Bound by duty, Freed by Love

No-eul noticed the change in Sora's expression and tilted her head in curiosity. "Are you feeling okay, princess?" she asked, a small furrow appearing on her forehead. "Your face is a bit red. Is everything alright?"

Sora's heart skipped a beat as No-eul looked at her with concern. She swallowed hard, feeling a flutter in her stomach. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine," she said, hoping her voice didn't betray her. "It's just that...I don't know, I guess I got a little flustered."

No-eul's expression softened as she realized what was going on. "It's okay, princess. Fishing can be a bit overwhelming at first, especially when you catch something big like this." She gave Sora a reassuring smile and squeezed her waist gently. "But you did great. I'm proud of you."

Sora's face grew even redder at No-eul's touch, and she found it hard to focus on anything else. She couldn't believe the effect No-eul had on her, how just a simple touch could make her heart race and her thoughts go fuzzy. She looked down at the fish in her hands, feeling grateful for the distraction it provided.

Sora took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she turned to No-eul with a hesitant expression. "No-eul, can I ask you something?" she said softly.

No-eul turned to face Sora, giving her a reassuring smile. "Of course, princess." Sora hesitated for a moment, then blurted out her question.

"Is it possible to be attracted to someone who is the same gender as you? Like, a woman being attracted to another woman?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

No-eul's smile faded slightly as she realized the weight of the question. "Yes, princess," she said gently. "It's absolutely possible. Love knows no gender."

Sora's eyes widened at No-eul's answer, and she felt a strange mix of emotions swirling inside her. She had always thought that attraction was supposed to be between a man and a woman, but hearing No-eul's words made her realize that there were so many possibilities she had never even considered before.

No-eul looked at Sora with a curious expression, wondering why her friend had suddenly brought up such a personal question.

"Why do you ask?" No-eul said, her voice gentle and reassuring. "Is there someone in particular that you have feelings for?"

Sora shook her head quickly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "No, no, it's not like that," she said, looking down at her hands. "I was just curious, that's all. I mean, we're out here on the open sea, just the two of us. It got me thinking, you know?"

No-eul nodded slowly, understanding dawning on her face. "I see," she said, her voice soft. "Well, the short answer is yes. And to explain it further, it's possible to be attracted to someone regardless of their gender. Love doesn't discriminate based on gender, princess. It's a beautiful thing, really."

No-eul's heart skipped a beat as she continued to register Sora's question. She couldn't help but wonder if there was more to it than just a simple inquiry. As Sora spoke, No-eul's mind raced with a flurry of thoughts and emotions. Could it be that Sora had feelings for her? Was she just reading too much into things?

Despite her inner turmoil, No-eul remained calm and composed on the surface. She looked at Sora with a gentle expression, searching her friend's face for any clues to her true feelings. She couldn't deny the fact that she had always felt a special connection with Sora, something that went beyond mere friendship. But she had never dared to hope that those feelings could be mutual.

As she gazed into Sora's eyes, No-eul felt a sense of warmth and affection wash over her. She realized that she cared for Sora deeply, and the thought of being with her in a romantic sense filled her with a sense of joy and contentment that she had never experienced before. Despite her uncertainty about how Sora felt, No-eul knew one thing for sure: she was willing to explore these feelings and see where they might lead.

No-eul took a deep breath and continued into Sora's eyes. "Sora, I must confess, there is something that I've been struggling to keep hidden," she said, her voice soft and full of emotion. "There is a feeling inside of me, a feeling that I cannot ignore any longer. It's a feeling that stirs in the depths of my soul, like a quiet storm that rages within me."

She paused for a moment, trying to find the right words to express the depth of her feelings. "It's a feeling that I've never experienced before, too," she continued, her voice trembling slightly. "A feeling that I can no longer deny. It's a feeling that tells me that my heart beats for you, Sora. That it always has, since the day we met, and it always will."

No-eul's eyes searched Sora's face, hoping to see a glimmer of understanding and acceptance. "I know this may be unexpected, and I understand if you don't feel the same way," she said, her voice filled with vulnerability. "But I needed to tell you, to be honest with you about how I feel. Because keeping it hidden for far longer would be unbearable."

Sora's heart sank as she heard No-eul's words. She had suspected for some time that her own feelings for No-eul were more than just friendship, but the realization that No-eul felt the same way was both exhilarating and terrifying. Sora couldn't deny the pull she felt towards No-eul, the way her heart raced when they touched or the warmth she felt in her chest when No-eul smiled at her.

But there was a weight on her heart, a heaviness that she couldn't shake. She was promised to another, bound by duty and tradition to marry a man chosen by her family. However, Sora couldn't bear the thought of hurting No-eul, of denying herself the chance to be with the person she had come to care for so deeply.

The conflict tore at Sora's heart, and she felt a knot form in her stomach. She wanted to be happy, to explore her feelings for No-eul and see where they could go, but then again, the weight of her obligations weighed heavily on her. Sora didn't know what to do, and her heart ached with the pain of indecision.

Finally, she took a deep breath and gazed at No-eul's eyes.

Without a word, she leaned in and pressed her lips to No-eul's. At first, No-eul seemed surprised, but then she melted into the kiss, her arms wrapping around Sora's waist.

For a moment, time stood still as they kissed, lost in the intensity of their feelings for each other. When they finally pulled back, Sora looked into No-eul's eyes, searching for any sign of rejection or hesitation.

But instead, she saw only love and understanding, and a sense of relief washed over her. She knew that they had a lot to talk about, but for now, she was content to simply be in No-eul's arms, knowing that they had finally taken the first step towards exploring their feelings for each other.