Sayeol dreamed an old dream.
10 years, 50 years. No, it was surely from 100 years ago....
It was a blizzard so strong that one couldn't see an inch ahead.
A disaster rare even in the barren North Sea. Everywhere was covered in over four feet of snow. But the white and blue palace stood intact, as if unaffected by the snow disaster feared by humans.
The Ice Palace, a place inhabited by women treated as part of the Unorthodox Faction by those of the Orthodox Faction. They simply did not walk one path, and the path they walked was the path of snow. It was just something ordinary humans couldn't understand.
The snow was blowing so fiercely that the face of the friend standing right in front of her was invisible. A woman with hair turned white spoke to a black-haired woman.
"Leave now."
The woman spoke in a voice cold as ice. As if driving her away, but the black-haired woman answered without caring.
"The Heavenly Demon is coming."
Silence. But soon the black-haired woman opened her mouth.
"You cannot handle him."
The woman of the Ice Palace, who had been speaking in a cold voice, fleetingly smiled a smile that didn't match her cold tone.
"I know. But, leave."
"Seol."
"The one that man is after is you."
The black-haired woman's mouth, which had been half-open, closed.
"I want to protect you. I owe you my life. There is no one among the women of the Ice Palace who does not owe you their life. Now it is our turn to protect you."
Black hair fluttered violently in the cold wind. Because of the hair flying like demon's fingers, her face was not visible. She stood there, then turned away heartlessly without a goodbye.
Han Seol of the Ice Palace also said nothing. She only pictured the face of her friend, who would be clenching her teeth, in her mind.
"Go far away. To a place he cannot find."
Watching the black shadow getting further away, Han Seol recited like a poem.
"We will become your wall. Survive with that tenacious life of yours that has survived time and again."
Amidst the fierce blue snow, it smelled like blood from afar.
"Survive and forget."
Seol knew that she, who had gone far away, would be listening.
"Forget me who threw away my life for you, forget us. And so live like a bird. Live peacefully like a fool, covering your eyes and blocking your ears."
The cold voice gradually took on the heat of anger.
"Only do not forget what that man you adored did to you."
She, who had been like ice and snow over a thousand years old, laughed hollowly in the heavy snow.
"Woman whom the Heavenly Demon loved."
A sorrowful whisper continued.
"...My beloved ―."
Only her name was buried under the sound of piling snow.
The black hair was no longer visible, and the whole world began to turn white, then was dyed in darkness as if eyes were closed.
"Kyaaaak-!"
An ear-piercing scream woke her from her reverie. The dream she had just when she opened her eyes. A memory she didn't know belonged to another or herself.
When she came to her senses, the front of the main gate had instantly become a chaotic mess. So-hwa covered her mouth with both hands and looked at the back of her small Young Miss.
White hair pale like a sick person, a small back. Shabby clothes and shoes.
And the red hairpin gripped in that hand. After checking up to there, So-hwa was startled and stumbled. She wanted to collapse right then and there, but she had no luxury to do so.
"Young Miss...!"
Before she could think of anything more concrete, So-hwa moved her steps quickly.
"Come here...!"
The girl's hand tightly grabbed Sayeol's hand. The weak body was easily dragged along as So-hwa led.
'I must protect the Young Miss.'
That was the only thing that came to So-hwa's mind.
But even so, So-hwa was also just a young girl who had turned fifteen.
So-hwa ran to Sayeol's annex room like a frightened beast finding its nest.
"Call a physician!"
"Family Head!"
"Is anyone, anyone there!"
Shouts were heard from behind. So-hwa had no time to listen to them.
Slide-!
She urgently opened the paper sliding door and pushed Sayeol in.
Thud, only after pushing her own body into the room did So-hwa look around.
It was a room without proper household goods, but she moved her body recklessly for now.
She piled the horn-inlaid chest, the bedside table, the reading desk, and small cabinets blindly in front of the door.
'T-This won't be enough.'
She had caused trouble with the blind intention of protecting Sayeol, but realizing it now, they were rats in a trap.
"A-Are you alright. Young Miss? Is, is there anywhere you are hurt...."
So-hwa stammered and approached Sayeol. Sayeol was standing in front of the window where light was faintly coming in, staring blankly at So-hwa.
"W-Why...."
The question of why she did such a thing rose to her throat belatedly. But So-hwa shut her mouth tight and swallowed it. Such things were not important right now.
"Young Miss. Listen to me carefully."
So-hwa approached Sayeol and held her two arms tightly. The air in the room was chilly.
"If I hold out in this room, people will think the Young Miss is here."
"...."
Tears poured down drop by drop from So-hwa's eyes. She knelt in front of Sayeol and spoke as if she had become an adult.
"I will try to hold out as long as possible. Young Miss, go through the small door and run unconditionally to the mountain."
She said so despite being a year younger than Sayeol.
"Run away."
The child said with tearful but firm eyes.
"Run far away and live happily."
Looking down at So-hwa, who pronounced each word clearly though her voice trembled, Sayeol finally opened her mouth.
"Why?"
"Pardon?"
"Why are you going this far?"
It was completely different from Sayeol's usual voice, which was small and stammering.
At Sayeol's flat question, So-hwa bit her lip tightly with a tear-soaked face and smiled.
"An epidemic circulated once when we were young. Do you remember my mother passing away from that illness?"
Sayeol slowly tilted her head. And she spoke as if recalling something from a very long time ago belatedly.
"I think that happened."
"Back then, I caught it too. That illness."
"...."
"It was you, Young Miss, who kept me, who was about to be thrown out because it was an epidemic, in the annex and nursed me yourself."
Tears poured from So-hwa's two eyes, enough to soak her cheeks.
"So I must repay you now."
The hands of So-hwa, now fifteen, were trembling.
How could she not be scared? How could she not be afraid? But even so, this small girl risked her life to protect her Young Miss.
Sayeol looked down at So-hwa, who looked almost sorrowful, and soon stroked the child's small cheek with her white, thin hand.
"Nothing has changed."
Sayeol said as if sighing.
"100 years have passed, yet the world hasn't changed."
Like an old person who has lived through everything in the world.
"Child, So-hwa."
Sayeol's white fingers flowed to the back of So-hwa's neck. Like a snake.
"It is alright."
"...Pardon?"
So-hwa opened her tear-soaked eyes wide.
"What do you...."
What do you mean, Young Miss. Before So-hwa could continue those words, cold fingertips sharply pressed somewhere on the back of her neck.
Thud.
In an instant, So-hwa felt her vision turning pitch black. Her dizzying thoughts stopped all at once, and strength drained from her whole body.
"Y-Young Miss...."
Holding on forcibly out of worry for Sayeol lasted only a moment, and soon the child's body collapsed into Sayeol's embrace.
"When you wake up after a nap, everything will be resolved."
Sayeol laid So-hwa's head on her lap and slowly stroked that black hair.
"Shh...."
Her breathing sound seemed like an adult dealing with a child, or like it contained the meaning to hush, hold one's breath, and hide.
"100 years, huh."
She muttered quietly.
"The price will be paid dearly."
Whether it be the Namgung Clan, or someone else who betrayed her.
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