𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 | 정원

39

When Ji-ah thought she was finally succumbing to the water, a pair of arms pulled her up.

She was yanked out of the icy depths, the freezing wind stinging her soaked face.

"Ji-ah, can you hear me?" a familiar voice called over the roar of the river.

She felt herself being lowered onto solid ground. Ji-ah coughed violently, water spilling from her mouth as her chest heaved for air.

Her wet hair clung to her face, her body trembling uncontrollably.

The cold seeped into her bones, and for a moment, she thought she was going to die of hypothermia.

"Ji-ah?"

Her gaze flickered upward, her vision blurred. Through the haze, she saw Sunoo's face, his hazel eyes filled with worry as he looked down at her.

"You're safe now," he said gently, his voice steady despite the chaos around them. "Let's get you out of here."

Unable to say anything, Ji-ah only nodded weakly.

Her eyelids fluttered, heavy with exhaustion. As she closed them, the sound of the rushing river faded away, and the relentless cold began to dissipate.

At first, there as nothing. Then, she felt as if an invisible force pulled her to a surface.

...

"... are you..." a voice faded in and out.

...

"Ji-ah," Another voice broke through the haze. "Come back. Step away from the dream."

Ji-ah gasped as her eyes flew open, her chest rising and falling as though she'd been holding her breath. The room came back into focus—the soft light, the faint lavender scent, and the therapist's steady gaze.

"You're safe," she said gently, her hand resting lightly on Ji-ah's arm.

"She's awake!"

She blinked, her surroundings coming into focus.

"Ji-ah," Jungwon's face appeared above hers, worry etched in every feature. "Are you okay?"

"I..." she hesitated, struggling to piece together reality from the lingering fragments of the dream. The sensation of icy water still clung to her skin.

"I'm back," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Jungwon nodded, his relief evident. "Yes, you're back. Don't worry."

Ji-ah slowly turned her head, scanning the room. All the princes were gathered, their expressions ranging from concern to quiet anticipation.

Her gaze settled on Sunoo, who was sitting nearby. As soon as her eyes found him, he stood and shifted slightly, as though giving her space.

Ji-ah stared at him, her memories from the dream replaying vividly in her mind.

Sunoo met her gaze and held it, offering her a faint, almost hesitant smile.

"You've been through a lot," Sunoo said quietly, his voice softer than she expected. "But you're safe now.

Ji-ah slowly sat up, as she became acutely aware of all the eyes on her in the room.

"You saved me," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

"Yes," Sunoo replied simply, his tone steady.

The tension in the room thickened. Someone cleared their throat, breaking the moment.

"Ji-ah, the person you saw in the dream—" Sunoo began cautiously.