STVS 23

Chapter 23

Sibi apologized to Iyeon and poured the jujubes into the wooden barrel. It seemed like he planned to disguise the barrel as a jujube container and take Iyeon away.

Iyeon cried, her hands and feet bound. Since when had this been hidden? Where had it gone wrong? Was it my fault again? If it had all become like this because of me…

“You’ve really got some nerve, girl!”

Fortunately, Iyeon was rescued not long after.

Sochungja, who had cultivated friendships with martial artists, asked for help, and the martial artists began searching the area one by one.

Sibi repeatedly confessed that he had acted out of affection for Iyeon. But Iyeon deliberately avoided his gaze. Her heart was a mess, tangled with resentment and guilt.

It was then that Sibi drew the dagger from his chest.

“What are you doing? Quickly, take the knife away from him!”

“Miss, please look closely. Please see what happens to me because of you. Please see how far I can go for you. If only I could be remembered by you…”

Sibi held the dagger upside down and pointed it at his own neck.

“I can do anything.”

And then he plunged it deeply inside.

In that moment, Iyeon turned to look back. Her eyes met Sibi’s, and he smiled brightly at her, never taking his gaze off her.

Sibi stared at Iyeon until his last breath. She didn’t even close her eyes as she died.

It was horrifying.

What was horrifying?

Was it Sibi, reduced to that state, who was horrifying? Or was it herself, who had caused him to become that way?

From that moment, Iyeon began to reject people. Everything became unbearable.

This continued for several cycles.

Iyeon was kidnapped multiple times and rescued multiple times.

There were occasions when she was genuinely in danger.

Once, when a burly servant tried to kidnap her, they encountered a band of robbers in the forest, and a fight broke out.

The two groups fought over Iyeon. Blades were drawn, and ultimately, they perished together. Among the bodies lying on the ground, Iyeon curled up, trembling.

Iyeon gradually grew exhausted.

‘I want it to stop.’

Eventually, Iyeon started wearing a veil. That wasn’t enough, so she covered herself entirely with thick clothing.

Even then, it didn’t help much. As she grew older, her Yin energy strengthened, and merely being near her started to affect those around her.

Eventually, Iyeon earned the nickname “the girl who devours people,” because everyone near her kept dying.

‘I want it to stop now.’

Sochungja decided to move her to another place. Not just because of rumors, but because Iyeon’s emotional exhaustion was visible.

Of course, even after moving to Bak Lahyeon, things didn’t improve.

Her illness worsened with each passing day, and the slightest lapse in concentration immediately affected her surroundings. Seeing Sibi and the others lose focus at the slightest opportunity left Iyeon drained.

Finally, when even Ambassador Youngro couldn’t handle her Yin energy, Iyeon thought:

‘…Let’s stop everything.’

She didn’t understand why she had to struggle so hard, and the future didn’t seem promising. It seemed better for everyone, including herself, to give up at this point.

So she refused her medicine and locked herself in her room, waiting for death.

“Miss, I brought your medicine!”

The child appeared.

His name was Seodan, an awkward-looking boy.

Iyeon could see clearly the moment she threw a knife at him—the stupid expression on his face, completely unaware of the danger. In the end, he had fled.

But Seodan returned. Not only that, he insisted on serving her.

‘Why?’

The question popped into Iyeon’s mind, but she held it back. She tried to cut off all attention. Too many accidents had happened when she gave attention unnecessarily.

If she ignored him, he would tire himself out and go away.

But Seodan didn’t.

‘Why?’

Even when she threw things at him, injuring him multiple times, he persisted. Sometimes, it seemed like he even enjoyed it. When he danced before her, she couldn’t help but laugh hollowly.

Her heart nearly softened, but when she accidentally knocked him unconscious with an inkstone, she steeled herself again. Surely, now, he would give up.

But Seodan didn’t.

‘Why?’

Growing anxious, Iyeon decided to take extreme measures. She labeled Seodan as a shameless scoundrel who only cared about money.

She insulted his appearance and even his parents, hurling words so vile that anyone else would have gotten angry or left.

But Seodan didn’t. Instead, he boldly confessed that he liked her.

‘Are you enchanted by me too?’

Iyeon knew the traits of those under her spell. They became irrational monsters, seeing only her, acting as if she were their god—a fanatic.

