Chapter 6

"Princess, don't forget it's your wedding tomorrow morning," Tina, Ji-hoon's trusted assistant, reminded her gently. It was the dead of night, and Ji-hoon stood by the window, her gaze fixed on the sky. She stared at the bright full moon, her mind drifting far from the upcoming ceremony.

"The full moon is especially bright tonight, isn't it, Tina?" she remarked, her voice distant. She pointed out every shooting star that streaked across the sky with a childlike wonder that belied the heavy burden she carried. "Tina, please look after the guild for me. Every six months, check on Father's condition. Make sure he's doing okay. I'll try my best to visit," she continued, her tone laced with a mix of hope and resignation.

Father was Ji-hoon's guiding light. He had shown her the path to a life worth living, but now, others were determined to shroud that light. Tina, sensing the depth of her master's emotions, felt a pang of worry. She couldn't defy her, but she wished she could do more to console her.

"Yes, Mistress," Tina replied, bowing her head respectfully. She draped a blanket over Ji-hoon's shoulders and gently escorted her to the bed. Tucking her in with care, she began to sing a soothing lullaby. Though it might seem childish for someone her age, Ji-hoon, barely eighteen, found comfort in the familiar melody.

******

The wedding ceremony proceeded with all the grandeur expected of a royal event. The bride and groom entered the hall, their faces masks of calm as they took their vows.

"I do," Ji-hoon said, her voice steady but her heart tumultuous.

"I declare you husband and wife," the priest announced, sealing their union.

They walked down the aisle, greeting each guest with polite smiles. Ji-hoon's mind was a whirlwind of confusion and doubt. 'Why exactly am I getting married?' she asked herself, her face betraying nothing of her inner turmoil. She observed the guests, all dressed in hanbok, the traditional Korean attire, and noted the traditional elements of the wedding. Yet, as they stepped outside to greet the commoners, she felt the weight of the occasion pressing down on her. 'It doesn't look traditional anymore; everything is so traditional. Okay, deep breaths... In fact, why am I even waving?' she thought, trying to maintain her composure.

Her husband, Prince Ji-ho, seemed to sense her distraction. "You seem to have a lot on your mind, Princess," he commented, his tone neutral.

Ji-hoon forced a bright smile. "Of course not. Is it bad to want to take a good night's rest after this charade?" she replied, still smiling and waving to the commoners.

"Wow! Princess, you haven't lost your fire," he continued, a hint of admiration in his voice.

"And I don't know when you'll stop talking," she retorted, her smile never wavering. 'Excuse me! I didn't mean to talk that way. But since he didn't say otherwise, it's obvious this marriage wasn't based on love,' she thought, sighing inwardly.

After the ceremony, they returned to the palace. In Arandal, it was customary for husband and wife to share a room. Ji-hoon retired early, but her husband never came back to their chamber. She lay in bed, her mind racing.

"Master, I hope you aren't too annoyed about the wedding," Tina asked, entering the room quietly.

"Master?" Ji-hoon repeated, confusion clouding her features. She sat up, grabbing Tina by the collar. "I need you to tell me who I am, where I am, and why I am here," she demanded, her voice a mix of desperation and anger.

"Master, you are the tenth child of the King of Goryeo and the wife to Prince Ji-ho of Arandal. You are the owner of the two branches of the Morning Glow Guild," Tina began, her voice steady as she summarized Ji-hoon's life.

"How old am I? What year are we in?" Ji-hoon asked, her grip tightening on Tina's collar.

"You're 18 years old, and it's the Goryeo calendar year 186," Tina replied.

Ji-hoon fell to the ground in shock. "But I'm Na-ri, and my step-sister is Soo-ah. My husband is Jin-woo, and I was at the amusement park with Eun-seo. It was 2024 then. What's going on?" she murmured to herself, her mind a storm of confusion and disbelief.

Tina gently helped her to the bed. "Master, please sleep. We will discuss the matter tomorrow," she pleaded, tucking Ji-hoon in and singing the same lullaby from earlier. When she was sure Ji-hoon was asleep, Tina quietly left the room.

But Ji-hoon wasn't asleep.

******

Ji-hoon couldn't shut her eyes. Restlessness gnawed at her, so she decided to take a walk in the garden. The fresh air was divine, and the sky was clear, offering a serene backdrop to her troubled thoughts. She made her way towards the gazebo, seeking solace in the peaceful view, when she noticed Ji-ho in a passionate embrace with another girl. A part of her felt a strange sense of relief. If he was happy with someone else, it meant she wouldn't have to deal with his attention.

Quietly, she sat down, deliberately turning her back to them and focusing on the night sky. She had no intention of disturbing their moment. The stars twinkled brightly, offering a distraction from the chaos inside her mind.

"Why are you here?" Ji-ho's voice broke the silence, annoyance clear in his tone.

"Pass me the cake there, thank you," Ji-hoon responded, still not bothering to look in his direction.

"What are you doing in the garden? I'm busy," Ji-ho snapped, clearly trying to get rid of her.

She turned around, her eyes shining with a mix of amusement and detachment. "Do I look like someone who cares if her husband is unfaithful? I just want the cake beside you. It's from the wedding, right? Please, continue and don't mind me." She took the plate of cake and started eating it, her gaze returning to the stars.

Ji-ho, visibly irritated, sent his girlfriend away. He stood there, watching as Ji-hoon seemed to forget his presence entirely, lost in her own world.

"Ji-hoon."

"Ji-hoon."

Hearing her name, she jolted. "Hmmm?"

"You are dressed lightly and the blanket is not thick enough," he commented, a hint of concern in his voice.

"You are still here? I'm not using the room. You and your girlfriend should enjoy the night. Good night," she replied dismissively.

"You didn't even turn around. She isn't here. Let's go in," Ji-ho insisted.

"Well, I didn't tell you I was bored of the sky. You can go in, and whether she is here or not depends on you and you alone," she retorted, her tone cool and indifferent.

Ji-ho's temper flared at her words. In a fit of anger, he grabbed her arm and began to drag her back to the palace. "You wasted the cake, dammit. It's on the floor, you crazy jerk. Good night," Ji-hoon declared, shaking free of his grip and heading towards the library.

Once in the library, she picked a book at random and returned to her room to read. Ji-ho, still fuming, lay down and eventually fell asleep. Ji-hoon, on the other hand, felt a small victory. 'Mission accomplished: avoid sleeping with that jerk,' she thought to herself, a smirk playing on her lips.

As she opened the book and began to read, her mind drifted. "I wonder if this Ji-hoon girl suffered a lot," she murmured, feeling a strange connection to the woman whose life she was now living.