Chapter 34

"Miss!"

I looked at the woman in front of me with embarrassing eyes. The work was done very quickly, and after that, I had sent a letter. Less than an hour later I received a reply.

Did I explain it wrong?

I recalled the letter I had sent yesterday while confused. I wrote that I saw some workers at my old palace, and I asked for someone to come.

I don't understand.

"I can't believe you remembered me…! I was so excited that I almost died!"

Why are you…?

'Did you kill someone?'

An ominous feeling crawled on my back. I turned my head quietly towards Dawn as if I was fed up with the woman. It is quite impossible to kill a shadow.

"Dawn."

Go Woon, who gave a small silent gesture at my call, took out his notebook and wrote something down. I picked it up after waiting quietly.

'I don't know.'

I was distracted for a moment.

What…?

I could see his eyes which I could never see properly under his disorganized grey hair. It was cold, and directed at the woman. I was surprised and reached out unknowingly to cover them.

"…"

As I slipped my hand down, Go Woon turned towards me again. His eyes glinted as if he were asking for permission, but I could never allow it.

You're not killing. You're not hitting. You're not getting rid of anyone.

He proceeded to nod his head as if he read my thoughts, but I could see his shoulders drooping. More precisely, his shoulders drooped and he was staring at the woman as if he was going to kill her.

It was such a blatant look where others in the room slowly began to watch. Other court ladies, including Heesa, started chatting.

"Hey, someone's getting hit."

I clenched my teeth and laughed at the familiar feeling. Oh, I hate it. The atmosphere is changing. I immediately turned to Heesa, but she only looked at me with a fierce expression and didn't take any action.

"Dawn. Wait a minute."

Eventually, I bit my lips and said to him. Fortunately, he bowed his head calmly. Then, I turned my attention towards the woman. I was about to ask her to forgive my escort's rudeness, but I felt sickened when I saw her face.

What kind of expression is that?

The face of a mother-in-law who had lost her son to her daughter-in-law?

Or the face of a mother whose child had just told her that his friend was the best?

"You, you!"

The woman pointed at Go Woon with a contemplated face. She tried to say something while frowning, but it was faster to shout as if she were falsely accused.

"When did you become so docile? You were like a cat with nails towards me!"

"…"

Go Woon clamped his lips shut at those words. I didn't know what to say at the moment. I was confused as to whether I should see her as an extremely insane person or just a really stupid and unfair human being from her words.

The woman was soon tearing up while scratching her hair a couple of times, and then she raised her head suddenly and said,

"Um, Miss, how did you get all this? You're cute and lovely. I'm not jealous of you being favored by such a scary person, but do you do that?"

Who's favored by whom?

"What the-"

I said that with an embarrassed face, but then I heard a voice outside the door asking to come in. I could tell who it was already.

'Seo Yeon!'

I brightened up instantly and nodded. The door opened and Seo Yeon walked in.

"…Miss?"

She paused for a moment and made a face at the woman who was whining.

"You guys, go over to the other palace today. They're short handed."

I blinked at her words that followed. Of course, I knew she would solve the situation, but the first thing she did was to get others out. The court ladies whom she had called left the room and the door closed. Seo Yeon then scanned the remaining people in the room and said with a funny voice.

"You can tell me now, Dawn."

"…Is that so?"

Go Woon's words that followed made it sound like someone who hasn't spoken in a while. It was also a completely different voice from when he speaks to me. Also, who were the court ladies that had just left?

"You're here."

It was Go Woon's cold voice that cut through my tangled thoughts. The woman's eyes widened and spoke in a tone that was full of hostility.

"You, why are you talking?"

"I just kept my mouth shut, I never said I couldn't speak."

"Hey! That's it!"

"You never said why you're here."

The woman, who looked very upset, replied vaguely.

"Huh, I'm here because Miss called me."

"… No way."

"Really!"

Go Woon looked at me with eyes where I feel like I'm suffering from an unknown sense of guilt.

"Go Woon, wait a minute."

The most important thing right now is to comfort him. I moved closer and whispered to his ear.

"…Did that woman abuse you?"

It was a pretty blatant question. Even though it might be something difficult to talk about, I couldn't help but still ask. Go Woon shivered at my words. From his reaction, I wondered if it was true, but he quickly shook his head and answered no.

"Really?"

"…Yes Miss."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. She's… just being playful."

He answered with his ears turning red. I smiled and retrieved. His tone didn't sound like he was telling a lie, but it was still hard to believe from the way he looked earlier. There's two shadows here right now. And of course, Go Woon looks like he wanted to kill her…

Seo Yeon, who was watching the entire time, asked quietly.

"Have you said hello to Miss?"

"Yes, ma'am! Of course…"

The woman's words, which were in high spirits, began to get smaller and smaller. I sighed. She ran in here like a wild puppy in the snow, forgetting to properly greet me.

"Are you a shadow?"

I asked.

She didn't abuse Go Woon, but she seemed to be a fool.

"Yes! I'm a shadow! Just like Dawn!"

She continued to say 'I've been scolded for trying to tell you that'. I pondered for a moment whether all the shadows were like her or she was just exceptionally bright.

"I don't think she's the one who wrote that letter to you."

I murmured to Go Woon. How could such a foolish woman write such a creepy letter as a joke? However, I didn't get a positive response back.

"…?"

As I turned my head in wonder, Go Woon was tapping his mouth. My astonished eyes then turned towards the woman, and she smiled shyly.

"I'm a little shy and talkative."

Okay?

"There are many misconceptions around me being cold."

No, I don't think shyness is the problem.

"But don't worry! When I heard that Dawn was going to go to the Miss, I educated him very harshly. Gosh, I was even going for his…"

"Lady."

"…Skin and bones."

"Lady."

"Huh, oh. I've trained him harshly! Don't worry, Miss!"

Well, I guess I can let go of my worries. I sighed again.

"Then Go Woon…"

"Well, Miss. I'm sorry to interrupt, but who's Go Woon…?"

Hey, let me talk. Listen until I finish and then ask questions.

I stopped and looked at her with my mouth shut. I don't like it when someone cuts me off while I'm speaking.

She then pulled out a knife.

Knife.

Hm?

"Excuse me, Miss. Where is it?"

While listening to the woman, I had to interpret what her actions were. Fortunately, Seo Yeon took the knife away before anyone else would do something.

"What a hideous thing to put in front of the Miss!"

"Oh… I can't take that out?"

"Of course not! If you keep pulling these

things out, I'll send you back!"

"Hey ma'am! Please don't!"

I frowned. This reminded me of the moment when Go Woon said he had to make a cut on his finger in order to make a promise.

So she's the main culprit.

***

(Seo Yeon's 3rd person pov)

Seo Yeon looked at Sanya with tender eyes. The child was staring at the woman in front of her with her lips closed.

'But…'

'I never told you about the existence of shadows.' 

It was hard to dismiss that simply because she was a child who grew up early.

Those who knew the existence of the shadows are highly confidential.