Areum looked at the evening sky through her bedroom window. The soft orange hue danced behind the clouds — and for the first time, she didn't miss tall buildings, modern cafes, or her phone. She only… missed someone she just met in this world.
"Wang Joon..." she whispered softly, hugging her pillow.
Many times she repeated to herself: this is just a dream. Maybe after falling from a building roof and waking up in front of someone in hanbok, her mind created this strange world. But the feelings she had every time their eyes met — were not illusions.
Since her 'crazy mission' in the last chapter, Wang Joon appeared more frequently. Every time he appeared, he would give that crooked smile that made Areum's heartbeat skip a beat.
And now… Areum realized. She no longer wanted to go back. If it's just a dream, she wanted to stay asleep longer.
In the palace garden, Areum was watering the flowers while softly singing a BTS song. Lady Hyeon, Sora, and Jimin, loyal by her side, could only giggle softly.
"Agassi, why aren't you like other princesses? Singing and watering flowers every day… but the prince's heart can also fall?"
Areum choked on a splash of flower water. "Huh?! Who said Wang Joon fell in love?!"
Soa covered her mouth. "Err… everyone says so. Even… Queen Mother heard it too…"
Areum froze. "Oh no…"
**Palace of the Empress — That Afternoon**
"The Queen Mother wishes to meet you," a gentle guard said politely to Areum.
Nervous. Panicked. Areum swallowed her saliva. "Why… now?"
With heavy steps, Areum walked down the long corridor towards the Empress's chamber. Her heart thumped nonstop. She didn't know if this was the final scene of her 'dream' — or the beginning of something bigger.
Standing in front of the door, she paused for a moment and took a deep breath.
> "If this is a dream… I will keep walking until it ends. With a pounding heart, and a heart that doesn't want to wake."
To Be Continued…