Chapter 93
The original work.
The male protagonist and the female protagonist.
Their love.
‘Baek Seol-ryeon,’ who existed to support the male protagonist and establish the Northern Ice Palace.
And even the villainess, ‘Dang Yerin,’ who was a constant obstacle throughout the original story.
So, she had turned away from her own feelings.
She had suppressed herself from having such emotions.
Just like with the previous Sejin.
But.
‘This time…’
Yerin chewed on the soft flesh inside her mouth.
‘This time… Can’t I… be happy too?’
Not a life for the protagonists of the original work.
‘But for myself.’
Shouldn’t I live like that?
As she pondered this question, Yerin poured more alcohol into her glass.
She downed the alcohol in one gulp, until the glass was empty.
“My Lady?”
Doyul tried to protest, taken aback by Yerin’s actions.
But it was too late.
“Hoo…”
A dizzying rush of alcohol flooded her senses, causing Yerin to exhale shortly.
‘I can only act under the influence of alcohol.’
I’ve wasted so much time.
Yerin glanced quietly at Doyul.
“….”
Doyul felt his mouth go dry.
Under the white shattering moonlight, Yerin’s face looked at Doyul with languid eyes.
‘Would a mermaid in a legend look like this?’
If there was someone who could enchant others just by their existence.
‘That person must be my wife.’
Doyul swallowed unconsciously.
His Adam’s apple moved visibly.
Yerin opened her mouth with a languid voice.
“You probably already know, my Lord… It’s about that.”
“Yes?”
“I can knock out a judo expert with my martial arts skills.”
Judo?
At the unexpected remark, Doyul’s tense shoulders relaxed slightly.
But Doyul’s composure didn’t last long.
Yerin suddenly burst into a bright smile.
“But still, I want to get drunk today.”
“My… Lady?”
Doyul was slightly perplexed.
Yerin, who usually maintained her posture consciously due to her position as the Ga-mo of the Northern Ice Palace, said she wanted to get drunk?
Moreover, with her relaxed expression and attitude, and her languid laughter.
‘Dangerous.’
Whenever he looked at her like that…
…he found himself harboring impure thoughts.
‘I am a human being. Not a beast. I can control my feelings…’
Doyul used all his intellect to control his emotions.
Meanwhile, while Doyul was lost in thought, Yerin seemed deeply engrossed in her own thoughts, biting her lower lip tightly.
But even that was short-lived.
Yerin soon spoke clearly.
“Because, without the help of alcohol…”
“Yes?”
“Because it’s embarrassing to say it without the help of alcohol.”
“…My Lady?”
At the same time, Yerin reached out her hand.
Swoosh.
As she moved closer, the sound of her silk sleeve brushing against the air rang distinctly in Doyul’s ears.
‘!’
Doyul’s eyes widened.
Her thin arms wrapped around Doyul’s neck, pulling him towards her.
In an instant, they were within touching distance.
Thud!
An empty bottle clattered to the ground, making a loud noise.
But neither Doyul nor Yerin paid any attention to such noise.
Before they knew it, they were seated so close that their noses almost touched.
“My… Lady…”
Doyul didn’t know what to do.
He couldn’t push her away, yet he couldn’t bring himself to pull her closer. He froze stiffly.
Observing Doyul in such a state, Yerin’s eyes softened.
And then.
“Doyul.”
Her gentle voice called out to him.
“….”
Doyul momentarily forgot how to breathe.
It wasn’t “My Lord.”
It was “Doyul.”
For the first time.
The moment Yerin called him by his real name.
And the name that flowed from her lips for the first time was…
‘Sweet.’
It felt sweet, like he had a mouth full of sugar .
He couldn’t gather his thoughts at all.
Yerin asked Doyul.
“You love me, right?”
It wasn’t a question of whether he loved her.
It was an assertion that she believed he did.
And Doyul…
“Yes.”
He simply nodded obediently.
He had no choice.
Because it was Yerin, no one else.
From the moment he looked into her eyes, he never thought he could hide his feelings from her.
No, to be more precise…
Every time he looked into her eyes, he felt that it was only natural to reveal even his deepest secrets.
“You are unlike anyone I have ever met.”
And so, once again, Doyul laid bare his innermost feelings.
