Chapter 70: Sleeping Together…? (2)

It was late at night, the moon hanging high in the sky.

A futon was laid out.

The room was dimly lit, barely illuminated by a single candle.

And then, a man and a woman.

There was no way anyone wouldn’t know what this meant.

It wasn’t like I hadn’t experienced this in my past life. I could tell what kind of situation this was.

The only problem was the other person.

“…Why are we like this?”

Namgung Bi-ah wore an expression of confusion, as if she didn’t understand the intention behind my question.

No matter how I looked at it, she seemed to have prepared and intended this situation, but the other person was none other than Namgung Bi-ah.

There was no way that clueless girl could have thought up and created this situation.

I asked Namgung Bi-ah.

“You were given… two rooms, weren’t you? Why are you here like this?”

“…They said… there were no rooms?”

“Who said that?”

“The Sect Leader…”

The Plum Blossom Fairy?

Hwasan isn’t some small neighborhood sect; there’s no way they only have one annex!

Before my doubts could even settle, Elder Shin butted in.

[Throughout the generations, the Sect Leaders of Hwasan have always been quick-witted, and quick to act, you know.]

‘…Didn’t you just ask what the Hwasan Sect was a moment ago?’

[…Life is just like that, isn’t it.]

Looking at Namgung Bi-ah, I saw she had changed her clothes and her hair was slightly damp.

Bathed in moonlight, her already snow-white skin seemed to glow.

Perhaps it was the situation, but she seemed even more radiant.

“…Hmph.”

Still, why is she acting like this?

As clueless as she is, could she really not know what this situation entails?

Namgung Bi-ah in front of me still had a blank expression. Watching her, I thought.

‘…She really is damnably beautiful.’

Namgung Bi-ah, sitting so demurely on the futon bathed in moonlight, was truly, overwhelmingly beautiful.

In my past life, I had felt the overwhelming, cruel, and cold aura she exuded as the Sword Empress, but…

…the innocent purity and delicate beauty she possessed in this life held a different kind of charm.

‘Her face is her weapon.’

Even if I denied everything else, I couldn’t deny one thing: Namgung Bi-ah was beautiful.

Especially when our gazes met…

If my past self, at this age, had been facing Namgung Bi-ah like this, I wouldn’t have been able to maintain my sanity.

I might have completely fallen for her, grinning foolishly.

‘Now?’

Could I maintain it now?

I couldn’t be sure.

That’s how captivating Namgung Bi-ah was right now.

My thoughts kept swirling, so I frowned and turned my back.

I felt like I shouldn’t stay any longer.

“…It seems there was some kind of issue, so please sleep here, young lady, and I will sleep with the guards.”

I can just ask for another room tomorrow; they’re the Namgung family, after all. Surely they wouldn’t refuse?

[Crazy…]

I knew exactly what Elder Shin would say, so I had no intention of listening.

I was just thinking about getting out of here quickly, but then.

Squeeeze.

I stumbled back as I felt someone tugging my sleeve.

Turning around, I saw Namgung Bi-ah firmly gripping my sleeve.

She was holding on so tight, it was difficult to pull away.

“What are you…”

“Don’t go.”

Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes were resolute as she said it.

What should I say?

What on earth should I say…?

“Then, should we… sleep together then…”

“We can’t?”

“What’s the reason we can…?”

“Because we’re engaged… fiancé(e)s.”

As Namgung Bi-ah spoke, her expression was strange, as if she wasn’t sure.

Namgung Bi-ah, lost in thought as if pondering the reason for a long time, spoke with trembling lips.

“We’ll just… hold hands… and sleep…”

“Huh?”

What? …Did I hear that wrong?

What did I just hear?

I froze as if struck by immense shock, but Namgung Bi-ah, who had actually said it, looked perfectly calm.

Isn’t this something the other person is supposed to say…?

As if realizing something was strange even to herself, Namgung Bi-ah asked.

“…Isn’t this right?”

“Young lady, where did you hear that?”

“…Honghwa said this is how you do it.”

