It seemed he had been watching me the whole time, because the moment I turned, my eyes met Lord Bihyeon’s.
I immediately looked away.
For some reason, it felt like he might see through the tangled mess of emotions inside me. Right now, I didn’t have the courage to face that.
I can’t breathe….
Closing my eyes slowly, I let out a long breath.
***
Murmuring voices filled the air.
What…? Is someone around me?
My ears were ringing. Who—
—Grant us fortune.
—Grant us blessing.
My ears weren’t ringing.
The voices were echoing inside my head.
A low groan slipped out of my throat.
—Your.
My stomach churned, and my head throbbed.
—Your precious one.
—Your.
Frowning, I opened my eyes.
Before me, humans were laughing with their mouths stretched wide—tearing someone apart with brutal joy.
—Flesh.
They were chewing someone’s arms and legs with wet, greedy bites.
I couldn’t tell if that person was human or not.
Humans eating a human…
No.
That couldn’t be right.
Humans couldn’t have fallen that far.
“…Huh?”
In the middle of them—
Lord Bihyeon lay collapsed on the ground, drenched in blood.
His arms and legs had been severed cruelly, his body covered in sinister talismans that bound him like chains.
His head was turned to the side.
His eyes had no focus.
—Grant us blessing.
—Grant us blessing.
—Grant us blessing.
—Grant us blessing.
—Grant us blessing.
—Grant us blessing.
Shaking my head, I staggered backward.
My heel caught on something, and I fell.
Grimacing, I rubbed my back and lifted my head—
Every single one of them was staring at me.
Their faces were smeared with blood.
Chunks of flesh dripped from their mouths as they staggered toward me.
Instinctively, I retreated, holding my breath.
“Gah…!”
My eyes snapped open.
Clutching my chest tightly, I gasped for air.
My hands trembled as I looked around.
The surroundings were somewhat familiar.
It was Lord Bihyeon’s palace.
I exhaled harshly—and noticed someone holding my arm.
I slapped the hand away.
Lord Bihyeon, who had apparently been trying to wake me, widened his eyes.
“Haah… haah….”
I looked up at him.
Then I squeezed my eyes shut.
Tears spilled down.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry.”
Why am I here?
Ah… right.
I was invited to dinner.
When did I fall asleep again?
I clearly remember eating the meal and then waiting in the pavilion with snacks for the mountain spirit.
As I let out a breath—
Thud.
Something slid off me.
I opened my eyes.
It was Lord Bihyeon’s outer robe that had been draped over my body.
I reached out to grab it tightly—
But my hand froze in midair.
My vision kept turning red.
I raised a hand to cover my face.
My fingers were trembling.
“Did you see something bad in your dream?”
Lord Bihyeon gently took my hand.
For some reason, his voice sounded kind.
“…Yes.”
“What on earth did you see that frightened you this much?”
“You… Lord Bihyeon…”
“Yes, me.”
No.
I can’t say it.
Some instinct told me I absolutely shouldn’t.
If I spoke it aloud, it felt like it would become real.
I lowered my hand and started to speak quietly—
Then clamped my mouth shut.
Unable to meet his eyes, I stared somewhere else.
THUD, THUD.
Someone knocked on the door.
At the same time, my head turned.
Beyond the door stood the towering figure of the mountain spirit.
Creak—
The door opened.
The mountain spirit stepped inside and tilted their head when they saw us.
Lord Bihyeon nodded to them and stood.
“I’ll go get something to eat from Lord Hyeonung.”
With that, he headed toward the dining hall.
I wiped my eyes roughly and let out a slow breath.
While I was doing that, the mountain spirit slowly approached.
Their enormous body shrank as they came closer, until they sat down beside me with a soft thump.
They didn’t ask anything.
They simply looked at me with gentle eyes.
My chest tightened.
I frowned, then took a deep breath.
“Did you see something bad in your dream?”
The mountain spirit studied me carefully.
Concern filled their gaze.
Strangely, that alone helped calm me.
I forced a small smile and nodded.
“Yes… but it probably doesn’t mean anything.”
Even though the dream had felt horribly vivid.
I decided to ignore it.
“In a place where gods dwell, nothing seen here is meaningless.”
“…What?”
“For someone like you, even more so.”
I blinked and lowered my head.
If that was true…
Then something so cruel and horrifying having meaning would be unbearable.
Whether it had already happened to him or would happen in the future—
Neither was acceptable.
The mountain spirit patted my hand gently.
Looking at my eyes, they spoke again.
“Judging by your expression, it wasn’t about you. Hm… was it Bihyeon?”
“…Yes.”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
“I saw Lord Bihyeon… torn apart.”
The mountain spirit let out a deep sigh.
“His body was torn apart… and someone beside him was eating his flesh.”
I said it calmly.
But my hands were shaking.
I stared blankly at my fingertips and clenched them into fists.
Why does my chest hurt so much just saying it?
My stomach twisted, and I took a deep breath.
“It was such a terrible dream. So…”
I pressed my hand against my forehead and shook my head slowly.