“I’m not saying you’re perfect or flawless. You are…”
In Doyul’s vision, Yerin was sparkling.
Always, always.
“Of all the people I’ve ever met, you’re the most radiant.”
Her determination, her resolve, her strong will, and her sweetness.
All of it sparkles and shines.
And everyone can’t help but follow that light.
So.
“How could I not love you?”
Doyle asked simply, as if stating the obvious.
“…….”
With that answer, Yerin held Doyul in her line of sight for a long moment.
Like looking at someone very dear and dear to them, for a long time.
“Do you know…” Yerin tightened her arms around Doyul as she spoke, “I’ve lived my life solely to meet you.”
Doyul’s eyes widened significantly.
It was sincere.
The reason she dedicated her life as Baek Seol-ryeon, building the North Ice Palace, and staying by Doyul’s side once again as Yerin.
All of it was for the sake of the original story.
To wish for Doyul, the protagonist of this world, to find happiness.
Yerin now decided to be a little more honest with herself.
“So, how could I not love you?”
Without hesitation, Yerin kissed Doyul.
Doyul froze in place at the sudden kiss.
But only for a moment.
“…My Lady initiated it first,” he uttered in a suppressed voice.
And as he said those words…
Like a tidal wave, Doyul began to engulf Yerin.
The sweet taste of the kiss overwhelmed his senses, shaking his entire being.
It was nearly impossible to gather his thoughts.
His vision blurred, making it difficult to recognize anything.
And Yerin, she welcomed this ecstatic dizziness with joy.
‘It feels good.’
The moment when two people completely immerse themselves in each other.
It was truly a perfect moment.
* * *
At that moment.
A dimly lit room, bathed in crimson light from all sides.
The faint glow of the lamp only served to accentuate the darkness, rather than dispel it.
And in the center of the room, a man sat in a relaxed position, teasing the flames with his fingers.
“So,” he began.
The man, leaning back against the silk cushion, glanced up briefly at the dark-clad figure before him.
“So, the Ice Palace Master and his wife visited the Murim Alliance?”
“Yes, Lord of Dark Arts.”
The kneeling figure lowered his head respectfully.
“I personally invited them to the Murim League.”
“High-ranking sects like yours wouldn’t invite them without a good reason.”
The man addressed as Lord of Dark Arts chuckled lightly.
“There must be a reason…”
“According to rumors…”
The dark-clad figure swallowed dryly.
“It’s said that Baek Seol-ryeon’s body was switched.”
“…Is that so?”
For a moment, the Lord of Dark Arts’ gaze sharpened.
“How did they manage to notice? I thought we fooled them completely.”
Baek Seol-ryeon.
The genius of the century of the North Ice Palace.
A master of both internal and external martial arts.
How much effort had they put into obtaining Baek Seol-ryeon’s body?
Back when they infiltrated the Deep Sea Palace, they suffered significant losses from the sect…
The dark-clad figure spoke cautiously.
“There are also rumors that they used an ice ball.”
“At that age?”
The Lord of Dark Arts looked slightly surprised.
“They said she just came of age, so her accomplishments are quite impressive for her age.”
“I see.”
The Lord of Dark Arts burst into laughter.
“Ah, the head of the family must be feeling uneasy.”
Tang Yejun, the leader of the Four Gates, had heard that martial arts achievements were not progressing well.
In such circumstances, to hear that the disciple they used as a pawn in their stratagem with the North Ice Palace had suddenly blossomed with talent was quite unexpected.
It was beyond belief.
“In any case, I’m sure our friend handled matters properly at the Murim Alliance meeting?”
“Yes. The issue with Baek Seol-ryeon’s body was resolved reasonably well, as reported.”
“Good. It’s a splendid friendship.”
Nodding approvingly, the Lord of Dark Arts asked again.
“Any other matters to report?”
“No, nothing else.”
“Then you may leave.”
“Yes.”
The dark-clad figure rose from his seat, bowed respectfully, and withdrew.
The Lord of Dark Arts began to play with the flames of the lamp once more.
“Our eternal leader, the Blood Demon…”
A sly smile crept up to the corner of the Lord of Dark Arts’ lips.
“His return is imminent.”
With a murmured chant.
Click.
The lamp extinguished.
The darkness descended upon the room like a thick curtain.