Honghwa… wasn’t that the name of the attendant who always stuck with Wi Seol-ah?

When did they even become friends…?

Perhaps because nothing was making sense, Namgung Bi-ah’s thoughtful expression was slightly amusing.

The fact that she’d casually uttered words she didn’t understand.

And the fact that I was the one who heard it.

Because of that, I let out an involuntary chuckle, and Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes widened.

“You laughed…”

“…Sorry, it was just a bit funny for a moment.”

“You laughed at me.”

“No…”

I was about to try and explain, thinking she might be offended.

But I immediately shut my mouth.

I had no choice.

Because Namgung Bi-ah was smiling.

Just a little, but enough to be clearly visible, a smile graced her face.

Seeing that, as if entranced, my hand reached out and touched Namgung Bi-ah’s cheek.

It was my own hand that had reached out.

What is this crazy bastard doing?

Startled by my own involuntary action, I tried to pull my hand back immediately, but I couldn’t.

Because Namgung Bi-ah gently cupped my hand against her cheek.

I felt warmth from her hand.

Namgung Bi-ah’s cheek was cold, but…

…my hand was always warm due to the cultivation technique within my body.

However, unlike her cool face, her hand wrapping around mine was warmer than expected.

The subtle emotions visible on her face made even me, who tried to ignore them, falter.

Namgung Bi-ah leaned her cheek against my hand and said.

“…Let’s sleep together.”

Her cheeks were flushed, unlike usual, as she spoke.

---

It was well past the Hour of the Boar (9-11 PM).

My body was quite exhausted from running around and getting swept up in things all day, but it was a night I couldn’t easily fall asleep.

Moonlight streamed in through the slightly open window.

The faint light brushed past the hair of Namgung Bi-ah, who was sleeping peacefully.

I was gazing at Namgung Bi-ah’s face.

[She fell asleep quickly, didn’t she.]

Elder Shin, who had been silently quiet for a while, appeared.

I chuckled silently at his voice.

‘Where were you just now?’

[Where would I go? I just took a short nap.]

‘You seem to have slept soundly.’

[Yes, I slept very well.]

Elder Shin doesn’t sleep, nor can he hide somewhere.

He was simply quiet.

Knowing that, I didn’t know whether to be grateful or bewildered.

Elder Shin had quietly withdrawn tactfully as soon as the situation got strange, but it wasn’t the situation he had hoped for.

After all, I hadn’t thought there was any hidden meaning behind Namgung Bi-ah’s intentions.

Namgung Bi-ah had genuinely just asked to sleep together.

In fact, Namgung Bi-ah had fallen asleep instantly after lying down.

If that’s the case, wouldn’t it have been fine to sleep separately?

‘…She does fall asleep quite quickly.’

Perhaps her usual clueless expression is simply because she sleeps a lot?

Such a comical thought crossed my mind.

[What do you think?]

‘About what?’

[About the child sleeping beside you.]

The sudden, intrusive question left me speechless.

It was something I couldn’t easily answer.

Elder Shin must have sensed that, yet he continued speaking as if unaware.

[I know you feel more guilt than affection towards this child.]

‘…’

[I don’t know what sins you’ve committed at your age to carry such a heavy burden, but I don’t think you’re unaware of the story reflected in the way the child looks at you.]

I couldn’t dare to deny it.

I could sense it little by little from Namgung Bi-ah’s actions, which gradually drew closer knowingly or unknowingly, and from the occasional glances she cast my way.

Why.

Why could it be?

Why does Namgung Bi-ah insist on getting involved with me even in this next life?

Did you start harboring strange feelings for someone you had nothing with before?

I slowly reached out towards Namgung Bi-ah, whose soft snores filled the air.

It was to brush away the hair tickling her face.

Just as my hand was about to touch her hair.

-“…Is the moon out…?”

A voice I’d heard countless times echoed.

At the voice that stabbed my heart, the hand that was reaching out retreated into my embrace.

The rain that was falling then hadn’t started yet.

I wanted to prevent that situation from happening as well.

The moon shining outside the window looked the same.

