A Long Journey Ahead

No-eul pulls out a deck of cards from a drawer and starts shuffling them. "Have you played Go-Stop before?" she asks Sora.

Sora shakes her head. "I haven't, but I'm a quick learner," she says with a smile.

No-eul grins. "Alright then, let's get started." She deals out the cards and begins explaining the rules of the game. Sora listens carefully, occasionally asking questions to clarify certain points.

As the game progresses, No-eul and Sora become increasingly competitive, each determined to come out on top. They laugh and tease each other playfully as they play, enjoying each other's company.

After several rounds, No-eul ends up winning. Sora pouts, pretending to be upset. "You cheated," she accuses jokingly.

No-eul laughs. "I did not! You just need to practice more."

Sora chuckles. "Fine, I'll practice and beat you next time."

No-eul grins. "Looking forward to it." They continue to chat and play games, enjoying each other's company late into the night.

As they played cards, No-eul couldn't help but think about Sora's upcoming marriage to the doctor. She took a deep breath before opening the conversation.

"So, princess, tell me more about the doctor you're going to marry," No-eul said, trying to keep her tone neutral.

Sora looked up from the cards, her expression turning slightly more serious. "Well, he's a very intelligent man. He's kind and caring, and he knows how to make me feel better when I'm feeling down."

No-eul nodded, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. She knew it wasn't her place to interfere with Sora's decisions, but a part of her couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy at the thought of Sora being with someone else. After all, the princess is the only friend she ever had.

"He sounds like a wonderful person," No-eul said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Do you think you'll be happy with him?"

Sora smiled softly. "I hope so. I know it won't be easy, but I'm willing to work at it. Besides, marriage isn't just about happiness, it's about responsibility and commitment too."

No-eul nodded, her thoughts still racing. She knew Sora was right, but a small part of her couldn't help but wish that things were different. She forced a smile and returned her attention to the cards, trying her best to push her emotions aside for the time being.

They continued to play cards in silence for a few minutes before Sora spoke up again.

"No-eul, I want you to know that I value our friendship a lot. You've been there for me through some tough times, and I really appreciate it."

No-eul smiled, grateful for Sora's kind words. "I value our friendship too, princess. You're one of the few people I feel I can truly be myself around."

Sora nodded, looking thoughtful. "I know things will change once I'm married, but I don't want that to affect our friendship. I hope we can still see each other and spend time together."

No-eul's heart clenched at the thought of Sora being married and having been forced to spend less time with her. She knew she had to be happy for her friend, but it was hard not to feel a sense of loss.

"I hope so too, princess," No-eul said softly. "You already mean a lot to me."

No-eul's feelings for Sora were complex and intense. Though she valued Sora's friendship deeply, she also found herself drawn to Sora in a way that went beyond mere platonic affection. She admired Sora's intelligence, wit, and beauty, and found herself wanting to spend more and more time in her company.

As No-eul became more aware of her feelings, she also began to feel a sense of conflict within herself. She knew that her attraction to Sora was not something that could be easily acted upon, given the societal and cultural expectations placed upon them. At the same time, she couldn't help but feel a sense of longing and desire whenever she was around Sora and found herself daydreaming about a different kind of life together.

Despite these conflicting feelings, No-eul also knew that her friendship with Sora was important to her, and she didn't want to do anything that would jeopardize it. So, she did her best to keep her emotions in check, while continuing to enjoy Sora's company as much as she could.

The morning was calm and serene as No-eul and Sora prepared to set sail on the small ship. The sun had just started to rise over the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the sky. The gentle sound of the waves lapping against the hull of the ship was the only noise that could be heard, creating a sense of peacefulness that was hard to find on land.

No-eul felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness as she watched Sora prepare for the journey ahead. She couldn't believe that they were really going to do this, to embark on an adventure together across the vast expanse of the ocean. But at the same time, she knew that the journey would be difficult, with many obstacles and challenges along the way.

Sora, on the other hand, felt a sense of freedom and exhilaration as she stepped onto the ship. She had always dreamed of traveling the seas, of exploring new lands and discovering hidden treasures. And now, with No-eul by her side, she felt more alive than ever before.

As they set sail, the wind picked up, filling the sails, and propelling the ship forward. The sensation of the wind on her face and the salty spray of the ocean on her skin was invigorating for Sora, who let out a whoop of joy. No-eul couldn't help but smile at Sora's excitement, feeling grateful to be sharing this adventure with someone she cared so deeply for.

Sora turned to No-eul; her face lit up with excitement. "No-eul, did you feel that? The water splashing on my face was so exhilarating! I can't believe I'm really out here on the sea, traveling with you!"

No-eul smiled at Sora's enthusiasm, happy to see her enjoying the experience. "I'm glad you're having fun, Sora. It's a whole different feeling being out on the water, isn't it?"

"It's amazing," Sora said, her eyes sparkling with wonder. "I never imagined I'd be able to do something like this. Thank you for taking me along."

No-eul nodded, her heart swelling with a mix of emotions. She was thrilled to be sharing this experience with Sora, but at the same time, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that it might not last. She pushed the thought aside and smiled at Sora.

"We have a long journey ahead of us," No-eul said, "but I promise it will be an adventure you'll never forget."