But Seodan was different.

He liked her yet maintained boundaries. If Iyeon showed disgust, he would retreat. Even while making awkward, embarrassing advances, he never touched her.

Iyeon began to feel confused. Did he really like her, or was he bewitched? Without realizing it, she let him get close to find out.

Soon, Iyeon found herself swept away by Seodan. She would put on her veil and wait for him. When he sulked, she panicked. Even the Chief of the Imperial Guards noticed it.

Eventually, she started taking her medicine again.

When she reluctantly took the medicine, the emptiness she felt was immense. Why had she resisted so much? Why had she pushed him away?

‘Are you really different?’

Slowly, hope began to build in her chest. This time might be different, really different.

Then another memory surfaced.

A Sibi who had given her similar hope. The ending when she let him get close. What had happened to that Sibi?

‘No.’

She felt as if she had awoken from a dream.

Iyeon didn’t want the same catastrophe again. So she desperately pushed Seodan away. Even when he showed disappointment, her heart ached, but she pretended not to notice.

It was time for her seizure cycle. If she were to give affection and face despair again, she thought it might be better to die.

“Did… he?”

But Seodan always exceeded her expectations.

“It seems he fell while gathering herbs in the mountains. Fortunately, he wasn’t seriously injured, but he twisted his ankle badly, so he needs treatment and care for a while.”

“……”

“He must have struggled to even stand, so how did he make it all the way here in that state…?”

Iyeon wanted to ask Seodan, sleeping before her:

Why?

Why didn’t you give up on me?

You could have given up many times. I treated you badly.

Then why climb a mountain for me? Risk your body to gather herbs? You got hurt, yet you dragged yourself here?

“Do you pity me?!”

“Of course I pity you! Isn’t that obvious?!”

Iyeon’s heart raced.

“Since some time ago, I’ve been worried about you.”

Her heart pounded painfully.

“I told you earlier. There’s nothing harder than seeing someone you care about in pain. I feel the same now when I see you suffering.”

Even though I pushed you away, you stayed until the end.

“I hope you don’t suffer, Miss.”

He said she was precious to him.

Iyeon felt tears welling up. A lump rose in her throat, and she wanted to cry out loud right then and there.

Suppressing her sobs, Iyeon opened her mouth. She didn’t know what to say. Only shallow breaths escaped until a small fragment of her true feelings almost came out.

“I…”

Her veil was lifted.

Her face appeared. Her ugly face, capable of enchanting and turning others into monsters—even Seodan could change because of it.

Their eyes met.

Her heart plummeted.

‘Ah… soon…’

Iyeon felt her breath constricted. Please, let it end here…

“Wow.”

Iyeon opened her eyes.

“Wow, Miss, you’re so beautiful~! You’ve had this appearance all along, why did you hide it? Everyone kept saying there must be something wrong with your face, so I really thought….”

Iyeon looked at Seodan again. His playful and warm gaze remained unchanged. She still couldn’t believe what she saw and asked again:

“Are you really okay? Are you… really fine?”

“Huh?”

But Seodan’s reaction was still unfamiliar.

“Heh, really… Miss. No matter how beautiful you are, there’s a limit to self-obsession. Ah, self-obsession? It’s short for self-admiration, like… like you, Miss…”

“……”

“…H-Huh, are you disappointed that it doesn’t faze you? Ah, well. I can’t help it. I’ll say something now! Beauty begins! Beauty starts big! Beauty fanfare starts! Beauty festival begins! Beauty club opens! Beauty club discount event…”

“……Haha.”

“……Beauty party begins! Blessing of the beautiful begins! Huh? Wait, what did you just say?”

“Haha, hahaha…!”

It was truly strange.

Iyeon couldn’t stop laughing suddenly. Seeing Seodan’s silly face made her laugh even more. She laughed crazily while crying.

See? It’s different.

This child is different.

Now, she could truly give her heart.

“Ah, Miss? Are you okay? Why are you laughing suddenly… Uwaah!”

Iyeon hugged Seodan. Startled at first, he froze at the sound of her crying. A small hand appeared on her back.

The touch, the warmth—it had been so long, and she had missed it so much.

Iyeon cried long and hard in that embrace.

Dawn was coming.