THWCS 23

Chapter 23

It had already been two sijin (four hours) since Yeongwon began waiting for I-shin in front of Yeon-gyeong Hall.

The reason she waited was because they needed to discuss the Curse of Dream Delirium.

Of course, it had taken more courage than she expected to come here and find him.

Strictly speaking, this whole disaster had started because she had carelessly pressed her jade pendant against his.

And to make matters worse, the supposed way to break the curse… was marriage between the two of them.

Marriage.

— “Are you planning to go through with this engagement? I’m not.”

Remembering his blunt rejection, Yeongwon’s lips curled in disappointment.

In hindsight, she should have said something too — that she had never even heard of such an engagement, that marriage was never her intention in the first place.

“What now?”

Lost in thought, her head drooping lower and lower, Yeongwon looked up.

Standing about half a jang (a meter and a half) away, I-shin was watching her with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Oh… you’re here. I’ve been waiting.”

“You can see that.”

His curt reply came as soon as she opened her mouth, making her press her lips together.

She hadn’t known him for long, but she already understood that this man — a swordsman through and through — was neither gentle nor considerate with his words.

And since he’d been dragged into a curse because of her, she had no right to complain.

Yeongwon steadied her breath and spoke again.

“I thought we needed to discuss something, Master.”

“What sort of discussion?”

“…The curse. The Curse of Dream Delirium.”

Answering without thinking, Yeongwon was puzzled by his detached, almost indifferent attitude.

Was she the only one who had been told that failing to fulfill the vow would lead to a wasting death within a year?

How could he look so calm when he might die from this curse?

Before she could think further, I-shin spoke.

“So, what exactly did you want to discuss?”

“Well, how we might avoid the curse…”

“Oh, how we might avoid the curse?”

A crooked smirk tugged at his lips, as if he had already guessed what she was about to say.

Despite his nonchalant tone, Yeongwon pressed on, determined to keep this “discussion” civil.

“First, I wanted to apologize, Master. I didn’t have the chance to say it earlier. I’m truly sorry that you were dragged into this because of me.”

Yeongwon bowed deeply, sincerity in every movement.

The same with the Eoduksini incident, and now this — she hadn’t meant any harm, but she had caused him trouble again.

And this time, it concerned their very lives.

She had resolved to accept whatever reproach he might hurl her way.

But the response that came from above her head was something she hadn’t expected.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Yeongwon blinked in disbelief.

Had she heard him right?

While she was still processing it, she saw the hem of his dark-blue robe brush past her line of sight.

He had walked right past her into Yeon-gyeong Hall.

Flustered, Yeongwon hurried after him.

“What do you mean, it doesn’t matter? What are you saying?”

“Exactly what I said.”

“So… you mean you don’t care if you die?”

“Everyone dies.”

Yeongwon was at a loss for words.

As she stood there gaping, he turned away again as if finished with the conversation.

Yeongwon, growing desperate, followed him quickly.

“But I don’t want to die yet. I can’t die.”

At that, I-shin paused, just as he was stepping over the threshold to the inner room, and looked back at her.

“And you shouldn’t die either, Master — not because of some curse.”

Yeongwon blurted the words out, her tone unrestrained.

Then, realizing how bold she had sounded, she swallowed dryly.

She had spent hours before and during her wait here trying to figure out what to say — how to convey her guilt and convince him to face this crisis together.

No matter what words she chose, everything had felt inadequate.

She had never in her life spoken so shamelessly or caused trouble for someone before.

Her face grew hot, and her ears flushed red.

But she knew now that she had to change.

As a sheltered maiden, all the virtues she had been taught — decorum, modesty, chastity, restraint — were useless for the road ahead.

Her beloved parents were gone.

She could no longer be a flower in a vase, waiting for someone else to water and tend her.

Even if she had to bloom in dry soil, by the roadside, or on the edge of a cliff, she had to survive like a stubborn weed.

And at this moment, there was only one way to survive.

“Please marry me.”

Yeongwon clenched her fists at her sides and blurted it out — then froze.

She had never once imagined she would say such words aloud in her entire life.

I-shin looked equally taken aback.

“Do you even know what you’re saying?”

“If you don’t know any other way to break this Curse of Dream Delirium, then please, marry me.”

Yeongwon took a step closer, closing the distance between them.

“Because of my rashness, I’ve put your life in danger. I’ll take responsibility.”

At that, I-shin suddenly gave a soft, amused laugh.

Then he stepped back out through the side door, descended the stairs, and stopped right in front of her.

“You’ll take responsibility? For me?”

Repeating her words as if savoring them, I-shin suddenly leaned forward.

Yeongwon stiffened as his handsome face drew close to hers.

She had never been this near to a man before — her heart was pounding wildly.

The faint scent of pine clung to him, and the weight of his presence made her hold her breath.

For all his unpredictable temperament, there was no denying how striking he was.

Sharp features, clean lines, piercing eyes, a neat nose with a tiny mole at its tip, and lips that curved slightly even when unsmiling — there was not a single flaw to be found.

She was no worldly woman, but Yeongwon thought dazedly that few men could match him in beauty.

And then he said,

“Who gave you permission to take responsibility for me? You’re dreaming big, Ha Yeongwon.”

Yeongwon snapped back to herself, locking eyes with him.

“I have no intention of marrying. Not anyone.”

“But if we don’t, the curse— is there another way besides marriage?”

“I don’t know.”

His indifferent reply ignited something inside her.

“Then please marry me. You said everyone dies, didn’t you? That’s true. Someday we all will. But until then, shouldn’t we do everything we can to live? You might not care when or how you die, Master, but must I die with you because of that?”

Her voice rose with emotion, her chest heaving.

Then she bowed her head, guilt washing over her again at the thought that he had been cursed because of her.

But I-shin’s faint smile only grew colder.

“Ridiculous. How shameless. So in the end, you just want to use me to save yourself.”

“Yes! Is that so wrong? You and I are already bound together. We live or die as one. So this marriage must happen!”

For a brief moment, her conscience pricked — but she stood her ground.

She could not sugarcoat the truth.

He was right — ultimately, she was doing this to survive.

But it wasn’t that his life didn’t matter to her.

She felt genuine guilt and responsibility — and truly believed that surviving together was the only way forward.

“Do you think marriage is that easy?”

“I never said it was. A lifelong bond between man and woman is never easy.”

“Then how can you talk about marrying me? Just because your life’s on the line?”

“What’s wrong with you, Master?”