“I just hope it was only a dream.”
Tap.
The mountain spirit gently stroked my head.
Even though the dry branches held no warmth, the touch felt strangely comforting.
Emotion welled up in my throat.
I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood.
Flap-flap!
Little birds suddenly landed on my shoulders.
My eyes burned.
When I looked at them, they rubbed their tiny cheeks against mine.
As if trying to comfort me.
I carefully patted their heads.
“…What you saw seems to be Bihyeon’s past.”
So it had already happened.
Something that horrifying.
“The ones eating his flesh… were they human?”
The mountain spirit gave a bitter smile.
So that was it.
That’s why he hated humans.
Humans had done something that terrible.
And yet… Lord Bihyeon is still so kind.
“Um… mountain spirit.”
I hesitated.
“If what I said… could stay a secret from Lord Bihyeon…”
If it were the future, I would have to warn him immediately.
But if it was the past, there was no need to say anything.
I didn’t want to force him to remember something so awful.
The mountain spirit said nothing.
They simply patted my head again.
As I fidgeted with my fingers, I looked up.
Lord Bihyeon was returning from the dining hall with snacks.
He noticed my reddened eyes but pretended not to.
Walking closer, he set the tray down.
“Oh— right. I have something for you.”
“Hm?”
I turned my head away to avoid his gaze.
Then I grabbed the shopping bag beside me and pulled out the ribbon, showing it to the mountain spirit.
“I thought that might still be bothering you.”
“Yes. And… I thought it would suit you, mountain spirit. It’s not expensive or anything…”
“Will you tie it for me?”
They smiled gently and lowered their head.
Carefully, I tied the ribbon where the bookmark string had once been.
The mountain spirit stayed still with their eyes closed.
When I finished and pulled my hands away, they lifted their head.
Slowly touching the ribbon, they smiled.
It seemed they liked it.
“It feels warm.”
They kept stroking the ribbon and chuckled softly.
“Yes… a truly beautiful flower will bloom.”
“I hope so.”
I gulped down the tea Lord Bihyeon had brought and stood up.
Just as I was about to say I should leave—
The mountain spirit glanced at my shopping bag and pointed inside.
“You have something good there.”
“Oh, this… a regular customer from the café gave it to me. A handkerchief.”
After hesitating, I took the handkerchief out and showed it.
The mountain spirit nodded kindly.
“All things eventually find their rightful owner.”
They gently stroked the fabric.
“This is something meant for a precious bond.”
I held the handkerchief tightly and smiled faintly.
“I’ll treasure it.”
Even if I’m not the one that bond belongs to.
After looking at it for a long moment, I carefully placed it back in the bag.
Then I bowed to both Lord Bihyeon and the mountain spirit.
“I should get going now.”
“Stay a little longer.”
Lord Bihyeon spoke softly.
But I slowly shook my head.
Avoiding his gaze again, I waved to the birds.
Then he grabbed my arm.
“…Lord Bihyeon?”
“What time do you want to go to the festival? We never decided.”
Oh right.
We had planned to go together.
Come to think of it, we never set a time or even discussed when we’d meet.
I blinked, staring blankly at him.
He was speaking faster than usual.
What…?
Is he trying to keep me from going home?
But… am I even allowed to go with him?
Maybe I should just deliver the cake and leave.
Besides…
I’m human.
A cursed one at that.
Bzz—
My phone vibrated.
Aunt
What on earth have you been doing?
Aunt
Stop this nonsense and come home immediately.
As I looked down at the screen—
Something dripped onto it.
Drip.
“Ah.”
I hurriedly covered my nose.
Lord Bihyeon jumped to his feet and pressed his sleeve against my nose.
His movements were urgent.
Black blood.
It was almost black.
And something about it carried an ominous aura.
My hands twitched.
I pushed against Lord Bihyeon’s shoulder.
What if this blood harmed him?
What if it hurt them?
Even as the nosebleed continued pouring out, I instinctively stepped back, terrified I might hurt anyone here.
“I—I’m sorry… I’m sorry.”
What do I do?
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Behind me, the mountain spirit lifted me up with their branches.
Then they carried me slowly toward a room.
“Mountain spirit, the blood! It’ll get on you!”
I struggled, but they only chuckled gently and set me down on the wooden floor.
The fox handed over a towel.
Lord Bihyeon rushed over, pressing it firmly against my nose.
He opened his mouth as if to say something—
Then met my eyes and sighed softly.
“…You must be having nosebleeds because you haven’t been sleeping lately.”
“Lack of sleep doesn’t produce blood this color.”
“Th— I mean… sorry. I’ll clean the yard later.”
“Just sit still.”
Lord Bihyeon turned to the fox.
“Haru, go call Malgum.”
The fox looked at him uncertainly, then hurried outside.
Even when I said I could do it myself, Lord Bihyeon stubbornly kept holding the towel to my nose.
He stared at me intently.
There it was again.
That look in his eyes.
Longing.
And something deeply wounded.
I blinked.
The bleeding seemed to have stopped.
So I gently pushed him away.