A Different Side of Life

Sora's eyes glistened as she gazed at No-eul. "I used to think that love was something oppressive, something that would restrict me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But you showed me something different, No-eul. Being with you feels like... like freedom. It's like I'm finally living for myself, not just for my Kingdom or my duty as a princess."

Sora reached out to take No-eul's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I've never felt like this before," she admitted, a small smile playing on her lips. "Thank you for showing me that love can be something beautiful and liberating." "This is the love I never knew I needed...our friendship."

No-eul was taken aback by Sora's words, her heart fluttering with both joy and fear. She wanted to believe that they could have a future together, but the weight of her secret and the danger that came with it weighed heavily on her mind.

"I'm glad to hear that, princess," No-eul said softly, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "But there's something you should know. I...I can't tell you everything about myself. There are things I have to keep hidden, for your own safety and mine."

No-eul looked at Sora with a mix of apprehension and longing, hoping that she would understand. "I know it's not fair to you, but...I hope you can trust me, even with what I can't tell you."

Sora looked at No-eul with confusion and hurt in her eyes. "What are you talking about? Why wouldn't you tell me who you are?" she asked, her voice shaking.

No-eul took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I can't tell you, princess. Not now, not ever," she said firmly, her voice laced with regret.

Sora's eyes filled with disappointment. "Why not?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

No-eul looked away, unable to meet Sora's gaze. "Because if you knew who I really am, you would hate me. You will never want to see me again," she said, her voice heavy with emotion.

Sora reached out and took No-eul's hand, squeezing it gently. "I could never hate you, No-eul. Not after what you did for me," she said softly.

No-eul closed her eyes, feeling a sense of warmth and comfort from Sora's touch. "I know you mean that, princess. But trust me when I say that it's better if you don't know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sora looked at No-eul for a long moment before nodding slowly. "Okay," she said softly. "I can only trust you, No-eul."

No-eul let out a sigh of relief and pulled Sora into a tight embrace. "Thank you, princess. I promise to keep you safe while I am here," she whispered.

No-eul smiled softly at Sora and took a deep breath. "Why don't we sit down and have a meal together? I'll prepare something special for us," she said, her eyes glimmering with warmth and kindness. "I have some ingredients here that I brought from the market, and I can cook a delicious dish that I learned from my travels."

She gestured towards the small kitchen area of the cottage, where pots and pans hung from hooks on the wall. "It won't take long, I promise," she added, stepping towards Sora, and taking her hand gently in hers. "Let's enjoy this moment together, princess."

No-eul led Sora to the kitchen and started to prepare the meal. As she diced vegetables and sliced meat, she couldn't help but feel conflicted about keeping her identity a secret. She wanted to tell Sora everything, but she feared losing the only person who had ever made her feel like she was not alone.

Sora sat at the table, watching No-eul cook, and noticed the turmoil in her eyes. "Is everything okay?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

No-eul forced a smile. "Yes, everything's fine," she lied. "Just lost in thought."

Sora nodded, but she could tell that something was bothering No-eul. She decided not to press her on it, for now, but made a mental note to bring it up again when the time was right.

As No-eul finished cooking, she set the food on the table, and they sat down to eat. The meal was delicious, and Sora complimented No-eul's cooking skills. They talked and laughed as they ate, enjoying each other's company.

But even as they laughed and joked, No-eul couldn't shake the feeling that she was keeping something important from Sora. She knew that she couldn't keep up the facade forever, but she didn't know how to tell Sora the truth without losing her.

No-eul cleared her throat and thought for a moment before deciding on a story. "Okay, I have a story for you," she began. "When I was a little girl, my father took me on one of his ships to travel the seas with him. One day, I was so excited to see dolphins jumping in the water that I leaned a little too far over the edge of the ship and fell in!"

Sora's eyes widened in surprise. "What did you do?"

"I didn't know how to swim at the time, so I just flailed around in the water, screaming for help," No-eul continued. "Thankfully, one of the sailors on the ship saw me and jumped in after me. But when he pulled me back up onto the ship, my father was so angry at me for being so reckless that he made me swab the decks for a week! I did not do well, anyway. The mop was bigger than me."

Sora laughed at the story, feeling a bit more at ease. "You were quite the troublemaker, weren't you?"

No-eul grinned. "I guess you could say that. But I learned my lesson and never leaned too far over the edge of the ship again."

"And you just recently jumped off a cliff."

"The case was different," No-eul chuckled. "I needed to save my life."

Sora looked at No-eul, her eyes curious. "Can you tell me more about your father? What does he do?"

No-eul hesitated for a moment, knowing that she couldn't reveal the truth about her father being a pirate. "Oh, he's just a sailor… a captain," she replied with a smile. "He travels to different parts of the world, bringing back exotic goods to sell in the markets. He's always been passionate about the sea."

Sora nodded, seemingly satisfied with No-eul's answer. "That sounds interesting," she said with a smile. "I've always been fascinated by the sea. It's so vast and mysterious."

No-eul chuckled, glad that the topic had shifted to something more lighthearted. "Well, maybe one day I can take you out on a ship and we can explore the ocean together," she suggested playfully.

Sora's eyes lit up at the idea. "That would be amazing! I've never been on a ship before," she exclaimed.

No-eul grinned, glad to see Sora's enthusiasm. "Then it's settled. We'll go on an adventure together," she said with a wink.

Sora takes another bite of the delicious meal and looks up at No-eul with a smile. "This is absolutely amazing, No-eul. What do you call this dish?"

No-eul grins, happy to see Sora enjoying her cooking. "It's a recipe my father taught me. We call it 'Jonbuda'. The name came from his home country."

"Jonbuda?" Sora repeats, intrigued. "What does that mean?"

"It means 'a little bit of everything'," No-eul explains. "The dish is made up of various vegetables and meats, all cooked together in a savory sauce."

"It's so flavorful," Sora says, taking another bite. "I've never had anything like it before."

No-eul nods. "I'm glad you like it. It's one of my favorite dishes to make." She takes a sip of water before continuing. "Do you have any favorite dishes, princess?"

Sora nods, her eyes lighting up. "Oh, yes! I love Italian food. Have you ever tried spaghetti carbonara?"

No-eul shakes her head. "No, I can't say that I have."

"It's delicious," Sora says, excitedly. "It's made with spaghetti, bacon, eggs, and parmesan cheese. The sauce is creamy, and the bacon adds a nice crunch. It's my absolute favorite."

No-eul looks thoughtful. "That does sound good. Maybe one day I can try making it for you."

Sora beams. "That would be wonderful. You know, No-eul, I'm really happy that I met you. You've shown me a different side of life that I never knew existed."

No-eul smiles, touched by Sora's words. "I'm glad to have met you too, princess. You're one of a kind."