When night fell, she came to mind, the one who used to gaze endlessly at it.

Her final moments, breathing her last in my arms, were still vivid.

‘Not yet.’

I was slowly coming to realize that Namgung Bi-ah was different from her past life.

And furthermore.

The more that was true, the more I realized the Sword Empress was no longer here.

Therefore, I couldn’t approach her easily.

Besides, I hadn’t harbored any feelings for her in the first place.

In the past, it wasn’t a situation where I could let anyone in; I was overwhelmed with other things.

‘What about now?’

I asked myself.

Was it the same now as it was then?

The answer came quickly, but I didn’t solidify my thoughts.

No matter how I looked at it, hesitation remained.

Having lost everything, I was reluctant to grasp anything.

‘…Am I still afraid?’

It’s possible I’m just scared because of what I’ve been through.

Whatever it was, I shouldn’t be so quick to be certain.

Because I was bound to miss out again if I did.

Especially since I heard I was in a situation where I could die at any moment.

Flinch.

Namgung Bi-ah stirred beside me.

Her brow furrowed slightly as if she were having a nightmare, so I gently poked her forehead with my finger.

“…Mmm.”

She made a strange sound and tossed again.

Watching her, the corners of my mouth turned up slightly without me realizing it.

It’s only been a few months since I regressed.

It was still a difficult matter.

---

Night passed, and morning dawned.

The sound of a rooster crowing could be heard in the distance.

Namgung Bi-ah groaned and pushed herself up.

She was always a heavy sleeper, so waking up was always difficult.

Through her hazy mind and blurry vision, she saw someone.

“You’re awake?”

Gu Yangcheon was sitting on the porch outside the door.

‘…Ah.’

Seeing him, Namgung Bi-ah remembered falling asleep with Gu Yangcheon yesterday.

Thanks to that, she was able to sleep without nightmares this time.

She didn’t have the nightmares she usually had, and waking up felt easier than usual.

This was the peace she could only attain after meeting him.

Perhaps because she slept so much closer to him than usual, that feeling was particularly strong today.

Gu Yangcheon looked at Namgung Bi-ah and said.

“I didn’t expect you to fall asleep so quickly.”

“…I was sleepy.”

“Wipe the sleep from your eyes first.”

“…!”

At his words, Namgung Bi-ah hurriedly rubbed her eyes, but strangely, she felt nothing.

Gu Yangcheon watched her, a smile playing on his lips, and said.

“Just kidding. There’s nothing there.”

“…?”

Namgung Bi-ah, who had been glaring slightly at Gu Yangcheon, wondering what strange prank this was first thing in the morning, sensed something was off.

Something was different from usual.

Was it a feeling? No…

What was different?

As Namgung Bi-ah pondered, Gu Yangcheon asked.

“I’m going to eat. Want some?”

“I’ll eat… Ah!”

Only then did Namgung Bi-ah realize what was strange.

Informal speech.

At some point, Gu Yangcheon had started speaking informally to her.

The sharp edge she usually felt, the sense of forced distance, had also disappeared.

All in the span of one night.

Realizing this, Namgung Bi-ah felt a thumping sensation in her chest.

‘…Why?’

What kind of feeling was this?

Namgung Bi-ah couldn’t tell.

“Why.”

To Gu Yangcheon’s question, Namgung Bi-ah shook her head vigorously.

She didn’t bring it up, just in case he changed his tone back immediately if she mentioned it.

Gu Yangcheon slowly got to his feet.

It must be because he said he was going to eat.

Namgung Bi-ah saw that and tried to get up as well.

“Young Master! I’m here…”

“Ah…”

Wi Seol-ah, whom she hadn’t seen yesterday, suddenly opened the door and appeared.

Wi Seol-ah, who had burst in cheerfully, froze the moment she saw the two of them.

Likewise, Gu Yangcheon froze like a rock when his eyes met Wi Seol-ah’s.

Gu Yangcheon even seemed to have a bead of cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

Amidst that subtly chilling atmosphere, only Namgung Bi-ah’s face remained serene.