she couldn't quite place. It was one thing to hear Winter talk about Jimin, but it was another to be here, standing in front of the grave of a woman who had once held Winter's heart. She stepped forward slowly, unsure of what to say, her fingers trembling slightly as she reached out to touch Winter's shoulder.
"Winter," Karina began softly, "I—"
"It's okay," Winter cut her off gently, her eyes still on the grave. "I wanted you to know about her. To know about us." She took a deep breath, as though trying to steady herself. "Jimin was... my first everything," she continued, her voice quiet and filled with emotion. "We met when I was accidentally transported back to joseon era through one of Giselles machines. "
Karina knelt down beside her, her eyes drifting from Winter to the grave marker. "I can't imagine how hard that must have been," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It was," Winter replied, a distant look clouding her gaze. "The Error Experiment—back when Giselle was still perfecting time manipulation—sent me back to that era. That's where I met her. I didn't intend to fall in love, but... I did. She was like fire and serenity all at once, so full of life. Jimin was the type of person who drew you in without even trying." Her lips curled into a wistful smile, and she glanced at Karina. "She reminded me of you, sometimes."
